Safety
Hewro
7 things to do before leaving for your holiday ...

1.Do not switch off your boiler.
There is an internal clock inside your boiler system which comes on every day to run a cycle.
It does this so the ‘running’ parts and pump keep moving and the system doesn’t seize up.

2. Check your radiators are not leaking and have no green residue around the connections.
You do not want to come back to at best a west spot to worst a massive leak, pipes age and leak which is why they need maintenance.

3. Set your room thermostat to away mode or manually to 10° – 12°
Yes, even if it’s summer time, or it’s just hot when you leave, set your thermostat or floor heating to a low temperature to keep pipes warm and to stop damp from forming.

4. Keep your house ventilated.
Security when you are away is important which is why your windows and doors should be locked but make sure the air vents and air grills are open to let fresh air go around your house, other wise you will come back to stale not nice smelling house.

5. Run a final cycle through your washing machine and dishwasher
Once everything is dry and put away, wash out the soap drawers, leave the doors fully open and unplug the appliances at the mains.

6. Turn your water off
If you know where your stopcock is, it’s wise to turn the water off at the mains. This will vastly limit the threat of flooding. If you’re not sure where it is, just ensure that your taps are securely turned off.

7. Take a portable carbon monoxide and smoke detector with you on your holiday.
You and your family safety is the most important thing, there has been many horror stories in other place with not the safety track and regulation of the UK. Place them in areas where you are sleeping.

7 things to do before leaving for your holiday for your Plumbing!
Hewro
Do you have a garden, does your garden have a ...

We have been through a lot as a country and now it is the 1st of June 2020 the SUMMER is here!

The sun is shining, it has been most of the month and the view from our offices show life is starting to get back to a ‘new’ normal.

As the lock down is starting to ease people are starting to plan garden meet ups with their families and loved ones.

Horsham and West Sussex are well known for the clean air, cultural landscape and beautiful green space at the back of our homes. There has never been a better time to get cleaning, sorting and ready for those BBQ’s we have so far missed out on.

With the lockdown restrictions lifted ever so slightly, you can get yourself down to garden centres which have now opened ,and stock up on some flowers, seedlings hanging baskets and prepare those back gardens for the season ahead!

The stresses of lockdown mean many people are rediscovering the appeal of gardening, which hugely promotes physical and mental health, but how are you watering your flowers? How are you jet washing the garden or filling the kids blow up pool? washing your car? Is it a tap running though the kitchen window or back door? through your living room? Do you want to avoid the hassle and proposed risks of a hose running through your home every time you need to use it, and the risk of damaging plumbing fittings or a leakage in your home? Abbey Boilers have a great but simple solution for you, and that is to get yourself an outdoor garden tap, right in a place that’s convenient for you and your family.

Access to an outdoor tap can make life so much easier. It is a straightforward installation that takes no more than a few hours, and is a cost effective solution. We will assess and advise you about the best type of tap to install. If you are buying the tap yourself always ensure it measures up to British standards. Regulations stipulate outdoor taps must have a one way valve installed so water can only flow in one direction - out from the mains. Water, particularly in a garden can get contaminated with dirt, mud or grit, and the check valve ensures that any contaminants do not enter the main water supply.

It’s also possible to have a hot tap outside too - particularly useful for those of you with young children and to fill those paddling pools, as we know the British summer cannot be guaranteed to warm those pools! A hot tap could even be useful for washing your car, and the simple installation of a Y fitting means you can use the hot and cold taps like a mixer tap.

In addition we always ensure to complete installations with minimal pipework running along outside walls, and any pipes required will always be insulated to protect the pipes in all weather. If you want a problem free installation, a free no obligations quote, or even just advice, please contact us!

The summer is here -let’s all get out, get some fresh air and make the most of it as we have had a very ‘unusual’ spring!!

Do you have a garden, does your garden have a tap ?
Hewro
Safety of our customers and and staff will ...

Safety at Abbey Boilers will always be our first priority . Throughout the pandemic we as an organisation have taken swift and immediate action to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible.

The changes that have been implemented were significant to our business at the start of the pandemic, both in terms of our operations and how our engineers operate in the field. We have been maintaining social distancing in our offices with reduced staff and levels of strict hygiene have been adhered to by our engineers on the roads who have been issued with correct and sufficient PPE.

We will continue this while we carry on emergency work for customers across the South East and West Sussex, including priority jobs for key worker staff.

We are slowly starting to see signs of companies planning gradual return to work, and slow introduction of employees back into the workplace. A gradual return will help maintain social distancing in early days and give companies enough time to require employees to fill out health assessments and get tested if necessary. Rest assured meticulous planning is in place and steps are being taken to ensure safety of both customers and employees.

Some of the big housebuilding companies like Taylor Wimpey will be starting to build again shortly and car firms such as Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover are preparing to resume production in their factories.

These are all positive signs for the economy and our amazing country. This does not mean battle against COVID-19, which is by no means close to ending yet.

The way we live and work will be quite different from what we are used to for many months to come or even longer. The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty said during one of the recent government daily press conferences that social distancing will need to be in place for ‘some considerable time’.

If that is the case, the country and its business community have to be able to adapt. The health of the nation is, undoubtedly, the first priority, but having an active economy filled with businesses that create employment, follows a close second.

We know the lockdown as it is now cannot continue for the long term and there are reports that the pandemic has reached its peak and has levelled off, but the same time, we can’t risk ruining the hard work we have all put in to stop the virus spreading further with a second spike.

Therefore, we have to adapt and evolve, which is something entrepreneurial businesses in the UK have been doing for generations as we have at Abbey Boilers when we started fixing our first boiler all those years ago.

As a business that provides an essential service from workers that cannot work from home, we changed quickly. Times like this spur innovation and we implemented new ways of working that would keep our people safe, but also our customers as the majority of the time the only way we can carry out our work is to enter their homes.

We will continue to apply these processes for the foreseeable future as we return to providing more than emergency call out jobs.

We too will be looking forward to get back to normal working conditions in people’s homes and business premises as before.

But until then we have to together as a country beat this, only together can this be achieved.

Stay Safe!

Abbey Boilers

Safety of our customers and and staff will always be our number 1 priority at Abbey Boilers
Hewro
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update by Abbey Boilers

With Coronavirus (COVID-19) impacting us all, it’s more important than ever to support each other - together, we can get through this.

These are difficult, fast moving and concerning times for everyone.

At Abbey Boilers we have been serving our community for almost 20 years, and we will continue to serve the needs of our customers in West Sussex, Surrey, South West London, Brighton and Hove whilst doing our best to prioritise emergencies and put our most vulnerable customers first.

At some point life will start to return to normal but during these unprecedented times we will do our best to help our customers with their essential work. Gas safety is very important and now is the time to make sure your boiler is fully safe and tested. The government has declared our service as key workers, we therefore will remain open during this time of social distancing, following all advice and recommendations to ensure the absolute safety of both our staff and customers.

We place the safety of our employees and our customers above all else which is why we will implement a social distancing when carrying out works in your property.

If you’re experiencing problems with your plumbing or heating, or even if you simply require an annual gas safety check, you can rest assured Abbey Boilers will provide a professional, reliable safe service.

We continue to review all our practices and guidelines as government information changes, but don’t worry, should anything change we will let you know.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update by Abbey Boilers
Hewro
Abbey Boilers Heating Systems For Rural Areas

At Abbey Boilers, we serve Horsham and the surrounding areas of Surrey and West Sussex. As such, a lot of the land we cover can be considered quite rural. The beautiful countryside of West Sussex has a considerable number of farms, country houses, and villages. Sometimes a traditional boiler heating system just isn’t practical or EVEN possible. And so, our service engineers at Abbey Boilers are skilled and certified in the installation and maintenance of LPG boiler systems.

Abbey Boilers Heating Systems For Rural Areas

service

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Good time to test your heating system and service your Boiler before Winter comes knocking

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Good time to test your heating system and service your Boiler before Winter comes knocking

With the arrival of winter soon and long cool nights, homeowners are starting to turn on the central heating system.

However, in many cases the gas boiler system have not been completely turned off for several months and sudden ignition can cause problems.

This is the perfect time to check and resolve problems before the cold winter days comes and the central heating system is turned on every day.

It's a good idea to turn on your boiler system once or twice a month at least, even if you're not using it. This will help keep your boiler in good working condition. It also detects problems before using the heating system frequently and prevents dust and dirt buildup and pipe corrosion in your heating system.

If in doubt, call us at Abbey Boilers at any time to book a service or boiler check. This is an ideal time to properly maintain a central heating system before it is fully tested by the daily usage requirements of autumn and winter. Some of the simple things you can do to get the boiler and gas central heating system to work at the optimum level include ventilation of a radiator with a faucet.

If the radiator of the heating system has cold spots or is noisy, the air may be trapped and need bleeding.

If the radiator is cold, use a wrench to loosen the valve nut on one side of the radiator, wait for the air to swoosh and the water to begin to flow, then close it again.

This evenly distributes the water around the radiator and maintains the efficiency of the central heating system.

Once all the radiators are bled, the boiler should be turned on by raise the temperature slowly so that it does not heat too quickly until it reaches the ideal temperature.

The thermostat should be set to a comfortable temperature you require for your home, usually 18-21 degrees Celsius.

Taking care of your central heating system should help your boiler last longer, protect you from unnecessary repairs, so that you and your family can be in a nice warm home longer.

If you need any help with your service get in touch with us:

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Safety Advice for Students Heading in to Rented Properties

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Safety Advice for Students Heading in to Rented Properties

OFTEC has supplied some basic Gas and Oil safety guidelines to help protect students in their search for a rented property.

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Survey Reveals scary statistics on carbon monoxide poisoning

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Carbon monoxide poisoning kills more than 50 people and hospitalises more 40,000 each year, so as part of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month, Oftec are promoting the installation of Co alarms in people’s homes.

CO is produced when carbon fuels don't burn properly and any type of heating system where combustion takes place can potentially give off the odourless, colourless gas. CO poisoning can result in severe long-term health problems, or even death, with younger and older people most at risk. Key symptoms to watch out for are tiredness, dizziness and headaches.

In support of the campaign, Abbey Boilers is promoting the simple ABC safety checklist which advises households of the key steps they should take to reduce the risk:

7 reasons you should get an Aga.

7 reasons you should get an Aga.

An aga has been an iconic centrepiece in the British kitchen since their invention in 1922. An Aga is a cast iron cooker. Each Aga is built to order but there are staple elements in any Aga. These include the simmering oven, roasting oven and at least one hot plate. 

You can buy Electric, Gas and oil Agas, but Agas don't come cheap so is it worth it?

1. Food Just tastes better.

2. Warmth

3. Design

4. It is multiple appliances in one 

5. Made in the UK.

Households could be missing out on significant fuel bill savings

Households could be missing out on significant fuel bill savings

With the warm weather hopefully on its way, households are being urged to ‘spring clean’ their heating system to avoid missing out on significant savings.

The recent ‘Beast from the East’ double storm emphasised the importance of keeping your heating system in tip top shape. Now the weather has started to settle down, it’s a good time to check everything is working efficiently to ensure you make the most of the savings on your fuel bills during the warmer months.

In response OFTEC, which represents the oil heating industry, has issued a spring cleaning checklist to help people cut energy costs over the warmer months:

  1. Adjust your heating timers. Check the heating is coming on at the correct time, especially if you changed the ‘On/Off’ times to heat your home for longer during the cold weather.

  2. Turn off individual radiators. Ensure you aren’t wasting money heating rooms you aren’t using. Also check the radiator temperatures in your main rooms if these were set higher during the cold weather.

  3. Make sure you have enough heating oil. You may have used more oil than usual during the prolonged cold snap. Check how much you have left and top up early to avoid any emergency deliveries. We recommend you use an FPS fuel supplier.

  4. Have your boiler serviced. The sub-zero temperatures this winter mean that your boiler and heating system will have been working very hard. Have the system checked over by a GasSafe (for mains gas) or OFTEC (for oil) registered technician who will ensure it is working correctly and to maximum efficiency. Abbey Boilers do LPG, Gas and Oil annual services

7 reasons an annual boiler service is a good idea.

Is there any point? Is it necessary? Is it worth the money? These are all common questions people ask themselves when considering getting a boiler service.  Getting your boiler serviced is just one of those chores that people often put off or neglect and as a result, your boiler doesn’t get the attention it needs. But your boiler shouldn’t get overlooked and here are 7 reasons why.

1.    Save money on your energy bills.

Part of a boiler service will include checking the boiler is running efficiently, which, in turn, can save you money over time.

Naturally, the model and age of a boiler are factors in its energy efficiency. However, maintaining a healthy boiler system, you are putting your boiler under less stress and so are using less energy to run, which reduces fuel costs.

2.    You can catch your boiler problems early.

The adage, prevention is better, and cheaper, than cure can be applied to your boiler. Your boiler is in constant use all year round, not just in the winter. It is your boiler that allows you to have those nice warm showers. However, most people only notice a problem with their boiler in the winter when they are using it more frequently. By this time, the problem has often escalated to a more severe, and thus, more expensive problem.

3.    A service is cheaper than replacing a boiler.

A service probably costs less than you think. At Abbey Boilers a service costs as little as £65.45, whereas a new boiler can run into the thousands. A boiler service is intended to keep your boiler running properly and to pick up on any minor issues. They ensure these small problems are picked up quickly before they grow into problems big enough to require a new boiler.

A well-maintained boiler should last longer than one that is not regularly services, so you are limiting the risk of prematurely needing a new boiler.

4.    You can rest easy knowing your boiler is safe.

Getting a boiler service means checking your boiler is running safely. Around 4,000 people go to A&E for Carbon Monoxide poisoning every year because of leaking boilers. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is so dangerous because the symptoms are like those of common illness, including dizziness, headaches, and fatigue, so It can be hard to distinguish between the two.

Having your boiler serviced means you can relax knowing you and your family are safe from harmful fumes.

5.    Keeping your warranty valid.

Most boilers only remain under their warranty if they are serviced annually. Most warranties and maintenance agreements require your boiler to be serviced every year for the above reasons. Failure to do so can result in your warranty being negated. This means that if your boiler does break down you won’t be covered, costing you a lot more money.

6.    It can cut your carbon footprint.

Just like getting your boiler serviced can save you money, it can also help reduce your carbon footprint. Depending on its age, a serviced boiler will run at its optimum energy efficiency because it isn’t overcompensating for any problems the boiler may have. When a boiler is running at its peak efficiency it means it requires less energy, thus less fuel, saving both the planet and your bank balance.

7.    For landlords and businesses, it is compulsory.

Every tenanted property and business must receive a gas safety certificate that needs to be renewed every year. The only way to receive the certificate is to have all the gas appliances on the property serviced properly by a gas safe engineer. This includes boilers but also other gas appliances such as gas stoves and fires. Abbey boilers offer Gas safety checks from just £65.45.

Has your boiler been serviced in the last 12 months?

Abbey boilers services Oil, Gas and LPG boilers and AGA cookers. Click here to see our other services.

To get in contact please click here. 

Installing, servicing, and repairing boilers, oil tanks, Agas and much more in the Horsham, Crawley, West Sussex, Surrey, South West London, and Brighton and Hove areas.

Registered in England & Wales No. 7559426
Gas Safe No 529002
Vat No. 111 6410 69