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Author: rob.fullsend

Is it an Emergency? When to & Not To Call an Emergency Plumber

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Do you really need an emergency plumber?

Issues with plumbing on a business property or in a home can be a nightmare. If you’re running a business and you have a plumbing issue it will impact levels of productivity and may bring work in the office to a grinding halt. Indeed, it’s possible that the office will need to be evacuated while work is completed to repair the issue. Particularly, if the plumbing problem has made the building unsafe or unusable. This will be the case if there is an issue with flooding or if there is no longer any hot water for heating, particularly in winter.

However, you don’t always need to call an emergency plumber to deal with the situation. So, let’s look at a few times you do need expert help and a few that you don’t.

Frozen pipes? Pick up the phone

You should definitely contact an emergency plumber if you think that your pipes have frozen in your business property. You might think that you can deal with a frozen pipe in your property yourself and there are certainly plenty of DIY tricks online based around handling this issue.

The only problem is that these techniques can cause the pipe to burst or split. The problems that this will cause in your property are expansive. You will almost certainly have an issue with damp and you will be looking at an even more expensive repair. An emergency plumber can help you deal with the problem and make sure that the issue is resolved before more damage occurs.

Blocked toilet? Try fixing it yourself

You may not need a plumber if you have a blocked toilet in your business property. It is important that blocked toilets are dealt with quickly as they create a hygiene and a health issue in the office. But there are variety of simple options to try before calling in the pros. First, simply fill the basin until it’s about half full of water. Then use a plunger to create an airtight seal. Once you have done this, two or three thrusts should dislodge the blockage. If the blockage has been dislodged, the water will start to drain. If not, this might be the time when you should call in a pro.

Burst bipe? Get an expert

If a pipe has burst in your property issues can develop fairly quickly. Flooding can occur and the leaking water can damage the structure of the property. This will mean that it will be unsafe to work in the building. As such, as soon as you notice a burst pipe, you should contact an emergency plumber to come fix it. They’ll cut the cost of the issue and hopefully ensure employees can continue to work safely.

No heat from your radiator? You can DIY

Finally, if you are having an issue with one radiator in your property, there’s no need to call the plumber. Radiator bleeding is a simple process. If this doesn’t work, you can remove the radiator from the wall and run water through it outside. This will clear the gunk and muck that is probably stopping the radiator from heating up the right way. Just make sure you have a bucket and some old blankets on the floor as removing the radiator can be a messy job.

Get ready for your plumber to arrive

Whilst you’re waiting for an emergency plumber, there are some things you can do to minimise damage & cost, as well as make your life much easier in the immediate aftermath of the issue. Turn off the water, secure any possessions and prepare for the fallout.

Kiasu Workforce offer specialist 24/7 Emergency Plumbers in London. Please contact us if you have any enquiries.

Boiler Breakdown: Plumber Or A Heating Engineer?

Posted on by rob.fullsend

We rely on our central heating system to work effectively 24 hours a day, especially with Britain’s temperamental weather and often take it for granted that it’ll be there to provide heat when we need it. So when the worst happens and your boiler breaks down it can be frustrating and worrying.

When you’re facing a boiler breakdown, the question arises, “Should I call a plumber or a heating engineer?”, which leads to “are plumbers and heating engineers the same thing?” When the pressure is on to stop a boiler leak or restore heating to your house, knowing who to call can make all the difference.

On the surface, the role of a plumber and a heating engineer can appear quite similar but there are key differences.

 

Can A Plumber Repair My Boiler?

A plumber can work on your heating system and bathrooms with tasks including changing radiators, fitting thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), and fitting towel rails. They can complete repairs to pipework, taps, toilets, showers, gutters, water tanks, radiators, and the list continues.

While plumbers may be highly experienced in the full range of plumbing services, they are not necessarily qualified to work on a gas boiler. Dealing with leaky pipes, dripping taps, and dishwasher installation doesn’t translate into safe or effective boiler work.

Some plumbers can be Gas Safe registered, but this isn’t an element of their plumbing qualifications. If you find a plumber also offering gas central heating services, check the Gas Safe Register to make sure that they’re legally permitted to work with gas.

Call A Plumber If:

  • You need blockages removed from water pipes.
  • You’ve got water leaks that need to be inspected and repaired.
  • Your toilet isn’t flushing correctly or it’s overflowing.
  • You’re having issues with drainage throughout the house.
  • You need assistance installing or maintaining water-based appliances, like washing machines.
  • You’d like a new bathroom fitted or serviced.

 Can A Heating Engineer Repair My Boiler?

A heating engineer will work solely on heating in domestic and commercial properties rather than working across various disciplines, making them specialists in heating. For this reason, you may prefer to contact a heating engineer rather than a plumber, as they may be more familiar with your issue.

Heating engineers are experts on fixing boilers and can complete tasks including installing new boilers, repairing boilers, running new gas pipes, fixing gas leaks, changing radiators, fixing leaks, and installing heating controls.

Again, you should still ensure that your heating engineer is Gas Safe registered before allowing them to work on your boiler.

Call A Heating Engineer If:

  • Your radiators are providing no heat.
  • Your heating system is making unusual noises.
  • Your central heating isn’t reaching the correct temperature.
  • You suspect there are issues with your thermostats, vents, or hot water cylinders.
  • You’re having an emergency with your heating system and it isn’t working at all.
  • You’d like a check-up or a service for your central heating system.

 

Are Plumbers Gas Safe Registered?

Plumbers can register as Gas Safe engineers. After all, heating and plumbing jobs are incredibly varied and require different skill sets. Of course, some tradespeople will do everything, but most tend to specialise.

An experienced heating engineer skilled in repairing boilers may not get involved in heating system work. At the same time, a plumber that specialises in bathrooms may carry out radiator swaps while avoiding boiler repair.

A boiler repair involves working with gas, so only Gas Safe registered engineers can legally work on a gas boiler. The most significant difference between a plumber and a heating engineer – traditional plumbers don’t need to have any Gas Safe qualifications.

The gas industry is highly regulated to ensure that relevant services are provided to the highest safety standards. Whoever you choose to contact, you must make sure that only Gas Safe engineers are dealing with your boiler repair.

Kiasu Workforce use only Gas Safe Registered engineers to carry out our boiler maintenance, servicing and repairs. So get in touch with our team today to benefit from our central heating and boiler services.

How to Bleed a Radiator – Kiasu Workforce

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Heating and gas services are vital to the health and comfort of our homes. Functional radiators warm your property and ensure that no corner of your place is left damp. Therefore, careful upkeep of your boiler and your radiators is essential to make sure your home is running smoothly. 

Bleeding a radiator is a necessity when air is trapped inside. Trapped air stops warm water from flowing around your radiator, meaning it can’t perform correctly. You might find your radiators cold to the touch at the top, yet lukewarm at the bottom.

Your central heating system isn’t working as efficiently as possible if your radiators aren’t in top shape, meaning your rooms will take longer to warm up and you’ll need to spend more on heating bills. Bleeding your radiator is also the first step you should take if you’re hearing unusual gurgling, clanking or banging noises.

Knowing when to bleed a radiator is all well and good, but it can seem like a daunting task if you have no experience! Here is a handy guide that will walk you through how to bleed a radiator. All you’ll need is a radiator key or a flathead screwdriver, and a towel.

 

How To Bleed a Radiator

Step 1 – Turn Off Your Heating

The last thing you want is to burn yourself while you’re trying to perform maintenance on your radiators! Turning your heating off before you begin your checks and your bleeding means that any water that leaks won’t be scalding hot, and you’ll be able to complete all other steps without injury. Once you’ve turned your heating off, wait 30 minutes or so until your radiator is okay to touch.

 

Step 2 – Use The Radiator Key

Next up, you need to turn the valve at the very top of your radiator. Position your towel positioned so as to catch any water leaking from your loosened valve. Attach your key to the square gap in the centre of the valve, and slowly turn it anticlockwise. You should hear a gentle hissing sound as the valve loosens, and this is a sign that you’re doing the job right. Keep the valve open until water starts to come out – an indication that all the air has been released. If you aren’t confident with this step, consider the assistance of a handyman.

 

Step 3 – Retighten Your Valve

Now that gas trapped in your radiator has escaped, the valve in your radiator needn’t be open anymore! The only liquid should be coming out of the space at this point, and all hissing should have finished. Water may be streaming out in a jet, but this is entirely normal in modern radiators. To retighten your valve when you’re sure all air has escaped, position your radiator key in the same spot and turn the piece clockwise. You should be able to feel more resistance as you turn your key and secure the valve.

 

Step 4 – Wipe Down Your Radiators

As soon as you’ve finished bleeding all the radiators around your house, wipe them down with a towel to avoid rusting. Any leftover liquid on your pipes or your radiator’s body can cause the metal to deteriorate over time, and it is sensible you try your best to avoid that! Having to repaint or replace your radiators if they’re rust damaged will take time and money you can prevent with simple care.

 

 Step 5 – Turn On Your Heating

Now that you’re confident your radiators are bled and dry, you need to double-check they’re performing correctly! Turn on your heating to check that your work has been successful, paying close attention to whether your radiator panels feel hot all over. If they don’t, some radiators may need bleeding again. The issue may also be with your boiler heating pressure level, so ensure that the pressure hasn’t fallen too low on your boiler display. If it has dropped too low, top up the pressure by using the filling loop. If you require further guidance, call out a team specialising in boiler installation, repairs and servicing.

 

Following this guide and bleeding your radiators at least once a year will help keep your home in top shape!

A Handy Property Maintenance Checklist

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Property maintenance is vital to keep your home in the very best condition. Since your home is one of your most significant investments and expenses, you always want to make sure that it’s running as smoothly as possible. An inefficient, neglected home is unpleasant to spend time in, and it’s more expensive in terms of upkeep and repair.

How do you ensure you’re looking after every part of your space to the best of your ability? For example, you don’t want to miss any simple plastering and tiling jobs that’ll quickly improve and reinforce your home structure. Here is a definitive property maintenance checklist to help make sure that you’re ticking every box when looking after your home.

 

Match Your Tasks to Season

Your property is going to need different maintenance tasks prioritising during different seasons of the year. There is a much greater likelihood that your gutters will become blocked with fallen leaves in autumn, and efficient central heating is more important in winter than at any other period in the year. Spring provides a perfect opportunity to clean, and check your property’s exterior for any damage that the harsh winter weather may have caused.

Consider the unique challenges and benefits of each season to guide your approach to property maintenance. The hours of winter days feel much shorter since it gets dark much sooner, so you’re much better off performing exterior works like roofing in the bright days of summer. Interior painting is a task that you could sensibly leave for winter when you’re cooped up because the weather doesn’t affect the job. Approaching tasks with the season in mind will help you to time every job right.

 

Fix Issues When You Spot Them

While this advice seems obvious, it can be tempting to ignore and leave repairs until you’re in a better financial position. Taking a passive approach to handling little mistakes in your property can be costly because almost every problem will escalate over time. What may have been a relatively cheap repair for a hole in the wall can eventually compromise the entire structure of your building! Structural damage will be much more expensive to repair in the long run.

Don’t be afraid to use reactive maintenance call out services as soon as you spot a drainage problem, for example. A drainage issue will not solve itself, and air conditioning units, boilers and water systems also need instant repair if they stop performing correctly. If you have consistent problems with the heating or drainage in your house, dedicate time to servicing them often and checking that they’re running smoothly. Anything that you can do to prevent problems is worth doing, so get your boiler serviced!

 

Run Through These Questions

To know in full confidence that your home is running efficiently, here are some simple questions to ask yourself.

  • Am I paying a reasonable amount in bills, or have they suddenly risen or escalated?
  • Am I happy with the temperature in my space, or am I too hot or cold?
  • Can I navigate around my room without seeing any hazards?
  • Are my appliances working correctly or would they benefit from repair?
  • Am I fully protected from the weather when I’m inside?

If the answer to any of those questions is no, you know for sure that your property isn’t operating at its very best. Realising the problem is the first step to diagnosing and solving the issue, though, and that is what property maintenance is all about!

 

Contact us at Kiasu Workforce for some helpful advice. We offer specialised property maintenance services that could massively benefit your home or your commercial building.

A Comprehensive Guide to Moving Office

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Shifting your entire business from one building to another can seem a daunting task. Whether you’ve outgrown the space you’re in, or you’re deciding to downsize, moving your employees and your office furniture isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. With some careful planning and consideration, you can make your transition from building to building as smooth as possible. 

Relocation is stressful enough without the pressure of having to create your checklist for the move. How are you supposed to manage to ring the removal company and arrange deep cleaning before you unpack all your things in your new office space? Luckily, you don’t have to remember on your own. Here is a comprehensive guide to moving office, designed to make the next step in your business journey as smooth sailing as possible.

 

Determine The Date

Deciding on the date you’d like to complete your move is essential, and you’re better off doing this early on. You may require a specific date because the lease on your current building is expiring, and this can help you eliminate new spaces that wouldn’t be available early enough. Another reason for determining the date is essential is that you should plan your move at an off-peak period for your business.

It would never be sensible to decide to have your move during the height of your busiest period, say winter if you sell firewood supplies because settling into a new space would demand time you hardly have. You’re putting unnecessary pressure on yourself and your staff if you choose to move during a busier month, and you may see falls in profit as a result. 

 

Find Your New Space

A significant step in moving office is selecting a space to move into! Should you already have found the next building for your business, you can skip straight to the next point. If you’re still unsure about selecting an appropriate new setting and atmosphere for your employees, this is for you.

Consider your budget, your team’s size, and the room you expect you’ll need for growth and keep these at the forefront of your mind with every property you view. Also, determine what you can do for parking spaces and the public transport to ensure that all employees can reach your new office space. Take note of local shops and restaurants so that you can be sure your team has places nearby for lunch, or prioritise a sizable kitchen in the building you choose. Get a professional in commercial boilers to assess the state of the heating and water flow through your potential new office, before you commit.

 

Consider Your Furniture

If you’re downsizing or scaling upwards with your new building, you need to make sure that your furniture suits your needs. When downsizing, you may only need to declutter and minimise the number of your desks. If your new office building is considerably bigger, you’ll need to purchase furniture that fits the space and allows you room for your growth. The best time to try and get your furniture ordered or prepared is around one month before the move, to give you plenty of time to organise it before you try to settle in!

 

Plan Address Changes

All deliveries and bills that are charged to your current address need to be cancelled or rerouted. You need to arrange an internet provider, phone lines, gas and electrics and all other essentials to keep your new space running. Ideally, you want your broadband to be functional in your new area for about two weeks before moving in. If you get newspapers or milk delivered to your current office, you also want to inform them of your move at least three weeks in advance. Make your new contact information, including your phone numbers and physical address, as public as possible but plan forwarders for calls and mail that may end up at your old address!

 

Choose and Use a Removal Firm

Choosing a removal firm may seem like the most obvious step, but as this list has demonstrated, it isn’t the first thing you need to consider! Now that you have a good idea of the amount of furniture you’re going to need transporting to your new building, you can decide on the size of the removal company you need to hire. The day of your move, you can also benefit from the assistance of a house or office clearance business to remove all rubbish once you’re unpacking.

 

If you need any further assistance with moving and settling into your new office building, contact us at Kiasu Workforce to see how we can help.

7 Ways to Clear Your Blocked Drain

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Shower repairs, radiator repairs, and toilet repairs usually require an emergency plumber. However, you can often solve a blocked drain yourself. You just need to know the right solution. In this handy guide, we’ll show you a range of DIY solutions for unblocking blocked drains. Whether you are dealing with a grease build up in your sink drain or the shower isn’t draining correctly, you can find a fix in this guide. 

 

Boiling Water

Boiling water is the simplest and easiest solution for clearing a drain blockage. This won’t work on trickier blockages, but sometimes it is all that is needed to loosen and clear debris. The simplest fix on the list is often worth starting with boiling water when attempting to clear a sink or shower drain blockage. When dealing with a blockage from hair, grease, or soap scum build-up, boiling water may be all that is needed. Regularly pouring boiling water down your shower drain will help avoid these types of blockages.

If your drain is attached to PVC pipes, the boiling water could damage or melt the pipes. In this case, try one of the other solutions in this guide. 

 

Salt and Baking Soda 

Whilst not as simple as just pouring boiling water down a drain, this solution is very easy. It combines common ingredients you likely have in your kitchen to create a chemical reaction that dissolves some of the tougher blockages. 

  • The first thing to do is to mix half a cup of salt with half a cut of baking soda. 
  • Pour the mix down the blocked drain and leave it for 20 minutes. 
  • After 20 minutes, pour boiling water down the drain. 

 

Vinegar and Baking Soda

This solution also uses common household ingredients and a similar process to the previous solution. 

  • For this drain blockage solution, combine 1/3rd of a cup of baking soda with 1/3rd of a cup of vinegar. (The mixture should start to fizz.)
  • Pour the mixture down the drain.
  • Leave the mixture for at least an hour. You may want to leave it overnight for the best results.
  • Finally, follow the mixture with some hot water. 

 

Chemical Cleaners

If the DIY home remedy methods are unsuccessful, you can try chemical cleaners. These are available at most supermarkets. Follow the instructions on the product, which will likely be some variation of pouring it down the drain, leaving it to stand, and rinsing with hot water. 

 

Biological Cleaner

If you prefer to avoid chemical cleaners, you can opt for a biological cleaner instead. However, these are typically less effective than more harsh chemical cleaners. They may not cut through grime but should handle soap scum, hair and other easier blockages. 

 

Plunger

Is your blockage being too persistent? Pouring stuff down the drain not doing the job? It could be time to get out the plunger.

  • First, fill the sink or shower with enough water to cover the edge of the plunger. This will help create a tight seal.
  • Place the plunger over the drain and plunge. This might take some work, but eventually, you’ll hear the plunger clear the clog. 
  • After this, flush the drain with water for a few minutes.

 

Cleaning Pipes

A slightly trickier but effective way of clearing a sink blockage is to remove and clean the pipes. This isn’t for everyone. If you’re not entirely confident with this method, try the others in this guide or call a plumber instead.

If you want to go ahead with this one, here’s what to do:

  • Firstly, place a bucket under the U-shaped pipe under the sink. 
  • Following this, loosen the slip nuts at either end of the pipe using a wrench. 
  • Next, remove the pipe and empty any content into the bucket. 

If the solutions we offered earlier in this guide haven’t worked, you are likely dealing with a tougher blockage. You may need to put in some extra work to clear the pipe and loosen hidden debris fully. A toothbrush works well for this. 

  • Once you’ve cleaned out the pipe, rinse it out with water.
  • Finally, put the pipe back together. 

 

Whether you are dealing with a grime build up in your sink drain or the accumulation of soap scum blocks your shower drain, you can often solve the problem yourself. Simply choose the appropriate solution and follow the steps in this guide. You’ll have your drain back in working order in no time.

Guide to Fire Safety – Kiasu Workforce

Posted on by rob.fullsend

 

Fire poses a significant and expensive risk to both businesses and homes, potentially damaging consequences. Without preventive measures, a small blaze can spread uncontrollably and grow to harm occupants or employees seriously! Fire safety should always be a primary consideration in the management of your building. Fitting some fire extinguishers and sturdy fire door installation is an excellent place to start, but safety measures need to be updated ongoingly. 

Whether you’re a business owner, a landlord or a homeowner, you’re responsible for managing the threat that fire poses to your property. Here is a complete guide to fire safety to make sure you’re doing the most you can be!

 

Start with Fire Doors 

The structure of your building is massively essential in guaranteeing fire safety and keeping people protected. Fire doors are applicable mainly for business owners, but finding sturdy doors for the inside of your home is crucial too! Doors stop the spread of a blaze from room to room, and a quality fire door can buy escape time should the worst occur.

fire-door

 

Installation of Fire Doors

Poorly installed fire doors aren’t any more resistant to flames than a standard door. A fully competent specialist only should install your fire doors! Any specialist is fully aware of the importance of fire safety, so they won’t cut corners when protecting your property. Naturally, if your business uses highly flammable chemicals and materials, you should choose more resistant doors!

 

Maintenance of Fire Doors

Maintenance of your fire doors is just as critical as the installation. Doors subjected to general wear and tear won’t stay as strong, so you’ve got to prioritise their repair! Checkups on your fire doors should be annual at the very least, but every six months is preferable.

 

Fit Your Fire Alarms

Fire alarms are a primary step in your efforts for fire safety. You’ll rely on your fire alarm to tell when a blaze has started, so you’ll be able to evacuate quickly! Regular fire alarm servicing and provision is a crucial step in property maintenance, or your system may fail in the unfortunate circumstance of a fire. Ideally, you want an alarm in every room for your business and at least one upstairs and one downstairs in your home.

 

Develop Your Alarm Strategy

There are many types of fire alarm system that could suit your property. Firstly, a conventional fire alarm system will have detectors spread out in zones, reporting back to one control panel. Addressable fire alarm systems work similarly, but they can pinpoint precisely where a sensor has been activated. An analogue addressable fire system has multiple onboard computers to report back to one control panel! And finally, a wireless alarm system does precisely the job of an analogue addressable system, but without wires. A wireless network is perfect to fit in hard to reach locations. 

 

Seek Professional Advice

Trained fire alarm professionals will be best qualified to instruct the placement of your alarms, as well as which system will fit you. Don’t rely on your knowledge! The provider and installer of your fire alarm system will recommend how often you should service them, and you should follow those rules.

 

Include Fire Extinguishers

You should include fire extinguishers in the floor plan of your property! No matter where your team is located, extinguishers should be readily available in case of the beginning of a fire. Clever planning guarantees that your fire safety equipment is nearest to potential hazards, like the cooker in the kitchen. When it comes to extinguishers, you’re far better having too many than too few!

 

Train Your Staff

Staff should use different extinguishers for different types of the blaze. Training all of your staff in fire safety means they’ll be able to identify the correct extinguisher to use under any circumstance. Appointing fire safety officers inside your team is a helpful idea to help with organising evacuations. Still, if they’re the only staff who can handle extinguishers, then the rest of your team is at risk when they aren’t around.

 

Test Your Equipment

As with every other fire safety measure, you’ll need to perform fire extinguisher provision and servicing. Your extinguishers are useless if they don’t work, so you’ve got to be sure that they’re regularly tested and serviced in case of an emergency. Your servicing should happen at least once a year, but once every six months is a sweet spot! After all, you can put no price on the safety of your employees.

 

Perform Risk Assessments

Regular fire risk assessments will highlight any threats to the safety of your building and your occupants. With your risk assessments, it’ll better educate you to add new fire safety measures into your property! Fire safety is an ongoing process, and your approach should take the same attitude. You can’t simply tick boxes and claim to be prepared for the possibility of fire!

 

Get Your Assessment Early

Your fire risk assessment is the perfect first step to your fire safety journey. If you’re keenly aware of your building’s most vulnerable areas, you can locate your extinguishers and your fire alarms in the places more likely to see a fire. Prioritising these locations means that any staff nearby would be the first informed of any smoke to evacuate or use the extinguishers.

 

Assess Premises Often

While you won’t need a professional fire risk assessment more than once a year, you can keep an eye out for new fire risks yourself. Fire doors shouldn’t be propped open by cardboard since they need to be kept closed to be effective during an emergency. Tell staff what is expected of them to uphold fire safety around the building, and make sure PAT testing is up to date on any of your electrical appliances. Old electronics have the possibility of damaged wires, and electrical fires are particularly aggressive.

 

The Conclusion

Mindfulness is the most crucial element of fire safety. When you continually ask yourself whether your property could identify and handle a fire, it guarantees that you’ll implement adequate safety measures. Remembering that fire safety is not a tick-box thing means you can identify new risks and update your staff’s training. If you’re seeking a professional’s service to install your fire doors and fit fire extinguishers, contact us at Kiasu Workforce.

Reducing Utility Bills – Kiasu Workforce

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Utility bills are just a fact of life, but you don’t want to be paying more than you’ve got to! Simply switching energy suppliers every couple of years isn’t enough for your home to be as energy-efficient as possible. While we still recommend shopping around for the most affordable energy supplier, here are another few simple steps you can take to securing long-term energy efficiency. These steps will massively assist you with reducing utility bills around the house. 

Checking your way through this list guarantees that you’re paying the best price possible, so you’ve got more money to enjoy outside of the house! Here is our guide to reducing utility bills for your home. 

 

Use Heating Controls

A room thermostat and programmed radiators could save your home up to £100 a year in utility bills. Heating controls are also just convenient! They’ll keep your home at a comfortable temperature without you having to adjust your radiators continually. Your heating and your hot water can also be timed to suit when you’re in the house, so energy won’t get used when you don’t need it! Even just keeping your home one degree colder could save you hundreds in the long run, so try to grab a jumper rather than fiddle with the thermostat.

Next time you’re performing any property maintenance, get thermostatic radiator valves, a programmer, and a thermostat installed around your home. They’ll prove useful and save you money over the years.

 

Switch Your Light Bulbs

LED bulbs will be your best friend for an energy-efficient home. The average LED bulb can run for around 25,000 hours, which is equivalent to 25 years. The annual running cost is less than £2, massively reducing utility bills compared to a halogen bulb! Halogen bulbs average at £8.50 to run yearly. While replacing your bulbs is costly at the very beginning, you’ll see that money returned in merely a few months of energy savings.

If you already use energy-saving bulbs, keep an eye out for any new models with better specifications. Also, make sure to turn your lights off when you’ve left any room!

 

Install a New Boiler

Heating will be responsible for nearly half of your utility bills, so you want to be sure that your boiler is as efficient as possible. Boiler installations, repairs and servicing should take the highest priority in the upkeep of your home, or you’ll be blowing money on wasted energy! A new, modern boiler is much more energy-efficient, so your monthly utility bills will noticeably decrease. Your new model will also have a better programmer, meaning you’ll be able to guarantee it isn’t using energy when it doesn’t need to.

While a new boiler installation can be expensive initially, you’ll save yourself the hassle of waiting for your old one to break down. Start seeing energy savings early, and enjoy the reduced frequency of repair!

 

Insulate Your Home

Loft and cavity wall insulation will help you retain the heat inside your home, so you’ll need to use less energy to turn your heating up! Drafts in the tops of your windows or the bottom of your doors should be filled to avoid warmth escaping the room. Loft floor rolls will fill all your space upstairs, while cavity walls will need injected material for internal insulation. Your insulation will cost much less to install than it’ll save you in your utility bills!

 

At Kiasu Workforce, we’re dedicated to supporting our customers in running their homes as smoothly as possible. You can rely on us for plumbing services, boiler care, and general property maintenance! Staying on top of repair jobs around your house, particularly with the boiler, is the first step toward reduced utility bills.

How To Make Your Commercial Property More Eco-Friendly

Posted on by rob.fullsend

We’re all looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly at home and work. We can make many changes to lower our carbon footprint, save water and more, and the results are multiplied in bigger premises such as commercial buildings. We all know about turning lights off when a room is not in use to save electricity. And your office may have already gone paperless. But in this guide, we will share a few switches that can have a considerable impact. These changes are largely one-off switches and only require a little ongoing maintenance to continue seeing the benefits.

 

Save Water With Eco-Conscious Bathrooms

Opt for push taps in the bathrooms to reduce water wastage in your building. Dual flush toilets are also a good way to avoid using more water than necessary. And, of course, be proactive with property maintenance and repairs. Don’t leave leaks untreated. Call a plumber and fix the issue as soon as it arises to avoid ongoing water waste. 

 

Switch To An Energy-Efficient Boiler

A heating system is one of the biggest sources of energy consumption in any building. Swapping an older boiler for a new energy-efficient option will prevent heat loss and wasted energy reducing your energy bills and your carbon footprint. A commercial boiler will need more output than a domestic one, but it is important to choose a suitable model for the space you are heating to avoid overspending. At Kiasu, we can assist you with choosing the right energy-efficient model and commercial boiler installations. Make sure you keep up with boiler servicing and maintenance to maintain efficiency and continue to reap the benefits (and avoid emergency boiler repairs).

 

Use Environmentally Friendly Travel Options

Road transport makes a significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. So incentivising employees to take alternative, more eco-friendly travel options is a great way to go green. Cycle-to-work schemes, for example, could make it easier for employees to swap four wheels for two – which will positively impact the environment and their health. 

 

Provide For Electric Car Users

For many, walking or cycling to the office may not be practical. But even for drivers, some options are more eco-friendly than others. We’ve all heard about the environmental benefits of electric vehicles. However, the major hindrance with EVs is accessibility to charging. Admittedly this is far less of an issue than in past years with many charge points throughout the country. But you can do your part to help people make the transition to EVs. EV charging points are surprisingly affordable and a fantastic way to accommodate more eco-friendly travel options.

 

Use Eco-Friendly Products And Suppliers

Finding ways to make eco-friendly changes in your business is incredible. Now it’s time to find other like-minded people. Working with companies that share your love for the planet is a brilliant way to minimise your carbon footprint and more. Suppliers are key to your business’s environmental impact. The initial switch may be a bit time-consuming, but once the change is made, the positive impact will begin to mount up month after month. 

 

Speak To Our Commercial Maintenance Team

At Kiasu Workforce, we deliver property maintenance to commercial buildings nationwide. We have a team of experts available to deliver plumbing and heating services, including some of the eco-friendly solutions discussed above. To learn more about how we can assist with commercial boiler installations, EV charging stations, and more call us on 0208 988 1662

 

Learn More About Commercial Property Management

Explore our blog for more advice on getting the most from your commercial property. We have many insightful guides on property management covering topics such as refurbishment, cleaning, fire safety, and plumbing. Here are a few of our favourite reads:

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Why Your Home Is Warm In Summer and Cold In Winter

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Do you find your home is too warm in the summer but too cold in the winter? There are a few potential reasons for this, and they can be fixed. And don’t panic, it won’t require leaving your heating on all winter and air conditioner on all summer. 

 

Home Insulation

Your home’s insulation is a key factor behind why your home’s temperature fluctuates with the seasons. It’s a common misconception that insulation simply helps your home retain heat. If this were true, it would explain the hot summers, but you would expect to avoid drastic drops in temperature in the winter. Conversely, a lack of insulation might lead to a very cold home in the winter months but avoid overheating in warmer temperatures. 

But you don’t just experience a home that is either too warm in the summer or too cold in the winter. It’s both. So what’s really going on? And how does insulation actually work? Insulation slows heat transfer. It reduces the rate at which energy is transferred through your walls, floors, and ceiling. This means the warm temperatures outside are slower to seep into your home in the summer, and in the winter, the indoor heat is slower to escape. One of the most popular benefits of insulation is that it can save money on energy bills. It is, therefore, mostly discussed in terms of preventing heat escape in the winter. This is why it may be misconstrued that insulation simply traps heat or keeps a property warm. 

 

Reducing Heat Transfer

Insulation throughout the home is a great way to mitigate fluctuating temperatures. However, there are other ways to avoid a home that’s too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. As discussed above, insulation helps retain heat in the winter and keeps it out in the summer by reducing heat transfer. And there are a few other ways to reduce heat transfer in your home.

Air leakage

Air leakage is another leading cause of heat transfer in and out of your home. Air sealing these gaps is another highly effective way to reduce heating and cooling costs. Two of the easiest ways to do this are with caulk and weatherstripping. Caulking is ideal for filling gaps around window frames, whilst weatherstripping can be used for doors or windows that open. 

Double glazing

Another way to reduce heat transfer to and from your home is to install double-glazing windows. Double glazing uses two panes of glass separated by an air bubble. The gap between the panes reduces heat from passing through the window, meaning you will lose less heat in the winter and have less heat gain in summer. 

 

Energy Efficiency

The benefits of slowing heat transfer in your home extend beyond creating a more comfortable environment. It has significant environmental and financial benefits too. With insulation, double glazing, and reduced air leakage, you will use your heating less in the winter (and air conditioning less in the summer). The subsequent savings to your energy bill can be significant. And less energy will also lower your carbon footprint. 

You should look at your heating and cooling systems to further increase these benefits. Each is essential to your home’s energy efficiency, and proper care and maintenance will work alongside insulation to maximise your energy bill savings. 

 

Improving Boiler Energy Efficiency

Your boiler is the backbone of your home heating, and whilst insulation will prevent heat from escaping, you still rely on your boiler to warm your home in the first place. And if it is doing so inefficiently, you will be using more energy than needed, therefore overpaying to heat your home. 

Firstly, you should opt for an energy-efficient boiler. If your boiler is old and outdated, a new boiler installation could make a huge difference. Boiler repairs and maintenance are essential for maintaining peak performance. However, replacing older models that cannot meet the high standards of more modern energy-efficient models is likely much more worthwhile.

Once you are equipped with an efficient model, you should schedule annual boiler servicing. This is key to detecting issues before they become bigger problems. During a service, any dirt will be removed to avoid corrosion and your engineer will check your boiler is setup in the most efficient way. To prevent your boiler from seizing up, avoid prolonged periods without use. In the warmer months, turning your heater on for 15 minutes once per week can help keep it running effectively and avoid breakdowns. 

Bleeding your radiators will also improve their heat efficiency, further helping to keep your energy bills low. If bleeding your radiators does not appear to help, they may require a power flush. 

 

Work With Our Boiler Experts

If you need an experienced team of boiler engineers you can trust, choose Kiasu Workforce. High-efficiency boiler installation and regular boiler repairs are crucial to improving your energy efficiency. But these tasks should only be undertaken by certified experts. Our GasSafe engineers always provide exceptional service, and with no call-out charges or additional travel costs, there is no surprise we’re the go-to boiler repair company for many properties across London. 

 

Learn More About Boilers And Energy Efficiency

Have you checked out our blog? We have many valuable articles on facilities management and property maintenance. Here are a few of our top picks for learning more about energy efficiency and reducing your energy bills: