The lifespan of a boiler is on average 10-15 years. This is massively dependent on the make and model of the boiler and whether it has been well maintained throughout its life. If your boiler is exceeding its lifespan, it may be time for a replacement. There are now more efficient, eco-friendly boilers which may be a better option.
There are many signs that you may need to replace your boiler, many that are visible and are likely to cause further issues if they are left.
● Low efficiency rating
A less efficient boiler will cost you more than an efficient one. It takes longer to heat your water, causing an inefficiency in the system. It will also not be doing your energy bills a favour which is why investing in an A-rated boiler will not only be good for the environment but cheaper to run.
● Visible leaks
There can be several reasons why your boiler may be leaking, some more minor than others, however, if your boiler is having continuous leaks, it is likely to be more cost efficient to buy a replacement.
● Strange smells and noises
If your boiler is making strange noises or emitting odd smells, it is likely to be a sign that there are internal problems with your boiler and it either needs to be repaired or replaced.
● Bills too high
By replacing your old boiler with a more modern and efficient one, you can make savings on your energy bills. High energy bills could be a sign that your boiler needs to be replaced. We have a team of highly skilled engineers who are immensely dedicated to their work. Our specialty is boiler service, repair and installation, being Ideal Boiler & Worcester Bosch-approved installers. If your boiler needs some repairs or a full replacement, please contact us on 01234 325620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk.
We offer our services within a 30-mile radius of Bedford, covering areas including Biggleswade, St Neots, Rushden, Milton Keynes and Toddington.
Do you do emergency plumbing callouts?
Yes, we do cover emergency call-outs. We class out of hours as Monday – Friday 8 pm to 8 am all day Saturday, Sunday, and Bank Holidays. We have more information on the ‘Emergencies’ page on our website. Here:
If you have an emergency, please call us on 01234 325 620.
Can you fit bathrooms?
Yes, Christy Plumbing has over 35 years of experience renovating bathrooms in Bedfordian homes and will design, create and install your dream bathroom! No project is too big or toosmall so whether you’re looking to replace your basin or your shower, we can do it!
What’s the difference between an estimate and a quote?
In short, estimates are a rough idea of price and are only used as guide price only. Quotes are legally binding and should only be used when you are certain of the costs involved. We have made an in-depth blog post about estimates and quotes here:
Yes! No job is too big or too small so if you have a leaky tap needing some repairs, call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk.
How often should I service my boiler?
We recommend yearly service to help ensure that your boiler, cylinder or fire are running as efficiently and as safely as possible. And your appliance manufacturer requires a service to keep your boiler/cylinder/fire in good, safe working order, maintain its warranty/guarantee and reduce the risk of costly breakdowns.
Why is my radiator not heating up?
The most common reason why your radiator is not heating up is due to trapped air. If your radiator is hot at the bottom but cold on the top, this is likely to be the case. To fix this, you’ll have to bleed your radiators. Simply, use a radiator key to unscrew the bleed screw, where you should begin to hear a hissing noise. Once the noise has stopped, all the air has escaped and you can now screw it back in place. If your radiator is still cold to touch, we would be happy to come out and investigate further. Please call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk
Why is my boiler making a strange noise?
If your boiler is making any kind of noise, especially one that is unusual and new, this is likely a sign that something is not right. You should get it investigated as soon as possible as if it is a sign of a serious problem, leaving it could cause more damage and reduce the lifespan of your boiler. Please call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk
Are you currently recruiting?
Our team is homegrown and includes Lawrence’s wife Sarah who manages the office team and our apprentice programme. All our staff are immensely dedicated to their work. We believe we set an incredibly high standard in the plumbing and heating industry locally. If we are recruiting, the best place to check is our Facebook Page: Christy Plumbing & Heating where any hiring roles will be posted there. You are welcome to email your CV to info@christyplumbing.co.uk.
Do you fit Air Conditioning?
Yes! We do fit Air Conditioning for domestic and commercial use. If you would like to request a quote, please call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk.
What plumbing upgrades will add value to your home?
The housing market is currently thriving, with demand having skyrocketed. This has triggered many homeowners to put their house up for sale. A key consideration for many buyers is how well the home’s plumbing system works. This is especially important in old houses which have not yet been modernised. If the home has a poor plumbing and heating system, this can look unappealing for buyers and therefore, the price is likely to be less than its potential. On the other hand, if the plumbing and heating system is up-to-date and in good condition, this can be a huge selling point for buyers and lead to a quick sale.
In this blog post, we go through 4 plumbing upgrades that can increase the value of your home.
1. New taps and showers
It may not be necessary to completely replace your bathrooms or kitchen, however, little touch-up can significantly add value to your home. For example, replacing taps or adding modern shower fixtures can make your bathroom look newer. This can make your bathroom look more appealing, making your asking price more justifiable.
2. Sink upgrades
The kitchen is an area most potential buyers focus on and therefore having up-to-date appliances can benefit you when selling your home. If you have a single sink, you could install a dual sink as this can be more desirable for some people. Or, simply change your dull sink for a new, shiny one.
3. New boiler
Purchasing a new boiler is a huge selling point for many buyers. Most people will not purchase a home with an old boiler as they do not want to be faced with costly issues further down the line or have to spend out on one in a few months.
Although this can be a costly expense, a new boiler can add money to your asking price as well as making it more appealing to buyers.
4. Ensuite bathroom
Most modern homes generally have more than one bathroom, however, some older houses will only have one ‘family’ bathroom. Today, most home buyers require more than one bathroom, more specifically an ensuite, and therefore, adding an additional bathroom is worth investing in. Although this is a more expensive upgrade, according to resi.co.uk, bathrooms have the potential to add 4-5% on your home’s value. This will also allow you to increase the value further by adding steam showers or heated flooring.
Christy Plumbing & Heating offers a highly professional service throughout Bedford and within a 30-mile radius using a team of qualified and experienced plumbers who are available 24 hours a day. We offer a complete range of services including unblocking drains, fitting toilets, taps, and boiler repairs through to complete boiler replacements and bathroom renovations.
If you’re thinking about selling your property and want to add value to your home, call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk. We have an e-book available for download on our website: https://christyplumbing.co.uk/plumbing/
Just like a car, your heating & hot water system needs to be well maintained in order to keep it operating at its best. In this blog post we explain what is included in our boiler services and why they are important. We also explain why yearly boiler services are recommended. What’s included? ● A visual check of the boiler and flame, if possible. ● Checks on the flue (we use a flue gas analyser to take accurate readings). ● Checking the operating pressure and/or heat input. ● Checking safety devices. ● Checking case seals form an effective seal. ● The boiler casing will be removed to check all main boiler components (burner, heat exchanger, main injector, spark/sensor probe.) ● Boiler fired safely to identify any working faults. ● Boiler parts cleaned, if necessary. ● A service report will be provided showing everything your engineer has done and any recommendation they may have. Why are they important? Annual boiler services are important to protect yourself and those who are living in your house. Fortunately, gas leaks and poisonings are rare, however having a well-maintained boiler will reduce these odds. Secondly, having an inefficient boiler will cost you far more in energy bills, in the long term, than having one repaired or replaced. Having an inefficient boiler is also worse for the environment. An annual boiler service is also key as your appliance manufacturer requires a service to keep your boiler in good, safe working order, maintain its warranty/guarantee and reduce the risk of costly breakdowns. A common requirement if your appliance is still under warranty, is that it must be annually serviced. Most companies will not compensate if servicing has not been completed. Lastly, having regular servicing can extend the life of your current boiler by potentially catching any issues early before they develop into anything larger, leading to a larger bill. Christy Plumbing & Heating service all types of boilers including, non-condensing boilers, condensing boilers, open vent, system, combination boilers and gas boilers. Our team of Gas Safe Registered engineers are highly experienced and fully qualified to carry out boiler services. A boiler service should only be carried out by a qualified, Gas Safe Registered engineer. To arrange a boiler service please contact our helpful and experienced staff and they will be happy to schedule it in at a time to suit you. You can call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk. We can remind you when your annual boiler service is due or alternatively you can contact us to book an appointment at a time that suits you.
Crikey this is always a contentious issue. For many many years, we did not ask our customers to pay a minimum charge. But, with hindsight, this seems ridiculous. We run a business and we train & employ people; we are not a charity and I’m never sure why customers think that we should give our time, our knowledge, and skills for free. You wouldn’t ask a doctor to do the same, or a teacher or a cashier, so why a plumber? And I believe if you value your time and experience at nothing, then that’s how you will be treated – like nothing with little respect and very little loyalty. As a customer, if you pay for something then rightly so you should expect value for money.
Also, I believe that a minimum charge is more transparent. You will get no end of tradesmen who will come out initially for free, but it isn’t free is it? No, they will just charge you more on a return visit or a quote.
Our minimum charge is for the first hour, if we can get your issue solved in the first hour with no parts then that is ALL it will cost you. This includes even if we just diagnose the fault. However, even when the work is “a two-minute job” a minimum charge will apply. Because it’s not really a two-minute job – it’s 40 years of experience. If, however, you need further work, then a subsequent quote will be given. We try where possible to sort general issues out over the telephone to avoid the call-out, but sometimes this is just not possible. You will also see that we post useful tips on our Facebook page, again hoping you might solve the issue yourself and save yourself a few pounds.
So why do we have a minimum charge?
Here, are three reasons why:
REASON 1: TO COVER OVERHEAD COSTS
As with any profession we have operating/overhead costs.
Insurance: public liability, vehicle insurance, insurance of tools, employer insurance.
Tax: road tax, corporate tax, PAYE, national insurance, VAT
Administration: time spent administering supplier accounts, sending customer communications, costs of stationery, job management software, building an office and all the equipment in it, and importantly having people answering the telephone.
Tools: purchase and maintenance of tools.
Training: initial qualifications and ongoing attendance at courses legally required.
Trades body membership fees: for example, “Gas Safe Register”.
If we attend a job, spend time getting to and from it, use our skills, tools, training, knowledge, and experience, and don’t make a charge to cover a portion of these overheads we will soon go out of business.
REASON 2: TO PROVIDE CLARITY We all like to know what we are in for when buying a product or commissioning a service. However, for us turning up to view a job for the first time and execute it there and then it’s not usually possible to work from a standard price list. Equally, if diagnostic or investigative work is required then a set price cannot be provided, but a minimum charge can be advised. In summary, applying a minimum charge offers clarity and certainty to a customer and ensures we remain financially viable.
REASON 3: PROVISION OF A SERVICE All professions providing a service make a charge for that service, mountain guides, doctors, lawyers, fitness instructors, psychologists, car mechanics, and so on.
This service often comes without a guarantee of results; a lawyer can’t guarantee to win your case, a doctor can’t guarantee to make you better, a fitness instructor can’t guarantee to get you fit, a mountain guide can’t guarantee to get you to the top of Everest. They will all try their best and ask to be paid for the service they provide.
We also provide a service and to stay in business we must charge for that service when it is provided. Even if the time on site is only 10 minutes.
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