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Author: rob.fullsend

19 Things You Shouldn’t Put Down The Drain (But Probably Do)

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Whether it’s down your toilet or your kitchen sink, there are objects and substances that certainly should not be entering your drainage system. There are common culprits that are often discussed in the media, but there are also an array of random things that you may have never even thought about.

There are several reasons why particular objects shouldn’t end up in your drainage system, with the most common result being blocked drains. Having a blocked system can cause several problems for your home or property, such as bad smells, water levels rising and overflowing and even, in the worst case, flooding.

There are also particular objects that should not be put down the sink for environmental reasons and the impact that they have on wildlife. Non-biodegradable objects that are put down the drain often end up in waste landfill or even our lakes and oceans and can be potentially harmful to the environment.

It’s important that we begin to create healthy habits – not only for the good of the planet, but for the health of your own drain at home! Nobody wants to incur an extra cost when they don’t need it and having a blocked drain that needs to be resolved professionally could be one of those costs – if you don’t pay attention to what you put down your drains.

But what exactly shouldn’t you put down the drain? Here’s a list.

19 things that you should avoid flushing…

  • Pasta & Rice – It continues to swell once flushed!
  • Coffee Grounds – Can cause build up long term in the pipes
  • Cooking Oil – This can harden when cool and limit drainage
  • Grease – Including the cooked fat from your meat!
  • Pet Waste – Cat litter included, even if it is advertised as flushable
  • Fruit & Veg Stickers – These are made of plastic and can stick to the sides of drains or filters
  • Condoms – Latex doesn’t disintegrate
  • Sanitary Products – Contains potential harmful bodily fluids
  • Flushable Wipes – Does not disintegrate as well as biodegradable ones
  • Cotton Balls/Rounds/Wool – These don’t break down, clogging your system
  • Cleaning Solutions – Contain harmful ingredients that can be detrimental to wildlife
  • Medicines – Must be disposed of properly
  • Fruit Rinds/Skin – Can clump together and only takes a few to cause a blockage
  • Flour – This coagulates and hardens in drain pipes
  • Egg Shells – They can be ground up and combined with oil to create a thick mess
  • Paint – Regardless of if the base substance (oil, water etc), paint can contain harmful toxins
  • Paper Towels – Toilet paper should be the only product going down your drain
  • Butter & Margarine – Can congeal
  • Motor Oil – Contains harmful substances

Although you may have been aware of most of the items you shouldn’t flush down your drain, we hope you’ve learnt something new! Some of the items may seem silly, or you couldn’t possibly imagine doing it yourself, but these are things that are commonly found to have been flushed.

Are you only flushing what is completely necessary?

DIY: What You Need & When to Call A Professional

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Fairly often, when things go wrong in the home (or we just need something doing!), the first thing we consider doing is making an emergency call to someone. Sometimes, it can be a family member who you know is fairly handy, but other times it can be an emergency electrician or plumber, depending on what has gone wrong and how quickly you need it solving! We often panic that we can’t do anything ourselves or perhaps we don’t trust ourselves to try and right the wrong.

Despite this, there are definitely a few repairs and home maintenance things that can be done by yourself, provided you have the right tools and equipment to do so. By having some tools ready and waiting, you’ll know when a repair or task is needed, whether you can grab your kit and do it yourself, or if you need to call in a professional.

 

Drains

Drains have a habit of getting blocked from time to time. Whether you’ve put something down there that you shouldn’t have, or there’s been a blockage further along, it happens. Two pieces of equipment that can help you unclog a drain yourself are a plunger and a drain snake. Both together and seperately, these tools can assist in getting your drain unclogged and back in working order if the issue is small.

However, there may be occasions where the blocked drain causes damage and inconvenience like flooding, larger blockages on your street or foul odours. This may be the situation where you may have to call for a professional in blocked drains. They will be able to assess the situation and work to resolve the issue(s), leaving your drains clear and clean.

 

Boilers

Boilers are an aspect of your home/property where you have to be extremely cautious and careful. Issues with boilers and gas pipework can be severely harmful if not looked at by a professional. An issue that we commonly come across involves radiators that aren’t fully warm, affecting heating and costing money. This is something that can be solved at home if the problem isn’t a large one. All that you need is a radiator key to ‘bleed’ your radiators and that may resolve the issue. Some other hands-free solutions that you can perform at home include re-pressurising your boiler and manually resetting it.

There are certainly some instances where boilers need professionals to look at them. Whether you’re looking to replace or install a gas boiler, or you smell gas, ensure that you call a professional – the latter could be extremely dangerous.

 

Odd Jobs

There are plenty of odd repair and maintenance jobs that you can do around your home. Some may require special tools that you can easily grab from your local DIY store, whilst others may require your typical handyman equipment. Jobs include tiling walls, plastering, replacing lightbulbs or fitting new lights altogether, or simply painting and decorating your property.

The above can certainly be simple jobs you can work on yourself with no real danger (if done properly) but they can, however, be time-consuming and messy if not done properly and with care. Property maintenance isn’t something that everyone loves and wants to get involved in, but luckily there are services out there that can take the hassle from you.

 

Ensuring that your DIY box is filled up with appropriate tools could save you both time and money in the long run, allowing you to do some jobs that professionals aren’t required for. However, as always, ensure you know of and look out for the warning signs of certain issues that may require a professional to step in.

Here at Kiasu, we have teams of emergency electricians, gas & heating engineers and plumbers to assist should you need it.

Workplace Safety: Is Your Business Fully-Certified?

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Workplace safety is exceptionally important but making sure your property meets rigorous safety standards can be difficult if you are unaware of the different assessments used to test your safety. In this guide, we will show you the most important certificates, assessments and tests needed to demonstrate your property’s safety and identify areas which may need improving. We will focus on three of the main areas of any property’s safety; electrical safety, fire safety, and gas safety. From EICR and fixed wire testing to gas safety certificates, there are a plethora of ways to improve your commercial property’s safety.

 

Electrical Safety

Electrical safety is one of the most important areas of any business. The consequences of bad electrical safety can be significant, ranging from shocks and burns which can be harmful to employees, to fires and explosions which can destroy a property and even be fatal. There are a few assessments you can undergo to make sure your electrical safety is up to standard.

Firstly, portable appliance testing (more commonly known as PAT testing) can be used to ensure electrical safety across all appliances which are connected to electricity through a lead and plug. Health and safety laws make it a legal requirement that all appliances are tested regularly.

Secondly, a business can acquire an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) to evidence that electrical installations are up to standard. An EICR will detail the findings of fixed wire testing which is crucial to identifying potential electrical hazards. An EICR is so incredibly important to health and safety that recent laws have made them mandatory in privately rented residential properties.

 

Fire Safety

A fire can be devasting to a business which is why it is important to implement precautions to prevent them as well as take measures to mitigate their damage if they occur. Businesses are no longer issued fire safety certificates and instead must undertake a fire safety assessment. This puts the onus of fire safety on the business and its “responsible person”. A fire safety assessment will cover the full breadth of fire safety measures for businesses. You can read a step by step guide to implementing a fire safety assessment in our Guide to Fire Safety.

Fire alarm and fire door installation is essential, and all smoke detectors should be tested routinely. Fire extinguishers should be placed throughout the building. Properly training employees on fire safety and the evacuation process in the event of a fire is also fundamental to keeping employees safe. A fire safety assessment will cover all these elements and more.

 

Gas Safety

Commercial property gas safety obligations fall into two main areas; maintaining all gas installation and keeping records of an annual gas safety inspection. Maintenance is required for all gas installations and appliances. Gas safety maintenance includes an annual inspection and servicing by a Gas Safe registered engineer. 

You legally require a Gas safety certificate which can only be issued by a Gas Safe engineer. To get a Gas Safety certificate an engineer will need to visit your premises and carry out an inspection of all gas appliances including a visual inspection and functionality, operations and pressure tests. The extraction methods of appliances which use an extraction system to extract combustion gases will be assessed for suitability.

 

The health and safety of your employees and those visiting your commercial property is extremely important. To best protect them from hazards (and yourself from legal consequences) you need to make sure your businesses is taking all the necessary precautions and has obtained the required certificates which evidence that safety measures have been put in place.

New EICR Law Change Set To Affect Private Landlords

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Earlier this year the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced new regulations concerning mandatory five-year electrical testing by private landlords. In this guide to the EICR law change, we share everything you need to know about the new update including rules around fixed wire testing and acquiring an electrical installation condition report (EIRC).

 

What Are The New EICR Regulations?

The UK is set to roll out new regulations making mandatory it for landlords and agents to carry out an inspection and test on all electrical installations every five years. Landlords will also need to obtain an electrical installation condition report and retain it until the next test, supplying the most up to date report to new tenants before they begin occupying the property. The rules come into effect as of July 1st 2020 for new tenancies and April 1st 2021 for existing tenancies.

The fixed wire testing and EICR must be carried out by a professional with the necessary qualifications or you face legal repercussions including financial penalties. Breaching the regulations could result in a £30,000 penalty imposed by the local housing authority. 

 

How To Find Qualified Electricians

Property maintenance companies like Kiasu have teams of qualified electricians who can carry out fixed wire testing and offer an EICR report. When hiring an electrician make sure to ask that they are qualified to offer an EICR. If they are not your electrical inspection and test will not meet the necessary requirements of the new regulations.

 

The Industries Thoughts On The New Regulations

David Cox, Chief Executive of ARLA Propertymark commented on the new regulations saying, “We’ve had mandatory gas safety checks for years, and therefore it is logical to extend similar checks to electrical safety.” Before adding “However, there may not be enough qualified inspectors to cope with demand from the whole industry in a short period of time, and therefore we will need a long lead time so landlords can meet the requirements.”

Mr Cox’s comments seem to reflect major talking points from the industry; the vital importance of electrical safety and the need for qualified inspectors.

 

What Fixed Wire Testing Is (And Why It Matters)

Fixed wire testing is a combination of visual inspections and electrical tests on all systems in a building.

Over time electrical installations can deteriorate as a result of overuse, accidental damage and general wear and tear. If the deterioration gets too bad the electrical installation can pose serious risks. A damaged electrical installation could lead to shock and burns as well as cause fires or explosions which can significantly damage the property or worse the people inside. This makes it essential that fixed wire testing is carried out routinely to ensure any deterioration is identified before it causes any damage.

 

What An EICR Is And Why You Need One

Fixed wire testing is required to obtain an EICR. An EICR is a report which details the findings of an assessment and is used to evidence electrical safety in a building. Under the new regulations it will be the law for private landlords to provide a copy of an up to date EICR to new tenants (and prospective tenants if they request it).

 

What Does It All Mean?

The new regulations put significant pressure on the private rented sector to abide by all the new requirements with significant consequences if they fail to do it. The pressure and potential financial damage for those who don’t abide by the new regulations is a huge step in forcing better electrical safety in private rented properties.

Reducing Utility Bills: Top Tips

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Our utility bills account for a large portion of our expenditure. This isn’t all bad, however. In fact, it means that by putting some time into this one area we can cut our spending by notable sums. We are not saying that you will be able to buy your dream car just by switching to energy-saver lightbulbs but with a few changes you can cut down your utility bills and save a little bit extra – it all adds up.  

 

Boiler Maintenance

Your boiler is one of the biggest factors in the cost of your utilities. If you do not carry out the necessary boiler service and repairs, it will run inefficiently requiring more energy to do the same job. More energy equals more money. In other words, if you don’t stay on top of your boiler maintenance you are throwing away cash. Not to mention the costs of repairing your boiler if it breaks down. Read our guide to boiler maintenance for all the tips on keeping it running efficiently (and in turn cutting down your utility bill).

 

Insulation

When winter comes around, you will naturally see an increase in your use of heating. This increased use comes along with increased energy bills. However, you can mitigate some of this increased use by properly insulating your home. Insulation can help keep your home warmer reducing the need for central heating. Wall and ceiling insulation are important, but you can also insulate your pipes meaning your boiler won’t have to work as hard during the winter. All this insulation adds up and so to do the energy bill savings.

 

Efficient Use of Appliances

The easiest way to throw away money by needlessly increasing your utility bill is an inefficient use of appliances. Using a dishwasher for just a few dishes is a clear example of this. Similarly, small laundry loads waste both energy and water. Even the temperature of your refrigerator could be costing you money. If you are inefficiently using your refrigerator by having it set too cold you could be wasting energy and adding to your energy bill. Almost all appliances can be used more efficiently. Simply by being cognisant of this when using them you can cut back their energy use and reduce your utility bills. Limit the washing machine to full loads, air dry instead of using the tumble dryer where possible, and only use the dishwasher when it is full and you are well on your way to cutting down your utility bill.

 

Energy Efficient Appliances

Using your appliances efficiently is a great way to cut down the energy bill but it can seem like an uphill battle if your appliances themselves are inefficient. An appliance’s energy efficiency rating will give you a good idea of its energy consumption. The more efficient an appliance is the less energy it uses. The less energy it uses the lower your utility bill. It seems simple and it is. Merely by owning more energy-efficient appliances, you can start making savings on your utility bills.

 

Energy Grants

Many people don’t know it but when it comes to energy bills there is often free cash up for grabs. Government grants, for example, could give you money off your energy bills or help you pay for insulation or installing solar panels. Not everyone is eligible for all the available options, but you might find one that you can take advantage of. There are grants from the government and energy suppliers so there are plenty of options to explore. Check out this “Government energy grants for your home” guide from Which for more details.

 

Our utility bills can often become quite expensive but by following the tips in this guide you can reduce them and start making some savings.

Guide To Fire Safety In The Workplace

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Workplace fires are a real risk which every workplace should work to prevent. Correct workplace fire safety is achieved through a series of steps. Firstly, identifying hazards. Secondly, identifying people at risk. Next we would look at reducing any potential risks and taking preventive measures, such as fire door installation and fire alarm servicing. Following this, you will want to record any measures you take and ensure the relevant people have the necessary information (including company-wide training). Finally, you want to review your fire risk assessment and continue to make changes where needed. Below we have looked at each step in more detail to ensure that you have the information you need to put a procedure in place regarding fire safety.

 

Step 1: Identify Hazards

The first step in fire safety is to identify potential hazards. You need to identify any sources of ignition such as heaters, sources of fuel (look for anything that could fuel a fire) and sources of oxygen such as air conditioning or commercial oxygen supplies. All three are fundamental to starting and fuelling a fire, so you need to be aware of where they are and work to mitigate the risk of them leading to a workplace fire.

 

Step 2: Identify People at Risk

Once you have identified hazards that can start and fuel a fire, you need to identify the people within your organisation that are most at risk. These are the people who work near the hazards you have identified, people that work alone, or people that may have difficulty moving or responding in the event of a fire such as elderly people or people with certain disabilities or injuries.

 

Step 3: Reduce Risks And Take Preventative Measures

Once you have identified potential hazards and the people who will be most vulnerable in the event of a fire, you should start mitigating risk. Keeping in mind the information gathered through steps one and two. Separate the sources of ignition and sources of fuel you identified, replacing flammable materials for non-flammable alternatives where possible.

You will also need a functioning and effective alarm system to warn people in the event of a fire. It is essential that you carry out regular fire alarm servicing so that you know your system is working. In the event of a small fire, you may be able to handle it yourself before it gets out of hand. Make sure you have fire extinguishers throughout the building which are easily accessible. 

To further prevent small fires spreading throughout the building and becoming a larger fire,  you need to install fire doors. Fire doors will also help you manage accessible routes out of the building in the case of a fire. You should have an easily accessible and known route out of the building in the event of a fire. All fire doors should be accessible and able to open without the need for a key.

 

Step 4: Record Any Changes You Make

Step four is to document all the hazards and people at risk you identified in steps one and two. You also should document all the changes and precautionary measures you made in step three. Note everything from fire alarm servicing and fire door installation to routes out of the building in the event of a fire.

 

Step 5: Keep Your Risk Assessment Updated

The final step is to make sure your risk assessment is up to date. Have new hazards arisen? Do your fire alarms need servicing again? Have you added new employees to the company that don’t know the way out of the building during a fire? Answering yes to any of these questions (and countless other we didn’t ask) means you need to update your fire risk assessment. Regularly revisit steps one through four to make sure your business’ fire risk assessment is up to date.

Our Boiler Maintenance Tips To Prevent A Boiler Breakdown

Posted on by rob.fullsend

Most of us know that boiler maintenance is important but that doesn’t stop countless homes across the UK neglecting it. Failing to maintain the upkeep of your boiler can lead to expensive repairs, increase running costs and even produce potential health risks. Thankfully, there a variety of ways you can keep on top of your boiler maintenance and reduce the need for boiler repairs.

 

Use Pipe Lagging To Prevent Boiler Breakdowns

Your home houses a complex network of water pipes and one of the best ways to maintain them and your boiler is through insulation. Also known as lagging, insulating pipework offers a few benefits. The better insulation keeps pipes from freezing, preventing boiler breakdowns and burst pipes as well as the consequent flooding and repairs. You can carry out lagging yourself with foam pipes though you may require help for some of the harder to reach pipework.

 

Switch Your Boiler Off In The Summer

Once the weather warms up and your boiler is going to see less use you can turn it off. With a combi-boiler simply change the settings to water-only. However, you should turn it back on for 15 minutes once per month to avoid problems when winter rolls back around. Turning the boiler back on for a short time each month will help prevent the pumps from seizing up.

 

Get Your Boiler Serviced Yearly

Possibly the biggest key to maintaining your boiler is having it serviced annually. A boiler service should be carried out by a gas safety registered engineer. This will help you make sure everything is running smoothly and enable you to identify and fix any issues (before they turn into a bigger more expensive problem). This annual check will go far in making sure your boiler is performing optimally and running efficiently.

For more on why you should get an annual boiler check read “Why should you get your boiler serviced regularly?”

 

Pay Attention To Your Radiators

Radiators are an integral part of your heating system and as such, they play a big role in boiler maintenance. There are a couple of ways you can better maintain your boiler when it comes to radiators. Firstly, remove air from your central heating system by bleeding your radiators. Secondly, if you find that your radiators only heat up at the top it could mean that debris has gathered in the bottom of them. You can fix this by having them professionally cleaned with a power flush. A power flush will clear out debris from your radiators and pipes.

 

Don’t Make Repairs Yourself

It can be tempting, especially if you’re a handy or DIY-oriented person, to attempt to make fixes yourself. Do not do this. Boiler repairs and checks should always be carried out by a professional. Unless you are a gas safe registered engineer you should leave your boiler alone. If you suspect an issue call a professional, if there is a problem, they will confirm your suspicions and carry out the necessary repairs. By following the tips in this post you should see few if any, issues between your annual boiler service but if one does come up speak to a qualified engineer.

 

There are a few ways to maintain your boiler and avoid emergency boiler repairs. Some of them you can implement yourself such as switching your boiler to hot water only during the summer months. Others, however, require a professional. When you require boiler repairs or checks always make sure they are carried out by a gas safe registered engineer. At Kiasu Workforce our engineers are fully certified and gas safe register approved which is why you can count on us to deliver the highest standard of work on all boiler services and repairs.

The Importance of Electrical Safety Testing

Posted on by rob.fullsend

What Is Electrical Safety Testing

Electrical safety testing refers to tests that are designed to check that products using electricity meet safe operating standards. The standards that are tested against depending on a variety of aspects as they are set by various agencies and government bodies. Electrical products sold world-wide are subject to many safety standards. But it is not just commercial products which are subject to stringent requirements. Commercial buildings, for instance, must meet an array of standards and require electrical safety testing on everything from sockets and lighting to hardwiring throughout the building.

 

Your Responsibility

As mentioned, when it comes to electrical safety there are rigorous standards that must be met. Property owners, property manager and landlords all have an obligation to look after those who work and use their building safe by ensuring their property meets safety standards. This includes making sure your electrics are safe.

 

EICR – Electrical Installation Condition Report

One of the first steps in electrical safety is earning an Electric Installation Condition Report (EICR). An EICR is a certificate you receive from passing a fixed wire test which covers hardwiring thorough the building, as well as lighting, sockets and air condition among other items. The report is very thorough and will include improvements you need to make if the test reveals your electrical systems do not meet the necessary standards.

 

PAT Testing

Fixed electrical products such as lighting and air conditioning are not all that you need to test regularly in order to meet safety standards. Various health and safety law and regulations also require that you carry out PAT testing on any electrical product which is connected to electricity via lead or plug. PAT, short for Portable Appliance Testing, is required for all relevant products in the workplace and each item must be routinely PAT tested.

 

Why Electrical Safety Testing Important

Testing is essential to identify a potential fault with electrical systems and products. Such faults can cause serious harm. The risk of an accident occurring increases if you do not regularly test for faults with EICR and PAT tests. Workplace safety is a serious issue which is addressed in a wide variety of ways across industries. From food hygiene to labelling ingredients there are many rules and regulations in place to protect workers, consumers and everyone else that interacts with a business. 

Electrical safety testing is simply another part of protecting people and companies from accident or injury. Regulations and law both contain many stipulations to ensure the highest level of care is taken to prevent electrical fault related incidents. As a landlord, property manager or property owner it is your job to ensure your building meets requirements. A thorough test such as PAT or EICR will reveal if you are or not. If you are, congratulations, you are good for now and can revisit it on your next tests. If you are not, however, your tests will show you all the areas that need improving and it is your duty to see that the improvements are made – it could literally be a case of life and death.

 

Some Final Thoughts

At Kiasu Workforce we provide electrical safety testing across London. From fixed wire testing to PAT testing we can help you meet regulations with our testing services and reports which will show you any changes which are needed. Our expert team has a huge knowledge bank and plenty of experience to draw from but the best advice we can offer is, don’t put it off! Testing is not an option. You need to meet standards and regulations and failing to do so puts people at risk. Regardless of the result of an electrical safety test, it is a good thing – meeting regulation puts your mind at ease until your next check, whilst failing gives you the chance to make changes and prevent potential accidents.

Why should you get your boiler serviced regularly?

Posted on by rob.fullsend

People go all summer without touching the thermostat, but as the weather turns colder, and they turn to their heating system to provide warmth and comfort, they could find that it’s not working at all. 

In that case, the need to get an emergency plumber out will be a costly expense that could’ve been avoided.

Servicing your boiler regularly keeps it healthy

If boilers aren’t looked after properly, they can become faulty and, in the worst-case scenario, be fatal. It’s not uncommon to experience boiler problems from time to time but to minimise the possibility of a bigger issue, we recommend regular boiler servicing. 

Every boiler should at the very minimum have a service every year carried out by a Gas Safe engineer. They will fully assess the current condition of your boiler and make sure it’s running more safely and efficiently. 

Reduce boiler breakdowns

One of the obvious benefits of regular gas servicing is that you can avoid costly boiler breakdowns. The costs can quickly mount up when you find yourself calling out a specialist for a boiler-related emergency.

Instead, by keeping on top of your boiler maintenance and servicing, you can keep your boiler in great working order and identify issues before they get worse.

Save money in the long-term

Maintaining the condition of your boiler will save you money in the long-term. You may begrudge the cost of paying for regular servicing but these costs will be significantly less than the cost of repairing or replacing a boiler that hasn’t been serviced and breaks down.

Keep you and your family safe 

Regularly servicing your boiler will make sure it’s combusting fuel safely and efficiently, minimizing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless and tasteless, meaning that most don’t even know they are being poisoned.

For the elderly, vulnerable, or those with young children, a lack of heating and hot water can have severe health and financial implications so ensuring you have a working boiler is a must. 

Boiler servicing needs to be done by a Gas Safe engineer

As property maintenance specialists, we recommend getting your boiler serviced at least once a year by a Gas Safe engineer. This regular boiler servicing will keep your boiler working effectively for longer, reduce the risk of boiler breakdowns, save you money in the long-term, and keep your family safe.

Speak to our team today for all your boiler servicing needs. Give us a call on 0208 988 1662 or email us with your enquiry.

4 Winter Heating Myths Busted – Kiasu Workforce

Posted on by rob.fullsend

It’s that time of year when the clocks have gone back, the dark nights are drawing in and the temperature has dropped significantly. Before you reach for the thermostat and crank the heating up high, think about these common heating myths that could be costing you hundred’s a year.

Learn about these common heating myths and the truth behind them so you can avoid costly heating mistakes, reduce your energy consumption, and cut energy bills.

Myth 1: It’s cheaper to leave the heating on all the time rather than turning it on and off

A very common heating myth is that it takes more energy to turn the heating on and off, than it does to leave the heating turned on at a low temperature constantly. According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, having the heating on only when you need it is the best way to save energy and money. 

One reason for this is that a small amount of energy constantly leaks out of your home, so if you keep the heating on, you’ll be continuously losing energy all day.

Why put your heating on when your not in the house to benefit from it? Make use of your timers so your heating only comes on at the times of day that it’s needed. Make sure the clock on your timer is right and remember to adjust it when the clocks change.

Myth 2: Turning the thermostat up higher will heat the house quicker

When the weather turns and it’s getting colder outside and inside, it can be tempting to turn the thermostat up to a really high temperature thinking that it will warm the house up quicker. 

However, this doesn’t help your space to get warmer any quicker. The house will warm up at the same speed, regardless of what temperature you set it to. Instead, set your thermostat to 18°C – 21°C as recommended and wait for the space to warm up. 

Myth 3: Paint radiators black to save energy

Some people think that painting radiators black instead of the standard white will make your heating more energy efficient. The thinking behind this is that black is a more efficient colour at absorbing and giving off heat.

However, this isn’t true. It’s more important to insulate your walls properly to prevent any heat from leaking out of your home altogether.

Myth 4: Only get a technician to look at your boiler if it’s not working

Unfortunately, many people only call out boiler engineers when they are already experiencing a problem with their heating system.

Instead, you should have your heating system serviced once a year to check it is working correctly and efficiently. Another benefit is that regular servicing can help you avoid a costly repair bill. Just make sure you use Gas Safe registered engineers so you can be confident that the work will be done correctly and will follow strict safety standards.

Cut energy consumption & cut costs

Take these common tricks into account the next time you turn your heating on. You could use less energy and save a fortune on your energy bills so it’s a win-win.

Kiasu Workforce uses only Gas Safe Registered engineers to carry out our boiler maintenance service and any heating and gas services. So get in touch with our team today to benefit from our central heating and boiler services.