Households across the country are feeling the pinch as the cost of everything from food to household bills continue to rise – with no sign of abating.

In fact, new figures reveal that in just five years annual fuel bills have doubled from an average £740 to £1,345.

But there is one simple way to keep spiralling costs of energy at bay: a small gas-elec device called g-save.

It won Good Housekeeping’s green living award in 2009, and can shave up to 22% off gas bills.

The g-save is a small device that wires into your central heating (must be a fully pumped heating system) to optimise the amount of fuel the boiler uses. Often there’s a time lag between the thermostat signalling the need for heat and the system registering the temperature has been reached, resulting in overheating and wasted energy.

It has two timers, usually connected to the room thermostat and hot water cylinder thermostat. They monitor the heat already circulating in the system to ensure the boiler fires only when necessary.

Price: £79 (incl VAT and p+p) unfitted

Gas-elec’s landlord clients can now save up to 40% on their property insurance.

The nationwide gas and electrical inspection company this week launched g-sure, an unbeatable insurance package for landlords whose properties have passed its annual safety checks.

Gas and electrical faults are a major cause of fires to properties – but carrying out annual safety checks reduces this risk significantly. Knowing this, our insurers are happy to offer gas-elec’s landlord customers insurance at greatly discounted prices.

g-sure includes buildings and contents insurance, property owners liability and – at no extra cost – covers landlords’ legal expenses and home emergency service.

Rent guarantee can also be purchased.

Annual gas safety checks are, of course, mandatory. This is not (yet) the case with electrical checks, but landlords are still legally responsible for their tenants’ electrical safety. Providing unsafe appliances and wiring are offences punishable by law. And if either is found in a rented property, the Trading Standards Institute will check that the landlord took all reasonable precautions to ensure the contrary.

So, to stay on the right side of the law – and, more important, their conscience – gas-elec has always advocated that landlords carry out annual electrical safety inspections on their properties. And earlier this year, we reported the Electrical Safety Council’s shocking findings that private tenants are at greater risk of suffering electrical accidents than the population at large.

Now there’s a financial incentive to do the right thing as well. For the cost of having electrical inspection should be more than covered by the savings landlords will make by taking out g-sure property insurance.

Safety is absolutely paramount in the world of gas, but some cowboy fitters choose to ignore this simple truth.

One of them, Michael Gill, doesn’t have this option any more. The 66-year-old illegal gas fitter was this week prosecuted for endangering lives, fined £600 and ordered to pay £385 in costs.

Given the gravity of his crime, you could argue that he got off pretty lightly.

Guildford Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that Gill installed a gas boiler and flue (the boiler’s exhaust pipe) on house in Elstead in March 2008 and left both in a dangerous condition.

The fitter — who lied about being a registered gas engineer with the Gas Safe Register, the industry’s official list of qualified engineers –returned to the property on four occasions between 2009 and 2011 to service the boiler.

When the Gas Safe Register inspected the boiler it found a number of defects, three of which it classed as ‘immediately dangerous’. The matter was immediately passed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Gill, of Grayshott, pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of the Gas Regulations 1998.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Andrew Cousins said: “In order to work legally in the UK, gas installers must be registered as Michael Gull is fully aware. Yet he defied this requirement and endangered lives with an installation that was shoddy at best and, in reality, was a potential death trap.”

Indeed. When it comes to gas safety, don’t take any chances. Always ask to see the ID which every Gas Safe registered engineer must carry, and if you have any concerns, go straight to the Gas Safe Register. The Gills of this world give professional fitters a bad name.

A gas engineer was this week jailed for three years after a boiler he installed incorrectly led to the death of a woman from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Andrew Hartley, of Somerset, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence over the death of Zoe Anderson, 24, who was found dead at her father’s home, in Bath, in December 2010.

Hartley, 36, had failed to secure a flue pipe properly which left the flue – the boiler’s exhaust pipe – unconnected. In combination with a malfunctioning boiler, leaky flues produce the colourless, odourless and tasteless killer that is carbon monoxide.

In fact, Miss Anderson died within 30 minutes of being exposed to the carbon monoxide. The deadly fumes leaked from the flue pipe which was fitted in the garage of the townhouse in one of Bath’s most exclusive streets.

The prosecution said Hartley did a “rushed” and “botched” job. And the judge declared: “You knew the potential dangers of a carbon monoxide leak and leaving the flue unconnected created a clearly foreseeable risk to life and, as the jury found, amounted to criminal negligence.”

Safety is absolutely paramount in the world of gas and electricity and here at gas-elec we have rigorous checks in place to ensure that the quality of our engineers’ work NEVER falls below high standards.

We have an auditing process that ensures regular audits of our engineers is carried out on actual live jobs to ensure they are working safely and competently. This information is then fed to the Gas Safe Register, the official register of gas engineers who are qualified to work safely and legally on gas systems and appliances, and other compliance bodies including the National Inspection Council of Electrical Installation Contractors. These industry bodies then audit gas-elec.

Our slogan is ‘We protect our greatest assets…our customers’, and we mean every word.

Don’t take chances with your nearest and dearest — the only way to ensure gas and electrical installations are safe in your new home is to test them.

gas-elec specialises in combined gas and electrical safety tests and boiler servicing. In one visit, one fully qualified safety engineer carries out gas and electrical inspections and produces one, completely impartial, report at the end.

Our Homes Services Report is a written assessment of your property’s: gas installation and appliances; central heating; electrical installations; plumbing system.

Get one done. Don’t take chances with your family’s lives.

Earlier this month, gas-elec ran a blog about landlords’ failure to ensure their tenants’ electrical safety.

The Electrical Safety Council found that domestic electrical accidents kill at least one Brit every week and injure 1000 every day. And private tenants are at greater risk than the population at large: although they consititute 16% of UK adults, they account for 20% of people suffering electric shocks in the home.
Are you one of the victims? Is your landlord aware of his or her electrical safety obligations? Have you tried, and failed, to discuss electrical safety with your landlord? Are you worried about your safety?

If so, please get in touch via this blog.

The garden building business is blooming booming!

Thanks to technological advances aiding mobile communications and the ever-increasing costs of commuting, many of us are opting to work from home.  A self-contained office in the garden provides the perfect environment to do just that.

The downturn in the economy has also played its part in the garden building boom.  Financial uncertainty has resulted in a reluctance to move house, with homeowners choosing to stay put and improve and/or extend properties.  In some cases this has led to the introduction of a garden building, whether used as a garden room, summerhouse or kids’ den.

To get the maximum use from a garden building, heating (along with light and power) is a must.   If the building isn’t warm and cosy, then it won’t be used, particularly in the colder winter months.  This article looks at factors to consider when it comes to heating your garden building.

Insulation is key

Is there adequate insulation?  Some, but not all purpose-built garden rooms, are adequately insulated.  If you have converted a shed or outbuilding, or opted for a lower cost garden building, then you will probably need to add insulation.  Without this, the cost of heating could be prohibitively expensive.

Add Heating

In order for any garden building to be comfortable and useable (for more than just storage), all year round, it will need to be heated.

So what factors should you consider when choosing heating for a garden building?

• Heat output – when choosing any form of heating it is critical that the option you select has the capacity to adequately heat the space.  If in doubt, oversize the heater, as you can always turn it down.
• Thermostatic control – choosing a heating option with a thermostat will ensure that your garden building is heated optimally at a constant and comfortable temperature. Thermostatic controls provide efficient and cost-effective use of power; for instance, they can turn off a heater when the room has reached its optimum temperature; perfect on a sunny day for taking advantage of any “free heat” from the sun.  By maintaining the temperature above a certain minimum level, you protect the contents of the building, including computers and soft furnishings, from cold or damp related damage.
• Timer – by opting for a product with a timer, you can ensure that the heating is on when it needs to be.  A timer allows you to set the heating to come on just before you start your day, ensuring a toasty office in time for when you arrive.
• Space – by their very nature, many outbuildings are small in size.  Therefore space is often a critical factor in choosing your heating option.  These days, radiators are available in unusually narrow or low sizes, so there is likely to be something to accommodate even the most awkward of wall spaces.  There are also floor-standing heaters, which are portable and take up no wall space.
• Budget – it may seem obvious, but costs vary immensely on heating options for garden buildings.  For instance, the price of an electric heater can range from £20 for a basic fan heater to £2000 for the ultimate designer model.  Take account of installation costs as well, for example if you opt for electric underfloor heating, bear in mind that installation costs may be considerable, especially if the floor needs to be taken up to allow the electric foil mat to be fitted underneath.
• Aesthetics – Whether your new space is for living or working, as well as being a comfortable and functional environment, you may also want to add style with an attractive looking heater; the many designs now available mean you can choose minimalism to aid focus, bright colours for inspiration or soft curves to give a relaxed feel.

So what are the different heating options available for garden buildings?

ELECTRIC RADIATORS

Water and oil filled electric radiators

The water inside a water-filled electric radiator is heated by an electric element and is used as a heat reservoir.  Oil-filled electric radiators are heated electrically; the oil is not burnt but again is used as a heat reservoir.  Both types of electric radiators work on the same principle and have similar running costs.

Pros

• Wall mounted and floor standing models available;
• Many floor mounted versions can be plugged into a socket, so there are no installation costs and the radiators are often portable;
• Wide range of contemporary and traditional styles available.  From minimalist sleek designs like the Electric Royce (which is made of lightweight aluminium), to classic column style cast iron radiators like the Electric Etonian;
• Many are available with timers and thermostats; and
• Some styles heat up quickly (particularly those made of lightweight aluminium); others cool down slowly (such as those made of cast iron).

Cons

• The wall-mounted versions don’t sit as close to the wall as some of the electric radiant panel radiators currently on the market.

Electric radiant panel radiators

Electric panel radiators radiate heat (rather than convecting it) and don’t contain any liquid.  These radiators have become extremely popular in recent times, due to their efficient, environmental and practical qualities.  One of the best electric panel radiators around is the iRad from Feature Radiators, which is beautifully designed, slim, flat and sits close to the wall.

Pros

• Lightweight;
• Sits close to the wall;
• Many sizes, finishes and colours available;
• Heats up quickly;
• Radiates warmth without “blowing”;
• Warms both objects and the surrounding air;
• Available with thermostats and timers; and
• Precise, focused, highly efficient heating.

Cons

• Almost always wall-mounted, so there will need to be at least some wall space available.

Wood burners

A wood-burning stove burns wood fuel and wood-derived biomass fuel whilst creating heat.

Pros

• Lovely cosy feel with attractive real fire flame;
• Carbon neutral, if fuel comes from sustainable sources;
• Warms both objects and the surrounding air; and
• Relatively low running costs.

Cons

• Lack of controllability, which can lead to high temperatures;
• Sourcing and moving around fuel can be difficult and messy;
• Demands time and effort on a daily basis to keep it running;
• Ash created needs to be cleaned up;
• Requires reasonable amount of space, taking up both wall and floor space; and
• Significant installation costs.

Fan heaters

A fan heater works by passing air over a heating element, this heats up the air, which then leaves the heater, warming up the surrounding room.

Pros

• Heats up a room quickly;
• Warms both objects and the surrounding air;
• Relatively small so doesn’t take up much floor space; and
• No installation costs.

Cons

• As soon as its switched off, the room will cool down quickly;
• Fan creates noise;
• Often unattractive;
• Uses a lot of energy resulting in high running costs; and
• Heat is blown out rather than convected or radiated, which can create a stuffy and snoozy environment.

Infrared heating panels

Infrared heating panels are a relatively new idea in the UK but have been widely available in Europe for more than ten years. Infrared heaters heat through the use of infrared waves.

Pros

• Focused heating, infrared waves only heat what they hit;
• Provide heat rapidly;
• Reasonably efficient to run;
• Can be fitted onto the ceiling to keep them out of the way; and
• Thermostats and timers available.

Cons

• Only heat the objects that the infrared waves hit.  If you sit facing an infrared heater, then the back of your body and head and any part below the heater will remain cold.
• The surrounding air is not heated at all.
• Potential fire hazard – As heating is focused and direct, there may be a risk of fire if the heater is placed too close to an object.  For example, if an infrared heater fell onto a wood floor.

Electric underfloor heating

Electric underfloor heating consists of a foil heat mat containing heating wires, which warm the floor surface which in turn heats the air above it.  The foil mat must be laid under the laminate or wooden flooring intended for the garden building.

Pros

• No wall space required;
• Nice feeling under foot;
• When working to an optimum, whole room is evenly heated with an ambient background temperature;
• Many are available with thermostats and timers; and
• Relatively low running costs.

Cons

• May not have sufficient capacity to provide adequate heat for building – depending on level of insulation, ceiling height, and amount of glass;
• Relatively high installation costs;
• Insulated floor required;
• Must be installed under the floor, so may not be a desirable option where the flooring is already down;
• Slow to respond, can take up to 3 hours to get up to temperature, so forward planning needed and can take a long time to cool down;
• Limits choice of floor-coverings; and
• If it fails, the cost and inconvenience of repair will be significant, as flooring may need to be removed or replaced.

Portable gas heaters

Historically, a popular option for heating rooms or outbuildings particularly where there was no power source.  Power is provided to these heaters via gas bottles that sit at the bottom of the heater.

Pros

• High heat output;
• Self contained heaters, requiring no external power source;
• No installation charges; and
• Portable.

Cons

• Safety – you must not place items on top or directly in front of gas heaters.  This may be a challenge if you are working in a small space;
• Unpleasant gas odour;
• Adequate ventilation is vital to prevent a build up of dangerous fumes;
• Risk of carbon monoxide leak; and
• Large bulky items taking up valuable space, both when in use and in storage.

Conclusion

Whatever type of garden room heating you choose, you must ensure that it has the capacity to heat the relevant space.  It is important to maximize the power used to efficiently provide heat whilst minimizing energy wastage through the use of good insulation, timers and thermostats.

Bear in mind that these days having a comfortable warm outbuilding doesn’t mean you need to compromise on style with ugly, bulky and/or ineffective heating options.  There is now a wide range of stylish, safe yet efficient electric heating solutions available.

For more information on finding the most suitable heating product for your garden building, speak to a heating expert such as Feature Radiators.  Visit their showroom where they have over 160 radiators on display and expert advice on hand, call their expert team directly on 01274 567789 or browse their electric radiator range at: http://www.featureradiators.co.uk/Electric.htm

You wouldn’t drive a car year after year without servicing it, so why are millions of Brits putting themselves and their families at risk by not carrying out annual safety inspections on the gas appliances in their homes?

That question comes from Gas Safe Register, the official list of gas engineers who are qualified to work safely and legally on gas appliances.
According to the organisation, nine million Brits, almost half of the UK’s 21 million gas-using homes don’t carry out safety checks on their gas appliances. And 1.6 million say they have never had their appliances checked.

However, 97% of respondents said they understood this failure meant they were risking carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks or explosions.
Asked why they didn’t have their appliances checked, 37% cited cost, 17% said they simply forgot, and 8% said it was someone else’s responsibility. And 29% said a safety check was only necessary if a problem needed fixing.
Well, there is, frankly, little excuse for saying you’ve forgotten to get your gas appliances checked — or that one is only necessary if there is an actual problem.

And with a gas-elec annual gas safety inspection costing from as little as £60 a year, it probably costs less than you thought, too.

Go to www.gas-elec.co.uk for more information

Annoyed at paying for unnecessary cover on your home insurance?

There is a solution – gas-elec. We do more than it says on our tin: in addition to tens of gas and electrical safety and energy-saving products, we can find you home owners’ building insurance that is based on the number of rooms in your property. Most insurance policies are based on covering an insured sum.

We’ve negotiated the policy with leading insurers, and the price is highly competitive.

We also offer flexible cover – meaning you can say good bye to high premium all risks cover.

So, you keep your assets fully protected. And we protect our greatest assets – you.

Call 0800 587 9999 for more information

The Times this week claimed that private tenants are at a greater risk of suffering electrical accidents than the population at large.

The newspaper’s story was based on new research from the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) which found electrical accidents kill at least one person every week and injure 1000 people every day.

According to the survey, landlords’ failure to address electricity safety means although only 16% of UK adults live in privately rented accommodation, they account for 20% of people suffering electric shocks in the home.

A staggering one in three landlords questioned by the ESC is unaware of his or her electrical safety obligations. And although a fifth of private tenants are worried about their safety, three quarters cannot recall discussing electrical safety with their landlord.

The Times article and the ESC research echo what gas-elec has been saying since its inception in 1996 – landlords are legally responsible for their tenants’ electrical safety. They must ensure that electrical installations and wiring are safe throughout the tenancy. Failure to do so can lead to fines of up to £5,000 and imprisonment.

To this end, gas-elec has several electrical safety services aimed specifically at landlords.

Our standard Landlord Safety Inspection covers up to six electrical appliances and up to three gas appliances. A polarity and earth fault loop impedance test on two random sockets is included in the test and is recommended for compliance with legislation, including electrical safety as set out in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

Under our Landlord Protection Plan your annual gas and electrical safety testing, certification and boiler testing will be done automatically – ending any worries about out-of-date certificates and overdue inspections.

And for ultimate peace of mind, we can carry out an Electrical Installation Condition Report, an in-depth inspection and test of all of your property’s accessible electrical installations, with a report at the end.

Go to www.gas-elec.co.uk for more information on our products and services aimed at landlords.