 ‘Prevention is better than cure’…the saying that can be applied to so many different scenarios, including home plumbing. Plumbing problems can be a real pain in neck when they occur, but like with many things, there are actions that we can be taken to avoid issues from occurring in the first place. Who wouldn’t want to benefit from not having to pay for a costly plumbing repair service that could be prevented? Today we discuss 5 tips that will help you do just that...
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 Writing a blog about a blocked toilet may not be glamorous, but it’s a potential problem that can materialise in any home. Your heart may well skip a beat when the flush mechanism fails and the water rises as opposed to flowing away. The fact is, a blocked toilet is something we will all deal with at some point in our lives, so it is imperative that we know what to do when we are face-to-face with such a problem.
Toilets are resilient bits of equipment that we often take for granted. They provide an incredibly important function in households and public buildings and can take decades of abuse. Keep reading to find out how to avoid blocking your toilet and what to do if the problem occurs.  In these more difficult economic times, it is good to look for ways to reduce your bills especially as it will also have a beneficial impact on the environment. Happily, there are a variety of things which you can do to cut down the costs when heating your home. The simplest and most immediate method to lowering your home heating bills is to lower the room thermostat by 1 degree. Even though it appears like much too modest a change to produce a direct impact, in fact it can lower your home heating bills by as much as 10%. Studies have shown over the years that the average temperature in our homes has increased significantly over the last 30 to 40 years. We have become very used to higher temperatures. Draught proofing and insulation make a massive difference to how warm your property will feel. Up to 50% of warmth is wasted because of poor insulation and draft proofing so it’s well worth evaluating the rooms in your property to see the spot that the drafts are entering. Think about those areas of the property that are not being utilised. Do you possess a guest bedroom or a box room? O perhaps a utility room? If these rooms are not in frequent use then shut off the radiators in those room as there is no point heating them. If you already have the heating system on the timer, try setting it to come off 60 minutes earlier. If you feel that too much - adjust until eventually comfortable. It can be very difficult getting the temperatures correct in individual rooms if the entire process is driven by one thermostat placed in one area of the house. To deal with this we advocate the installation of thermostatic radiator valves. This will allow you to easily control the temperature in every room to match. You may possibly want a heated bathroom and a cooler bedroom and getting each room regulated permits you to cater to your individual specifications. Drawing the curtains can significantly lessen the amount of energy that is left out through windows. Water temperature thermostats are often set to high. Anything above 60° is going to be too high and you are going to be adding cold water to it. This means that energy will be wasted in heating it beyond the temperature needed. We recommend that you regularly service your boiler. For people who routinely get their central heating boiler serviced, the benefits are as follows: - complete breakdowns are less likely - you can be happy that it’s working more efficiently - any safety issues will be dealt with - it will help lower your energy bills - your central heating boiler and its main components will live longer Our Hornchurch Plumbers travel to jobs in this zone and around Havering and Essex. Get in touch for your free, no-obligation quote by calling 07977 229 134 OR 07970 296 171. Plumbers Brentwood | Plumbers Chelmsford | Plumbers Colchester |
Plumbers Dagenham | Plumbers Harold Wood | Plumbers Romford | Plumbers Shenfield | Plumbers Upminster  Do you live in Romford, Essex? Are you thinking of replacing your kitchen? You should! It can transform your home dramatically. Whether you want to replace the cupboard doors or the entire kitchen on a small or large scale, we’re sure you will be able to find something in your price range, whether you’re on a small budget or have more money for your dream kitchen. Arco Heating Ltd, can help install your kitchen and update your plumbing installations at the same time.
A new kitchen can add a considerable amount of value to your home especially if you have shopped around for the best products and used your common sense to get the best out of the space you have. There are so many designs available on the market you will be spoilt for choice. You can mix and match designs to suit what you like. You want your kitchen to stand out and be noticed so don't be scared or abstract colours or designs. Spending a lot of time thinking about the appliances you want to incorporate into the kitchen can have a dramatic effect. You want to consider whether or not they will be integrated, built in or simply just sat in place under the worktop. What colour do you want your appliances to be? There are lots to choose from. Getting the wrong ones can make your expensive new kitchen look out of place but getting the right ones can make it spectacular. Don't be afraid of incorporating some lights into your kitchen maybe. There are many places where you can incorporate atmospheric lighting: some down lights or some up lights under the cupboards, some small lights in the plinth, hanging lights above the table. You can create fantastic shades patterns and designs if you incorporate coloured lights behind glass doors into recesses and around islands. There's so much that you could do to create a truly amazing kitchen with all the different products available on the market. It really is possible to add a lot of value to the home at the same time. For anybody looking to buy a new home, the kitchen is one of the key rooms they want to be up-to-date. It could be the deciding factor for the sale. Other things to consider when installing a kitchen is to think about when you want sockets and switches to be installed. Where are you installing your fixed appliances? They will need access to power. Where is your work area for cooking, do you need extra sockets to plug in portable appliances? Will your kitchen be a workspace too? Do you need extra power points near the table? Our advice is to always add more than you think you will need – you will be thankful in the future that you did. Also think about your boiler. Is it situated in the kitchen? When was it last replaced? Does it work in the current location, or will it need to be moved? Perhaps now is the time to upgrade and get a new boiler fitted. The team at Arco can help install a boiler and a new central heating system in your home in or around Romford. Look over several different designs and models before deciding. Do you have enough room in the centre of the kitchen for an island? Can you also create storage space? What other appliances or items are stored in your current kitchen. Where will they go in your new kitchen? Last but not least make sure you choose the right people to fit the kitchen. Get at least three quotes, ideally from friends of family recommendations. Ask if you can see some of the work they have done or if they have references you can check. You wouldn't want to go through all the trouble of designing the perfect kitchen for somebody to fit it badly. Arco Heating Ltd in Romford, Essex offers a wide range of work from domestic too commercial large to small nothing is beyond our capabilities. That’s what makes us the ideal company for all your heating and plumbing needs. All our staff are highly motivated an enjoy their work. We offer a complete service at the right price. If you are looking to have your kitchen fitted in Romford, Essex or nearby, contact Arco today for an appointment. Call Martin on 07977 229 134 or Craig on 07970 296 171.  The bathroom is one of the key rooms of the home. When something goes wrong or you are without it for a while, the frustration soon mounts. Looking after your bathroom on a regular basis is essential, therefore cleaning and plumbing maintenance is a must. Here are some useful tips to help you stay on top of your bathroom’s maintenance: Descale your shower head regularly Be sure to clean your shower head regularly to eliminate limescale. We recommend that every so often you remove the shower head and leave it in a bowl of vinegar overnight. This will remove any build-up of limescale deposits and clean the inlet and outlet holes of the shower head. After cleaning, reattach and run water through the shower head to remove any remaining residue. Avoid blocked showers Hair, soap and other residue will build up quickly in your shower outlet. Keep the drains clear using a strainer over the drain, which can be emptied when required. It is important to regularly clean the strainer with drain cleaner. This will also remove any build-up in the pipes and eliminate any foul smells. Bathroom sinks Just as with your shower, toothpaste and soap residue together with a mixture of hair can soon block up your sink. We recommend cleaning your sink on a regular basis to remove the build-up of products and hair. Use a bathroom cleaner or drain cleaner to help remove build up.  Keeping your toilet flowing
Misusing toilets is common. Our three P’s are the only things that should go down the toilet, pees, poos and paper. Flushing items including wet wipes, sanitary products, cotton wool etc will soon cause a blockage. Even if products are labelled as ‘flushable’, such as children’s wipes, we recommend that it is best to put them in the bin. If you are finding clogs are becoming more frequent, then you will have to investigate a blockage in your drainpipe. You could try to fix the issue by using a plunger, however, if the problem persists, we recommend calling in a professional plumber. Toilet leaks can come from many sources, including the base, the water feed, the bowl and the cistern. It is important to get these leaks fixed as soon as possible to prevent damage to your flooring and the ceiling below if the toilet is on the first floor or above. Do you need a plumber for your bathroom plumbing in Romford Essex please get in touch. We cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171  There’s nothing worse than waking up on a cold winter’s morning to find that the heating is off, there is no hot water and your boiler has broken down. Jumping into a freezing shower and having a cold home is the last thing you need – especially in the winter months! Many boiler failures happen in the winter. It's essential, therefore, that you take care of your boiler all year round. This will help avoid boiler break down experiences. Here are our tips to help your home stay cosy and keep your boiler in working order. Fix issues quickly If you want your boiler working all year round it is important that any issues you find are dealt with promptly by a qualified plumber. This will ensure that your central heating runs properly and your boiler is safe. Bleed your radiators Making sure that your radiators are bled regularly is an easy way to keep your home warm and save you money. If your radiators have trapped air inside, they will not warm up properly and your boiler will have to work a lot harder, increasing wear and wasting energy. We recommend regularly checking your radiators and bleeding them when necessary. Read our blog to find out how to bleed your radiators  Boiler pressure checks
Along with bleeding your radiators, it is important to check the boiler pressure. This is something that you can carry out yourself. All boilers lose pressure over time, which means that they will work less efficiently and require a top up. As boilers are different, check the manufacturers manual to find out how to carry this out. Alternatively, you can seek advice from a plumber if you are unsure. Call Arco’s plumbers in Romford, Essex Book an annual boiler service The best way to ensure your boiler is running efficiently at all times, is to arrange an annual boiler service by a qualified professional. Central heating engineers will do the necessary checks and maintenance that your boiler require; giving you peace of mind that your boiler is safe and working correctly. The annual service is also cost-effective and could save you money in the long-term by preventing possible problems from occurring. For households with new boilers, it is important to keep up your annual checks to ensure that your warranty for parts remains valid. Book Arco’s boiler servicing today Let your boiler ‘breathe’ All boilers need to be well ventilated to ensure they work correctly and safely. Keep the clutter at bay to allow for adequate ventilation. Power flushing Although this is usually done when fitting a new boiler, power flushing is a service that can be carried out at any time when required. Over time, your radiators may begin to clog up with sludge, rust and solidified minerals caused by hard water, which may cause your boiler to become increasingly noisy. Power flushing is a deep cleanse for your entire central heating system, making it run more efficiently by removing blockages. We recommend you do not carry this out yourself and seek advice from a reputable plumber. Call Arco for a Power Flushing Service Keep the heating on in the summer It may not seem to make sense to run your central heating when the weather is warm, however, turning your heating on for 10 minutes every week during the summer months will prevent your boiler from seizing up. If your boiler is doing nothing for months at a time, it can deteriorate and you may find that it doesn’t want to work when you switch it back on. For further advice on how to take care of your boiler, or, if you would like Arco Heating Ltd to carry out any central hearing or plumbing servicing, repairs, improvements or installations, get in touch with our friendly team today! We cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171  The famous phrase says: ‘Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.’ The same thing goes with your utility bills. Every tip that we offer you below, will help reduce your bills and over the course of the year this could add up to significant savings. Turn off lights When you are not in the room, make sure the lights are off. Even leaving hallway lights on can add money to your fuel bills unnecessarily.  Cook in bigger batches When you are cooking meals for the family cook in bigger batches and freeze leftovers for another day. Heating up a meal will use less energy than making the same meal from scratch again. Turn the temperature down on your washing machine Where possible wash your clothes on a lower temperature, this will save energy and your clothes will come out just as clean Turn the thermostat down by a degree or two We all like a toasty home. By turning down your temperature down by a degree or two will not make too much difference on how you feel, but it will save the boiler working to heat up to that higher temperature.  Save water
There are many ways in which you can save water in your home. By being mindful of what you are doing and using, there are so many ways in which you can save using unecessary water. These include:
There are many products available to help you to reduce water usage, including water-efficient shower heads and cistern displacement devices. When refurbishing the bathroom or kitchen look for more water-efficient options for your taps, toilet, washing machine or dishwasher. For more useful water-saving tips visit Waterwise. If you have a leak that needs fixing, or are looking to refurbish your kitchen or bathroom, contact either Martin or Craig at Arco. Our plumbing services cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171  If you've noticed that your radiator isn’t warm all over and has some cold spots, it's likely that it isn't working very efficiently. The result is that your system will be working harder and costing you more in heating all without your home feeling the full benefit. The solution can often be simple. Air, trapped inside the radiator will need to be let out - or bled. Bleeding a radiator is an easy and quick job that you can do yourself leaving your radiators work properly and your home warmer as a result. How to bleed a radiator First of all, you will need a radiator key (or a flat-head screwdriver), a cloth or towel. Turn on your central heating Make sure that your radiators are on so that there is pressure in your system. This helps the air out to get out. Check which radiators need bleeding Go around your home and feel the tops of each radiator. If you find cold spots, you'll have identified a radiator that needs bleeding. Turn off your central heating Now turn off your heating and let the radiators cool down. If you do this when your radiators are hot, you could scald yourself with the hot water.  Bleed the radiators
Once your radiators have cooled down look for the valve at one end of the top of your radiator. Attach the radiator key (or flat head screwdriver) to the square part in the centre. Hold the key with a cloth and slowly turn the key anti-clockwise for about half a turn. Listen out for a hissing sound as the air leaves the system. Turn the key to the closed position once the hissing stops or when water starts to leak out. Don’t over-tighten the valve as this could damage it. Check the pressure on your boiler Check the pressure on your boiler gauge. If the pressure is too low, you’ll need to top up the water using the lever or tap on your boiler. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to re-pressurise your boiler. Turn the heating back Turn the heating back on and let the radiators heat up. Check the radiators that you bled. Hopefully you will no longer have any cold spots. Also check that the valves are not leaking. What if I still have cold spots? If, after turning the heating back on, you still find cold spots, you may need to bleed some radiators a couple of times to complete the job. If you’ve done this and the radiators are still not heating properly, it’s time to call in some professional help. It could be that there is a build-up of rust or sludge in your central heating system which will need to be determined by a plumber. Arco's heating engineers are all Gas Safe registered plumbing and heating specialists. Should you have any issues with your plumbing or are looking to service your boiler, give us a call. We cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171 |
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