npower urges homeowners to prepare for cold temperatures

npower has revealed that it received an 80 per cent increase in call outs to homes with broken boilers last year and as a result, is urging homeowners to properly prepare themselves in preparation for the cold winter months ahead.

With the Met Office predicting cold snaps, it looks as though winter could finally be on its way and if last year's temperatures are anything to go by, npower has predicted that some householders could soon be experiencing problems with their heating systems in the run-up to the festive season.

Last year, npower, which services and repairs boilers, saw call outs to broken boilers increase by 80 per cent in December alone as a direct result of the fiercely cold weather. With the possibility of this year's temperatures plunging well into minus figures, they are urging homeowners to prepare themselves. .

Chris Thewlis, operations manager for npower, says: "Many homeowners don't give a second thought to their boiler until the cold weather kicks in. Having your boiler serviced beforehand could detect any small problem that might lead to a major disruption to your heating during a particularly chilly period. Dealing with a potential problem before it escalates could save you time and money."

The cold weather in Britain often has homeowners calling in to their energy supplier and asking for a gas boiler service or repair. Though people with newer boilers may have repair costs covered by their warranties, many homeowners with older boilers face steep repair bills when their boiler breaks down. As a result, npower has urged people to service their boilers before the cold weather hits to avoid potentially expensive repair costs.

Chris also urged homeowners to make sure they have the right amount of loft insulation, which can be a key tool in heating a home. Loft insulation can also be a significant energy saver, saving homeowners money on energy bills as well as helping to keep them warm.

The recommended amount of loft insulation is 270mm, but government figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change earlier this year suggested that more than half of homes in the UK aren’t insulated properly.

Log fires. For Christmas and beyond

Carefully placed mistletoe and oversized stockings surrounding a roaring fireplace is a quintessential Christmas image. However, given that open fires are notoriously poor heat emitters (typically producing efficiencies of just 10-15%) it is understandable that homeowners prefer to reach for the central heating controls rather than chopping another pile of logs. With this in mind, AGA Stoves, part of the AGA Rangemaster Group, has produced a handy guide to outline the benefits of choosing a wood burning stove and explain why they are not just for the festive season – they can last a lifetime.

The guide provides homeowners with all the information they need to make an informed decision when purchasing a wood burning stove. From running costs to maintenance, manufacturing quality to expected lifespan, the AGA Stoves log burning guide is a must read with winter just around the corner.

AGA Stoves manufactures a wide range of wood burning stoves which are perfect for a variety of homes. Notable models in the range include the Little Wenlock Classic and the Minsterley. The Little Wenlock Classic is a compact stove (H 533mm x W 400mm x D 415mm) which has been designed for smaller homes and standard fireplaces.

By using a combination of high quality engineering and intelligent design, it is exceptionally efficient (over 81%) and is supplied with a supplementary wood grate, providing the option of burning wood or mineral fuels. To not exclude city and town dwellers, AGA Stoves has also developed a smoke exempt version which can be used in smoke control zones – the Little Wenlock Classic SE.

The Minsterley boiler stove is designed to provide plentiful heating and hot water for a family home and is capable of running up to 8 radiators. Thanks to its interchangeable fuel plate, it can also be used with either wood or solid fuel, and has a minimum rated heat output of 3.6kW with a hot water output of 7.5kW. The Minsterely retails at £1,825.

The full guide is available as a downloadable PDF at: www.agaliving.com/media/stoves/AGA_Stoves_Christmas_21.10.11...

No boiler cover to save money? Please think again!

The Indian summer is well and truly over and as the British public resign themselves to another long winter season, many households will inevitably be reaching for the thermostat to stave off the cold weather.

Jon Ingram, product director at Energychoices.co.uk commented: "UK consumers everywhere are tightening their belts with many households waiting until the last possible moment before switching on the central heating in order to save money. However, many do not consider what will happen if their boiler breaks down, needing costly repairs or replacing altogether.

"If your boiler fails it can be frighteningly expensive to replace – an extra outlay that consumers can ill afford in the run up to Christmas. Furthermore, if the money to pay for repairs is not immediately available then you can be left without basic amenities like hot water and heat fro your home for some time.

"Boiler cover can offer homeowners the peace of mind that their central heating system will be repaired swiftly without having to fork out a huge amount. So if your boiler is looking a bit long in the tooth, we would urge you to compare boiler insurance deals and get covered.

"Remember - you are not obliged to take out cover from your energy supplier and whilst there are some expensive insurance plans out there, with a little research you needn't pay over the odds."

Energychoices.co.uk's top tips for choosing boiler cover:

1. Do you actually need cover? – If you are only renting, it is your landlord's responsibility to take out boiler insurance and have it repaired if it breaks down. If you own your own home and already have buildings and contents insurance, it is worth checking if your boiler is already covered, or if at least part of the cost is already met in the event of any emergency repairs.

2. Had a boiler fitted recently? – If your boiler is quite new, it may already be covered under warranty. Check the paperwork to see how long you are covered for, otherwise you may end up paying out for boiler cover that you simply don't need.

3. Check the age of your boiler – Most boiler plans exclude models that are over 15 years old, and any models older than 7 years may have to undergo an inspection. Remember to check that your particular brand is covered as some of the older makes are sometimes excluded.

4. 'Boiler only' or 'full heating system' cover? – The cheapest boiler insurance policies only cover the cost of the boiler and controls but if you are willing to shell out a little extra you can ensure cover for your entire heating system, including radiators and pipes.

5. What is considered an emergency? – Some insurance providers don't think that a lack of hot water constitutes an emergency, whilst others will only rush to fix your boiler in the winter months. Make sure you know exactly what your boiler insurance provider considers an emergency so you aren't left waiting around in the cold for them to get around to fixing your boiler.

6. No claims period – Most new plans have a no-claims period to prevent people signing up on the day their boiler breaks down and then making a claim. The majority of no-claims periods last 30 days so bear in mind that you won't be covered during that time.

7. Compare suppliers – It is essential to shop around for a policy using a reliable price comparison site as there is a huge variation in prices and features for boiler insurance. Remember: the cheapest cover may not necessarily be the best value so make sure you read the small print BEFORE you sign up.

FACTFILE:
Energychoices.co.uk was launched in 2005 and offers comprehensive and impartial advice on home energy services.

At Energychoices.co.uk you can research and compare offers on gas and electricity suppliers and learn how to get more from your existing energy supplier.

They also offer advice on a range of boiler, heating, electrical and draining cover options and everything from choosing the right boiler to how to get your boiler serviced.

Whatever your needs, Energychoices.co.uk offers a fair and unbiased view of the market, looking at long term value and price savings on gas and electricity bills above the marketing hype.

MP visits local pensioner helped by npower warmth scheme

Chi Onwurah, the MP for Newcastle Central, has visited a local pensioner to see first-hand the difference made by npower's Health Through Warmth scheme.

Seventy-eight-year-old Don Grant and his wife Anne were left without heating when their boiler broke down recently. Don has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Anne, his wife, has limited mobility due to a recent operation on her spine. When their 20+ year-old boiler started to leak they were left without heating and found the cold made their health conditions much worse.

Unsure where to turn to for help, Don spoke to a local Warm Zone benefit advisor, who referred the couple to npower Heath Through Warmth in Newcastle. The scheme aims to help residents whose health is made worse by cold and damp living conditions, and they don’t have adequate heating and insulation in their homes.

Realising the urgency of the couple's circumstances, the local Health Through Warmth co-ordinator immediately arranged for a new boiler installation. Don had served in the armed forces, so SSAFA Forces Help was able to contribute towards the cost of the work and the remaining balance was paid by the unique npower Health through Warmth Crisis Fund.

Chi Onwurah MP was joined by Elaine Midwinter, npower Health Through Warmth scheme manager; Julie Jaglowski, customer services director, for npower; Jill Delf, operations manager at Newcastle Warm Zone cic and Bronwen Banner, benefits advisor at Newcastle Warm Zone cic.

Chi Onwurah MP said: "npower Health through Warmth is a fantastic scheme that demonstrates how successful partnership working can be in helping local residents here in Newcastle. Since the scheme launched it has done an invaluable job supporting vulnerable members of our community and I’d urge anyone who has a cold or damp related illness to get in touch with the local Health Through Warmth co-ordinator to see if they are eligible for help."

Don explained: "We couldn’t be more thankful for how npower Health through Warmth has helped us. The work was done very quickly and efficiently, meaning we were soon warm and comfortable in our home once again."

Newcastle is one of 15 areas across England and Wales in which npower's Health through Warmth scheme operates. Managed locally by Newcastle Warm Zone cic in partnership with Newcastle City Council and Newcastle and North Tyneside Community Health, more than 18,400 residents have been referred to the scheme since it began in 2003. The scheme also launched in North Tyneside in October 2010, and has received over 3,700 referrals to date.

Each npower Health through Warmth referral is assessed on an individual basis and funding can be accessed from a variety of sources, including the unique npower Health through Warmth Crisis Fund, government grants and charitable funds.

Elaine Midwinter, npower Health through Warmth scheme manager, added: "Like Mr and Mrs Grant, there are many residents in Newcastle whose health is made worse by cold and damp living conditions.

"npower's Health Through Warmth scheme operates all year round, so even though the summer months are here, we would encourage people to get in touch to find out if they could be eligible to receive help from the scheme."

New energy saving device will help UK homeowners beat the energy company price rises this winter

Money sensible and energy efficient homeowners will welcome the launch this Autumn of the Oxyvent Tank. It's said to be small enough to fit into most airing cupboard, it promises to save you money on heating bills and reduce carbon emissions whilst heating a home more effectively.

This pioneering new tank will even resolve common domestic heating problems reducing maintenance costs in any of the 22 million homes in the UK with a water-based heating system – new or old.

Paul Worswick, Oxyvent Director, said: “Rising fuel prices mean people want ways to cut heating bills and maximise the benefit they get from the heating they do pay for.”

“With carbon emission reductions taking centre stage and rising living costs leaving little spare cash to fix heating problems when they arise, the Oxyvent tank addresses all of these problems in one neat little affordable tank.”

What does the Oxyvent tank do?

• It forces radiators to radiate more of their heat out into the centre of a room so homeowners get the benefit of the heat, not the walls or ceilings as happens with conventional systems.

• It enforces boiler temperatures to be set at a low 60 degrees (65 degrees when heating water) so heating uses much less fuel, reducing carbon emissions and the cost of heating bills.

• It increases the efficiency of condensing boilers as the cooler water running through the system means the boiler will be in condensing mode much more of the time, saving more fuel and money.

• It makes hot water flow around the central heating system much faster which fixes problems such as odd radiators in a home that don’t work or radiators with cold areas.

• It takes the air out of a central heating system so there is no need to bleed radiators and it also radically reduces corrosion in the radiators, reducing the build up of sludge leading to the need for power flushing.

How much energy and money does it save?

Following thousands of installs in Ireland, where the Oxyvent patented technology was invented, testing by Trinity College Dublin found that people felt 30% more comfortable in a room heated by a boiler with an Oxyvent tank installed set to 63 degrees than when the boiler was set to 74 degrees without Oxyvent. Considering most UK boilers are set at much higher temperatures, this equates to a considerable money saving.

Taking an energy bill of £1200, £684 of this goes on heating space in your home (57% according to DECC energy trends 2009). With energy providers announcing price rises of up to 18%, homeowners could see this rise to £807. Installs to date show the Oxyvent could save up to 30% on energy bills, so a house with an Oxyvent tank installed would see the central heating portion of their bill drop to £565. That’s an overall saving of £242 which means the heating bill after Oxyvent is installed is still lower than it was before the price rises are taken into consideration.

Homeowners who have installed an Oxyvent tank feel so much warmer, they also turn their thermostat temperatures down. The Energy Saving Trust says that reducing your thermostat by just one degree could save the average home £70/year or 10% off your heating bill. Combined with the savings from lower boiler temperature settings, increased efficiencies from condensing boilers operating in condensing mode more of the time and fewer maintenance costs, the savings with Oxyvent will be much greater.

Cost
Reader offer: Launch price of £495 rrp exc. VAT if purchased before the 1st October 2011. Usual price £560 rrp. exc. VAT. It should be simple for a qualified, experienced and professional plumber to install. For sales contact enquiries@oxyvent.com or call 01403 280164

FACTFILE:

Common central heating problems are caused by the poor slow flow of water, heated by the boiler, travelling around the system. This is caused by resistance that exists in central heating systems, caused by air getting in and the water being pumped through one big circuit from the boiler to the hot water tank to the radiators each time it is reheated.

When an Oxyvent tank is installed, it significantly reduces this resistance by taking air out the system and removing the boiler and hot water cylinder from the heating circuit. This reduced resistance means water can travel around the system three times faster. The faster the water travels, the faster and more evenly radiators heat up.

This more even heat means radiators will give out much more radiant heat which makes people feel warmer than standard convection. If you imagine standing in the shade and then the sun on a hot day, the principle is the same. The air temperature won’t change in the sun but because the sun is radiating directly on to you, you feel warmer.

This more effective radiant heating means you don’t need the water in your system to be as hot so you can set a boiler’s temperature to a lower 60 degrees (65 degrees when heating water). As most boilers are set to 70 degrees and above, this is where homeowners save money. As many homeowners say they also turn their thermostat temperatures down, the savings will be even greater.

How does it save more money with a condensing boiler?

It’s well known that condensing boilers only condense when the return temperature of water to the boiler is 55 degrees or below. In reality, if the boiler temperature is set too high condensing only occurs when the heating fires up but stops when the water returning from the radiator goes above 55 degrees. With an Oxyvent Tank installed, the cooler boiler temperature of 60 degrees (65 degrees for heating water) means a condensing boiler is set at a much lower temperature. The return water will be 55 degrees or below far more of the time so a boiler will operate in condensing mode a great deal more of the time and achieve its high efficiency rating.

Oxyvent has been tested by Trinity College Dublin’s Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Fluids & Heat Transfer Laboratory. The study can be provided upon request and test conclusions are available to view at www.oxyvent.com.