In the BHL foyer is the first Central Heating Boiler installed by Bumford Heating back in 1968 – the Vulcan Hattersley Boiler was made in Mexborough, South Yorkshire and was installed in a house in Brinsworth, Rotherham until being replaced by a new boiler in the late nineties.  

Continuing our exploration of the Ideal Boilers, Radiators and Accessories catalogue from 1961 to take a look at the Central Heating Boilers of the early Sixties.

The Ideal Neofire No.2C was designed for heating & indirect hot water supply. According to the guide, ‘The Ideal No. 2C Neofire is designed to take care of approximately 40 sq.ft. of radiation, plus an average amount of piping, and to provide hot water for domestic purposes by the ‘indirect’ method with the No. 00 or No. 00c Ideal Indirect Cylinder (20 Gal).

It has a specially designed boiler with 11/4″ flow and return tappings on both sides. This appliance is designed to burn coke or anthracite, but will operate efficiently on coal. (A special heat-resistant steel grate bar can be supplied to order at an extra charge.’)..

Ideal Britannia Boilers on page 134 (below) are boilers designed for mechanical stoking and oil burning. From the catalogue ‘Ideal Britannia Boilers are admirably suited for mechanical stoking or oil burning, satisfactory results being obtained both under test and in actual performance with well-known types of each apparatus.

The fire chamber is of sufficient volume for efficient combustion and only a minimum of refractory brickwork is required. The boiler sections have ground beaded edges, making the combustion chamber and flues smoketight without the use of putty or other filling. The flue travel, lengthened by special baffles, ensures effective absorption of heat with reasonably small chimney loss; the operating efficiencies are therefore very satisfactory. The large flue doors provide easy access for cleaning. A locking device for fixing smokepipe damper in smokehood in any desired position is supplied in place of the usual damper-operating lever’..

Ideal Britannia Boilers No. 1-K & -KF Series for water, hand firing on page 118 advises that there are five models ranging in output from 93,000 BTU/h to 189,000 BTU/h. From the guide ‘When automatic regulation is required No. 802 Ideal Damper Regulator is provided as shown; when not required a sliding ashpit door can be supplied in place of the hinged pattern illustrated’..

On page 106 and displaying the scribblings of Chris Bumford (Bumford Heating) “Not available after Dec 66″ – is the Ideal Paragon Elite Oil-Fired Boilers range for Heating and Indirect Hot Water Supply. Available in four outputs, 35,000 BTU/h to 65,000 BTU/h the catalogue explains ‘The boilers are supplied complete with thermostatically controlled fan-assisted vaporising burner unit, jig assembled to the front plate and all enclosd in an attractive enamelled jacked.

Oil Filter is supplied for fitting in a convenient position in oil supply line. Dial-type thermometer on facia is provided as standard’.. 

You can see Part One of this Blog Post here. Be sure to check back soon as we uncover more hidden plumbing gems from the past.

We have recently added Live Chat to the BHL website. Live Chat enables our operatives to communicate directly with our customers in real time, answering questions and enquiries immediately and securely.

Click on the icon of the top left hand side of the website like the one above. A chat window will then pop up like the one below and simply ask your question. We have a whole range of information at our disposal enabling us to answer questions such as stock availability, quotation requests and technical questions.

Here is Chris from BHL assisting a customer via Live Chat.

Chat is available during office hours and compliments our existing online communication and telephone. We look forward to chatting with you soon.

A visit from Glow-worm is always welcome, particularly when displaying their latest products. Afterall, we have been supplying and installing Glow-worm Boilers for over 40 years.

On this occasion Glow-worm were keen to show off some of their latest Intelligent Boiler Controls which are designed to improve efficiency and comfort.

Amongst the new hi-tech products on display was the new Glow-worm Climapro2 RF. The Climapro2 RF is Glow-worm’s innovative wireless programmable room thermostat which offers advanced heating and hot water control any time of the week. The Climapro2 RF sits neatly in the palm of your hand and with its backlit blue screen it becomes a stylish addition to any home.

Climapro2 RF Features

• Two channel wireless programmable room thermostat with time and temperature control of Central Heating and Domestic Hot Water
• Backlit display provides advanced user control and functionality
• Simple to use handheld unit can be wall mounted or portable within the living area
• Unique easy to install RF receiver which can be fitted inside the Glow-worm Ultracom₂cxi and Ultracom sxi models
• Capable of room and weather compensation (with Glow-worm Outdoor Sensor)

Another impressive Glow-worm Boiler Control is the Glow-worm Climapro. The Climapro is a Programmable Room Thermostat offering both Time and Temperature. The Glow-worm Climapro works with the Glow-worm Ultracom, Glow-worm Ultrapower and Glow-worm Flexicom range of boilers

Glow-worm Climapro Features

• 2 channel controller for central heating and hot water
• Provides 24 hour or 7 day timed programme options
• Extra low voltage
• Simple & discreet 2 wire connection
• Polarity not important

To ensure that the BHL team remain up to speed with all developments in the Plumbing & Heating industry, regular training sessions like this are organised. Here BHL’s Lee Cooper brushes up on the latest Glow-worm products.

Using the highest quality components, Glow-worm’s range of Boilers such as the Ultracom2 above are market leaders, providing heat and hot water for homes throughout the UK.

Scrap the VAT on high efficiency boilers and renewables!

That’s the message from Biasi, manufacturers of Boilers, Radiators and Renewables.

Scrapping the VAT on high efficiency boilers and renewables will almost certainly help to rejuvenate the hard hit construction industry, supporting existing plumbers, builders and suppliers as well as generating new jobs within the green economy. In addition to this, replacing an old inefficient boiler with a new high efficiency boiler could save the user over £200 per year on fuel bills as well as collectively saving thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Renewables also go some way in reducing fuel bills and emmisions. Solar Thermal Water Heating can reduce your water heating bill by as much as £85 a year. And Solar PV can generate around 40% of a household’s yearly electricity need.

Biasi would like to draw this to the attention of homeowners and businesses alike. Why not join the campaign to encourage the government to cut the VAT on high efficiency boilers and renewables, making it more affordable for us all to heat our homes and businesses. The mission is simple, help everyone stopping wasting energy and save money on their energy bills by making it cheaper for everyone to upgrade their heating system.

BHL wholeheartedly support this initiative and thank Biasi for raising this issue. Most people would like to upgrade their heating system for a more energy efficient one but a lot of customers are put off by the high cost of some green products. This is a real shame, but we feel the relaxing of VAT on such products would encourage more sales.

Get involved by signing up and spread the word to encourage others to register their support. Scrap the VAT, Sign the online petition now

Plumbers beware, the Taxman cometh. The taxman, in an attempt to claw back the estimated £45bn lost per year in unpaid tax is on the march again.

This time the taxman is targeting plumbers and others who work for cash in a fresh campaign against those not paying tax.

HM Revenue and Customs is writing to 50,000 tradespeople warning them to pay any tax they owe, or face big fines. But a temporary amnesty has been granted.

You can read more about this story on the BBC Website.

EcoBuild is over for another year. This year EcoBuild 2011 was held at London’s Excel Centre and is billed as the world’s largest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment and the UK’s largest construction event of any kind. EcoBuild featured this year over 1300 exhibitors displaying their wares which included over 100 new product launches.

This year the staff of BHL visited, keen to learn about the latest Eco Plumbing, Eco Heating and Eco Building Products

Grant UK, perhaps best known for their range of Grant Oil Boilers displayed on their stand an impressive range of renewable products including the Grant Duowave Solar Cylinders, Grant Aerona Air Source Heat Pump, Grant Monowave Heat Pump Cylinders and Grant Solar PV Panels.

In amongst the many exhibitors (which included Worcester-Bosch, Baxi, Glowworm, Ideal Boilers, Fernox, Grundfos, Morso, Vaillant, Biasi, Albion, Alpha Boilers, Myson and Stelrad) EcoBuild also hosted many seminars on topics ranging from ‘Future Energy’, ‘Refurbishing Britain’ and ‘Sustainable Architecture & Design’. EcoBuild also boasted it’s own ‘Fringe’ as well as various conferences. Even Prof. Brian Cox made an appearance, as well as this giant, floating pink tap!

Worcester-Bosch displayed their range of high efficiency boilers including the Worcester Combi Boiler range as well as a selection of their renewable products including the Worcester Greensource Heat Pump, Worcester Greenskies Solar and Worcester Greenskies Hot Water Cylinders.

The Biasi stand had a mix of Biasi Boilers, Hot Water Cylinders, Radiators and Renewable products including the impressive Biasi Hydras cylinder, below.

While on the subject of Hot Water Cylinders, Kingpan displayed some of their popular Unvented Hot Water Cylinders models including the Albion Ultrasteel and Range Tribune. Both of which are available as either standard or twin coil solar cylinders – see below.

Be sure to check back soon for further reports from BHL’s trip to EcoBuild 2011.

Traditionally Radiators are are either Single or Double. But the new Stelrad Compact K3 is a Triple Convector Radiator. The three panelled radiator is designed to be the perfect partner for low energy heating systems, helping to achieve the best possible SAP rating.

The Stelrad Compact K3 is a triple panel, triple convector design that gives the radiator a much greater heat emitting surface area from a footprint not much larger than a conventional double panel product. This enables the desired heat output to be achieved with low temperature heating systems. The Stelrad Compact K3 Radiator range is available in a range of 40 different sizes with outputs up-to almost 20,000 Btu.

The new Stelrad Compact K3 compliments Stelrad’s existing Stelrad Compact, the UK’s best selling radiator. The Stelrad Compact K3 is available to Buy online at BHL

Valentine’s day is a celebration of love and affection. At BHL we love Plumbing and Heating so much that we would like to celebrate this by offering you a discount off our range of Boilers, Radiators, Plumbing, Heating and Bathroom products.

Simply enter the code heart in the shopping basket and recieve £10 off orders £250 or above. Happy Valentines Day from BHL

In the unofficial BHL archive of Plumbing Brochures we discovered a real gem – ‘The Ideal Boilers, Radiators and Accessories Catalogue’. Dating back to 1961, the ‘catalogue’  provides a snapshot of the plumbing and heating industry from 50 years ago. Unlike its modern equivalent, the catalogue is a hard backed book filled with some interesting products from a bye-gone era.

One look at the index highlights how times have changed. Page 166-167 displays Asbestos-Cement Flue Pipe and Fittings, page 152-153 Boiler Stoking Tools, Gas Poker’s on page 153. Steam Gauges (page 174) and Steam Traps on pages 63 & 208.

But some things remain the same, Gas Boilers command a prominent position on page 156-163. Hot Water Cylinders pages 180-185, Pumps page 176-179 and Towel Rails are on pages 190-197.

On Page 5 the Catalogue shows a black and white photograph of the 90 acre Ideal Works in Hull with the following introduction..”This new Catalogue contains particulars and illustrations of all current Ideal Boilers and Ideal Radiators, and replaces our last Heating Catalogue published in January 1959. The method of presentation then introduced has been retained because we believe that it has succeeded in increasing the usefulness of the Catalogue as a book of ready reference to our range of Heating products…

..All Ideal Boilers and Radiators are subjected to a hydrostatic test pressure of 100 lb per square inch, and are guaranteed  only to the extent of furnishing new parts for any found defective in manufacture. No claim can be admitted (whether goods are accepted or not) for any claims, charges or expenses, or for consequential damages. The above is given in substitution for all other conditions or warranties, whether expressed or implied by the Sales of Goods Act 1893, or otherwise..

At Ideal Works, Hull we have two modern laboratories, each equipped with the latest apparatus: A Thermal Research Laboratory for the design and development of new products, and a Chemical Laboratory controlling all materials and processes. By rigid and accurate tests combined with the use of the best materials and manufacturing methods, we are able to ensure the highest standards of efficiency and reliability in Ideal Heating Appliances”

We will look at the ‘The Ideal Boilers, Radiators and Accessories 1961 Catalogue’ in future Blog Posts. Be sure to check back soon. See the modern day Ideal Boilers and Stelrad Radiators online catalogue.

Visit BHL, the leading Online Plumbing, Heating and Bathroom suppliers. Buy Stelrad Radiators. Buy Ideal Boilers.