Nothing is harder to get rid of in a shower or a bath than limescale. It forms from hard water, and while it’s not harmful to our health, it can cause a lot of problems. Often, when not treated for long periods of time it creates deposits. These deposits can clog plumbing and create issues down the road. Hard water is the culprit and will always create limescale if not treated straight away.
Here are 5 simple tips that can help anyone remove limescale in their shower, sink, kettle, loo and washing machine.
• A water/vinegar mix helps remove a lot of lime buildup. Soaking a shower head in this mixture overnight is the best solution. Just use a wrench to unscrew the shower head and then submerge it in the mixture. It is pretty simple.
• For areas with difficult to remove limescale buildup, there are a few common items that most people will have lying around the home that work well. Lemon juice works very well. When mixed with vinegar, it works even better. If placed in a spray bottle, you can spray all of the areas in the bathroom that have lime buildup.
• For water kettles that have ugly limescale buildup, a few tablespoons of water softener can be added and then boiled for 2 minutes. This will remove limescale stains easily. For tougher stains, a few drops of lemon juice can be added to the mixture.
• For loos that have hard water stains, the water in the bowl will need to be drained. Place in an equal mixture of white vinegar and borax. Cover as much of the bowl as possible. This mixture should be left in the bowl for a few hours in order for it to work.
• Washing machines can also be cleaned by adding one litre of vinegar into the water during a normal cycle. Once the complete cycle is finished, your washing machine should looks great. The hard water deposits should be washed away.
Hard water is not always that easy to remove. When the above suggestions just do not work, you need to call in the experts. There are products that work well to prevent hard water issues before they start. When this is the case, have a look at a water softeners or electronic water conditioners. Installing an electronic water conditioner will help you remove limescale.
1 Got scale? 5 simple tips to remove limescale Accessed online 29 April 2016 http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/plumbing/got-scale-5-simple-tips-to-remove-limescale.html
This weekend is London’s biggest waterside festival the Canalway Cavalcade. Little Venice’s postcard-pretty waterways will be awash with 130 decorated canal boats for this waterside festival, which takes place for three days over the May Bank Holiday weekend
Admission to this the iconic London event is free. View the spectacle of the decorated boats in the pool, or watch a Punch & Judy show in Rembrandt Gardens. As well as boating competitions and parades, there will be lots of activities to keep the children amused. Visit the tasty selection of food stalls, see what’s on offer at the real-ale bar, or peruse the stalls selling the weird and the wonderful. There really is something for everyone at this special event.
Use the hashtag #canalwaycavalcade to share your photos and experiences.
IWA Canalway Cavalcade is a unique waterway boat gathering organised by IWA volunteers, that has been taking place at Little Venice since 1983.
Festival Highlights
Saturday:
2:00pm Opening Ceremony
2:30pm Themed pageant of decorated boats
Sunday:
11:00am Boat Handling Competition (Supported by British Land)
12:45pm Blessing of the Boats by the Bishop of London
3:00pm Teddy Bears’ Picnic
8:00pm Music followed by a procession of Illuminated boats
Monday:
10:30am Boat Handling Competition (Supported by British Land)
1:00pm Awards Ceremony
3:00pm Procession
Opening Times:
Saturday 30th April: 10am – 6pm
Sunday 1st May: 10am – 6pm and 8pm – 10.30pm
Monday 2nd May: 10am – 5pm
Click here for more information on the IWA Canalway Cavalcade
1 IWA Cavalcade – 30th April – 2nd May 2016 https://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/canalway_cavalcade/iwa_canalway_cavalcade
2 Photo credit http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/assets/0905/0000/0111/canalway17.jpg
When it comes to plumbing, there are a few myths out there. Here is a list to help you comb through the fact and fiction.
1. Chemical cleaner can unclog your drains.
FICTION: A clogged drain is typically caused by the buildup of material such as hair, skin, and makeup. Any kind of chemical drain cleaner will not permanently fix your clogged drain, as it can’t dissolve any solids. In addition, overuse of chemical drain cleaner can lead to the deterioration of your pipes due to some of the active ingredients in the chemical itself.
2. Roughly 365 litres of water are wasted each year due to a slow leak of 3 drops a minute.
FACT: Every extra drip not only costs you a lot of money, but it also wastes a ton of water! One tap leak can waste up to two full baths per year.
3. Flushable wipes are OK to flush down the toilet.
FICTION: The last thing you want to flush down your toilet are “flushable wipes.” We always tell our customers the only two things that should be flushed down the toilet are human waste and loo roll.
4. Over $100,000 was spent by the United States on a study to find out if the loo roll should have the flap in front or behind.
FACT: Now we are not sure who had this money or why they would waste it on such a thing. But the study showed 3 out of 4 people prefer the loo roll flap in the front.
5. I watched a video on YouTube and now I can service my boiler.
FICTION!!!!!!! Your boiler should only be serviced by a gas safe registered engineer. Not only is it illegal, but also it would be down right stupid to put you and your family’s health and safety at risk. Click here to find a gas safe registered engineer near you or if you are in Fulham, call 020 7350 2511 or click here.
The first London Marathon was held on 29 March 1981, more than 20,000 applied to run. 6,747 were accepted and 6,255 crossed the finish line on Constitution Hill. The Marathon’s popularity has steadily grown since then. According to the organisers, there were more than 38,000 participants in the 2015 race, the highest number in the London Marathon’s history.
Current course record holders are Wilson Kipsang for the men with a time of 2:04:29 set back in 2014 and Paula Radcliffe for the women at 2:15:25 set in 2003.
This years marathon is set to be its largest to date and the London Marathon’s one millionth finisher will cross the line during the 2016 race, a milestone in the history of the event celebrated by a #oneinamillion social media campaign which celebrates every finisher since the race started in 1981.
This year a total of 69 hopefuls will be attempting to set 55 new world records at the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 24 April in the ninth successive year of a record-breaking partnership with GWR. Click here for more details.
Road closure information for the 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon is available here.
The London Marathon kicks off in Blackheath, South East London, through Woolwich, Greenwich, Isle of Dogs, Tower of London and London Bridge before finishing at The Mall past Buckingham Palace. See an image of the course below:
There are four separate start times for the London Marathon this year: 8.55am, 9am, 9.15am and 10.10am. Wheelchair competitors will set off at 8.55am followed by paralympic runners competing in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup at 9am.
At 9.15am the elite women runners will start and at 10am the elite male runners, anyone competing in the British athletics and England Athletics championships and thousands of amateur runners will get going.
1 WELCOME TO THE VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON Accessed online 22 April 2016 https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/
2 Photo credit London Marathon 2017 Accessed online 22 April 2016 https://genesisuk.org/events/london-marathon/
This year’s event takes place on St George’s Day itself, 23 April, between 12pm and 6pm. You can see Trafalgar Square decorated in red and white for England’s national day and join in the free themed activities with live music, family games, dance and storytelling. Plus, watch celebrity chefs give live cookery demonstrations and sample traditional English fare from the food stalls, inspired by St George’s Day’s 13th-century origins as a national day of feasting.
History of St George
St George is the patron saint of England. His name is most commonly associated with the legend of St George and the Dragon. In the mythical tale, George obtains glory by slaying a dragon that is terrorising the countryside and is about to eat a beautiful princess. George survives the ordeal by invoking the sign of the cross. As a mark of their gratitude, the local citizens all convert to Christianity and seek to copy George’s chivalrous, princess-saving behaviour. The story is loosely based on a real-life George who was born around 280AD and grew up to become a Christian soldier of the Roman Empire. The myth of St George and the Dragon in England was known prior to the Norman Conquest in 1066, but the idea of George as the nation’s patron saint probably caught on around William Shakespeare’s time. In Shakespeare’s play Henry V, the English troops are famously rallied with the cry “God for Harry, England and St George!”.
1 Feast of St George in Trafalgar Square 2016 Accessed online 20 April 2016 http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/8726328-feast-of-st-george-in-trafalgar-square
The Department for Energy and Climate Change would like to engage with experts, academics, organisations, members of the public and other stakeholders to give us their views about proposals to improve the energy performance of heating systems.
Currently heat accounts for around 45% of our energy consumption and a third of all carbon emissions. The UK boiler market is the largest in the world, worth at least £1.3 billion per annum with well over 1.2 million new boilers sold every year just in our homes. In England, 27 million homes use a boiler as the principal technology to provide heating.
The long-term goal is still to move towards more sustainable sources of heat, but the role for conventional systems is expected to remain significant well into the 2030s.
The intention of the DECC is to use an Open Policy Making process that brings together those inside and outside of government interested in contributing to our policy and thinking. They want help in co-designing policies to make sure that they will work in practice, and this process will ensure that different points of view and expertise are taken into account; and that challenges and opportunities are well understood before any firm proposals are made.
To meet the carbon targets most of the cost-effective scenarios require zero carbon emissions from heat in buildings by 2050, with an on-going role for gas heating systems into at least the 2030s. With this ongoing role it feels right to consider ways to improve performance, save carbon and reduce bills from conventional heating systems, as long as it can be cost effective.
Since setting minimum standards in 2005, advances in technology have kept the UK at the forefront of the global boiler market. The DECC would like to consider whether the time is right to raise those standards, and what are the benefits and risks if they do.
For more information regarding the DECC click here.
1 Heat in Buildings Accessed online 18 April 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/heat-in-buildings
Before you sell your home, there are bucket loads of factors to consider if you hope to receive your asking price and if you want the exchange to be plain sailing.
We’ll leave it up to your estate agent to recommend the right camera angle to use for your property listing on Zoopla but here is our checklist for homeowners looking to sell – from a plumber’s perspective.
Choose your season wisely
Spring is usually the best time to put a property on the market because, not only are buyers more inclined to go house hunting when the weather picks up, but your garden will be in bloom and sunlight will immerse your home in natural rays and warmth too.
In the colder months, viewers may question your home’s heating capabilities if it’s chilly as they walk around, which could lead to fewer or lower offers if buyers believe they’ll be paying for a central heating repairs once they’ve moved in.
On paper, summer may seem like a good time to sell but the market is actually slower during the high season because people are on holiday and families are busy entertaining children.
Keep your bathroom décor clean and bright
Vendors will often book in a complete bathroom refurbishment before putting their home on the market, complete with colourful tiles and decadent fittings, and then we get a call once the sale has gone through to scrap the whole thing and start from scratch!
It’s true that the bathroom can be a deal clincher for prospective buyers but it’s always best to keep the bathroom furniture simple and use neutral colours on the floor and walls – that way, viewers will be able to picture putting their own stamp on a property.
Ensure your boiler is safe to use
By law, all rented properties must hold a valid CP12 certificate to confirm that the boiler and other gas appliances are safe to use. So, if you have a buyer interested in letting out your property once they have bought it, being able to provide them with an up-to-date CP12 is likely to be received well.
Live-in homeowners value a regularly serviced boiler, as without periodic inspections, some boiler warranties can be deemed invalid.
Fix any heating issues or leaks
Most viewers will ask to turn the heating on and off to check that it functions adequately. If it doesn’t fire up in those ten minutes that it takes them to walk around the property, they may suspect a central heating overhaul is needed, and the thought of having to fix issues before even moving in is enough to put anyone off making an offer.
If you experience cold patches in your home, a simple radiator bleed or boiler adjustment may be all that’s needed, both of which are easy to do yourself once you’ve been shown how to do it by your plumber.
Leaks, on the other hand, should not be taken on as a DIY job as you could end up with a flood on your hands, or worse, a fatal gas leak. Whilst leaks may not be wholly obvious, rusting or mouldy pipes are tell-tale signs of a problem, so instruct a professional plumbing company to diagnose the issue.
If a new central heating system is required, it’s best to get this sorted before putting your home on the property market because it will flag up in the survey and potentially decrease the value of your home.
Clear blocked drains
You may have become desensitised to the smell of blocked plugholes and exterior drains but a spray of Febreeze is not going to cut it during the viewings.
Some superficial blockages, such as fallen leaves in the gutter or strands of hair in the shower, are easy to clear yourself. However, the more severe pipe blocks may require specialist drain jetting, for which you’ll need a professional.
Once these simple measures are taken, you’ll notice your home start to look better, smell fresher, feel cosier and become more appealing overall to prospective buyers.
If you are looking to sell your home in Fulham and need a plumber to get your heating and plumbing into tip top shape, call 020 7350 2511 or click here.
We all use them, but have you ever wondered what are the most expensive loos in the world? Here are 5 of the world’s most expensive loos.
Coming in at number 5 is TOTO Neorest 600 is a washlet toilet manufactured by the Japanese company TOTO. It is considered one of the most advanced toilets and is currently sold for more than £3,500. The Neorest 600 offers several features, including bidet with three adjustable cleaning modes, electric seat heating with adjustable temperature, automatically opening and closing of the lids, automatic flush, built in air purifier and deodorizer, tankless water-saving feature and energy-saving features.
At number 4 we have an INAX high-tech toilet that is ready for you. Literally. Its lid rises and its seat heats as you walk toward the toilet. As the lid opens, music plays from a sound card, and the deodorizer is turned on. After all this, there couldn’t possibly be more. Well, there is. When you’re done with your business and you walk away, the toilet flushes on its own. The INAX’s human-ready loos price can be as high as £6,100.
Number 3 Julien Bench Toilet designed by Troy Adams, in 2007. It will change the way you look at toilets. Actually, it’ll change the way you don’t look at toilets. Those of you who’d prefer to keep your toilet tucked away, this is the toilet for you. The Bench Toilet’s sliding panel allows for the toilet to be concealed when not in use, and when the bench isn’t acting as a toilet, it’s acting as a powder room bench. This toilet serves as the perfect way to conceal your throne. This dual-serving toilet can be purchased for £8,151.
Number 2 (no pun intended) is Isis (Swarovski) Toilet. What screams luxury more than Swarovski crystals? Jemal Wright designed this crystal-studded toilet known as the Isis for those who demand a lifestyle of luxury in the most extreme degree — even in the bathroom. It comes in various sizes, shapes and colored stones. Want one of these, you’ll need to pull out the big bucks; the Isis costs a whopping $75,000.
Now for number 1, we could have mentioned the gold Hang Fung toilet, but we choose to highlight the loo Tim Peake is currently using. Coming in at staggering £13,505,684.88 is the loo on the International space station. It was built by Russia in 2008 and was made specifically for the International Space Station. The toilet features straps so that you won’t float away. It also has fans to suck away the waste into a septic tank. The waste is then filtered and meticulously converted and purified into drinking water.
If you are in Chelsea and are looking for new loo that won’t cost you as much as a car, call 020 7350 2511 or click here.
1 7 Most Expensive Toilets in the World Accessed online 8 April 2016 http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/7-most-expensive-toilets-in-the-world-359857/
2 The World’s 9 Most Luxurious Toilets Accessed online 8 April 2016 http://www.aspiremetro.com/design/the-worlds-9-most-luxurious-toilets/
A loss of water pressure is a good indicator of some common issues that arise with boilers. Low pressure is relatively easy to diagnose, as most boilers have a built-in pressure gauge. Sometimes, it is a simple fix to fix a boiler with low pressure.
Understanding water pressure
Constant water pressure is essential to the efficient functioning of your boiler system. Pressure in most modern combination boilers is maintained by cold water flowing from the water mains supply through a mechanism known as the ‘filling loop’
What causes a drop in pressure?
A number of things can cause pressure to drop. It may be that there is a leak somewhere in your boiler system. Or, if you bled your radiators recently, it may be that pressure was lost then. However, you may not be able to tell that you have a problem until you check the pressure gauge. A water leak, for instance, may be tiny and go unnoticed at first, only to develop into a larger problem down the line.
Checking your pressure gauge
Check the water pressure gauge or indicator, which is typically on the front of your boiler. For most boilers, this should be set around the 1 bar. (The position that was set when the boiler was first installed is sometimes shown by a red indicator needle.) If you have noticed repeated drops in your boiler pressure, make sure you check the gauge regularly. A drop in pressure is a good indication that there is a problem with your boiler.
How to tackle lost pressure
Each boiler will come with specific instructions about its pressure system. Check your user manual to see if you can re-pressurise your boiler yourself.
If you are in Chelsea and are having issues with your boiler call 020 7350 2511 or click hear.
1 When your boiler has no pressure Accessed online 6 April 2016 https://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/boilers-and-central-heating/tips-and-advice/boiler-has-no-pressure.html
On Saturday 7 May at Brockwell Park, London or Saturday 21 May at
Windsor Great Park, Windsor the UK’s first obstacle course where animal lovers can compete in 2.5km and 5km runs with their dogs to raise money to help care for all the dogs and cats at Battersea.
For those more pampered pooches that only want to dip their paws in but still be part of the fun, Brockwell Park is the challenge for you. Set in urban London, you can expect to get a little mucky without ruffling your fur too much. This event is open to families with children 8 years old and over. The Windsor Great Park course is for those true mucky pups that want to get stuck in for some real muddy fun. Prepare to get your paws dirty! You must be 18 years old or over to take part in this event.
We ask each participating adult to raise a minimum sponsorship target of £100 and for children to raise a minimum sponsorship target of £20 to help care for all the dogs and cats here at Battersea. The amazing two and four-legged runners that took part in the Muddy Dog Challenge 2015 raised a fantastic £40,000 for the Home.
To register for Muddy Dog Challenge click Brockwell Park or Windsor Great Park
Registration fees:
Adult entry (over 18 years old) until 1 May – £30
Children (must be 8 years old or over and participating with an adult) – £15
Dog entry £8.50
As part of your registration you will receive a finisher’s medal, t-shirt and goody bag. If entering a dog, they will get a free bandana to show off to all their pals in the park. You will also receive fundraising and training support for you and your dog.
If you have any event queries please email events@battersea.org.uk or call 020 7627 9295.
1 Muddy Dog Challenge 2016 Accessed online 4 April 2016 http://www.battersea.org.uk/apex/webarticle?pageId=muddydogchallenge