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.
TR Engineering, formally known as Trianco has announced that it is to launch a super quiet range of high efficiency condensing oil boilers that utilise specially matched ‘Riello’ burners.
Offering excellent efficiencies in excess of 90%, rated to SEDBUK A, and simply named ‘EuroStar’. The range has been specifically designed to achieve optimum high efficiency and superb performance whilst withstanding the coldest of temperatures.
Trianco EuroStar encompasses internal kitchen/utility models, ranging in output from 14.6kW – 70kW. External and wall mounted variants are also available and a combination boiler version will be launched early 2011.
Servicing is facilitated via a panel on the front of all models. The baffle system and secondary heat exchanger, cools emissions so that latent heat, usually lost through the flue, is returned to the system to enhance performance while reducing CO2 and NOx emissions.
The system boiler model comes complete with circulating pump, safety valve, automatic air vent, pressure gauge and expansion vessel. A combined secondary heat exchanger means there is no need for water seals or pipes necessary to connect two heat exchangers.
Built-in pre-plumbing and electric’s help to overcome concerns about installation and maintenance, both of which are quick and easy with these models. Accessories include 600mm and 1000mm balanced flue kit options that allow for most wall thicknesses.
TR Engineering’s Director, Peter Beighton explains, “This is one of the quietest, oil ranges I have witnessed in operation and we are extremely pleased with the results. Our relationship with ‘Riello’ has secured a superb combination of quality in production of the range along with optimum performance of the burner, and is a challenging alternative to other oil ranges on the market”
Sedbuk A, High efficiency boilers can save customers up to 20% annually on their heating and hot water bills as against standard-efficiency alternatives, and up to 30% against boilers installed over ten years ago. Put another way, the payback time on the moderate extra cost of the new condensing models, which are competitively priced, can be under two years.
A comprehensive warranty of two-years as well as five-years cover on the heat exchanger is offered.
Underfloor Heating is not the new kid on the block like some imagine it to be, indeed Underfloor Heating’s history can be traced all the way back to the Neolithic period some 9500BC. Early Underfloor Heating systems used drafted smoke from fires which were vented through trenches in the floor.
Later developments produced more and more sophisticated Underfloor Heating solutions including the Roman Hypocaust system at about 500BC. Hypocaust, which means ‘heat from below’ were used for heating public baths and private houses. The floor was raised above the ground by pillars, and spaces were left inside the walls so that hot air and smoke from the fire would pass through these enclosed areas and out of flues in the roof, thereby heating but not polluting the interior of the room.
Nowadays Underfloor Heating is a popular option for homeowners. Though not as prevalent as the traditional panel radiator heating system, Underfloor Heating is extremely popular in new build properties as well as modernisation and home extension projects. Underfloor Heating is now a viable and affordable form of central heating.
UFH can be used alongside the traditional radiator, say for example in a new conservatory. This is what has been done in this particular home extension (see below).
The existing end terrace house was being extended to include a two story extension comprising a new hallway, living room, master bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The new first floor heating was to be provided by traditional radiators including a towel radiator in the bathroom. The ground floor heat would be provided by underfloor heating, supplimented by a wood burning stove.
Before the arrival of the concrete the ground floor was prepared. The installers, Bumford Heating Limited placed special pipe clips on top of the floor insulation and the flexible plastic heating tubes were then clipped into place. Once this was complete, the concrete was poured over the entire floor area.
The heart of the underfloor heating system is the thermostatically controlled manifold (see above), which when connected to a roomstat control the temperature and water flow rate to the zones. Once a room reaches it’s desired temperature a valve shuts off that part of the circuit. The manifold will be connected to the boiler via a circulation pump as the build continues. Check later posts for progress reports.
Once laid, the screeded concrete floor (see above) acts to diffuse the heat across the surface providing an even temperature at the floor surface.
Plans and details of the existing heating system were submitted to BHL and a design was produced for the client. You can see the underfloor heating kit that was specified and used here. Be sure to check back to see the progress in future blog posts.
Atlas Oil Storage Tanks are now available to buy online at BHL. The introduction of Atlas Tanks compliment the existing range of heating oil storage tanks already online which include storage tanks manufactured by Titan Tanks, QSS Tanks, Polytank and Harlequin Tanks.
Originating from Northern Ireland (the unofficial home of the plastic oil storage tank) the Atlas range of storage tanks is comprehensive and includes Single Skin Oil Tanks, Bunded Oil Tanks, Coal Bunkers, Fuel Dispensing Tanks and Waste Oil Tanks. As with all oil tanks the range is designed to either replace an old storage tank or for installations of a new oil heating system and are not suprisingly green in colour. Atlas Tanks were established in 2000 and it’s parent company is Kingspan.
There are a few things that we like about the Atlas Tanks. Firstly, the price is extremely competitive. Secondly every heating oil tank comes with an installation kit and Watchman Sonic remote electronic gauge. Here are a few more features about the Atlas Tanks
Atlas Tanks are strong and light with built-in handgrips to make installation easy
Atlas Tanks offer a 10 year guarantee on Bunded Tanks and 2 year on Single Skin Tanks
Atlas Bunded Tanks come with a secure lockable lid
Atlas Tanks are well proven and respected
Atlas Tanks are carefully designed to prevent rainwater entry and not to leak, rot or rust
Atlas Tanks are ultra-violet stabilised so the colour will not fade
Atlas Tanks are ideal for storage of heating oil and diesel – see detailed pruduct suitability
Atlas Tank guarantees – truck depot 1 year, single skin tanks 2 years and bunded tanks 10 years (pumps and other ancillary equipment one year)
Atlas Tanks are manufactured in accordance with the guidelines of OFS T100
Atlas Tanks are members of OFTEC
Atlas Tanks, in line with current OFTEC recommendation, all standard static Atlas tanks will be fitted with the SpillStop Overfill Protection Device.
We have recently made some small improvements and introduced new features to the BHL website. The changes are designed to improve the shopping experience and to assist product selection. We will discuss the changes that we have made in this blog post.
Improved Category Layout
We have standardised the category page design ensuring a uniform look throughout the website. The categories are now displayed within a blue box showing both the category image and category name. Underneath we have retained links to the top five most popular sub-categories as well as highlighting the lowest priced product within the category.
Tagged Product Details
We have mentioned in previous blog posts about our desire to tag all products on our website (currently 80,000+). Tagging products enables customers to refine their search, ensuring that they can quickly and easily find their preferred product using criteria such as Efficiency, Output, Colour and Material etc. As part of the design changes we have incorporated this data into the product page bringing additional information to our customers.
Restructured Layout
We have restructured the website layout on some pages ensuring that the key information is visible to our customers. Bestselling products now command a more prominent location, as do Videos, News, Forum Posts and Related Categories. Should the customer wish to remove these items from view, the option to minimize (or expand) the link is available.
Improved Product Page
In addition to the tagged data which is now displayed on selected product lines, we have tidied up the product page making key data more prominent – information such as Installation, Price Beater and Ask a Question.
When it comes to Christmas Gift Ideas, a specialist online Plumber’s Merchant such as BHL might not be the first choice destination for many xmas shoppers. Indeed when we discussed which of our 80,000 Plumbing and Heating products we could promote as gifts we almost gave up. Afterall who would really want to unwrap some plastic fittings, toilet float or rainwater guttering on Christmas Morning?
We have just launched a new and exciting feature which will enable us to offer our customers a complete service. Starting this week we are trialling an installation service for our online customers.
Initially the installation service will be offered in the following postcode regions, DE, DN, HD, HX, LS, NG, S, SK, YO. We hope to introduce more regions in the future.
Installations will be undertaken by Bumford Heating Limited. Established over forty years ago, Bumford Heating have grown to become one of the leading installers of Plumbing, Heating and Renewable Energy Systems in the north of England offering solutions for both domestic and commercial properties.
Bumford Heating are experts in their field and will prepare and install the most suitable and efficient system for your property. A site visit by Bumford Heating is essential to ensure that the correct and most energy efficient system is specified. Click here to arrange a site survey from a trained sales engineer
Should you choose Bumford Heating to install your system you can rest assured that they will take care of everything. Bumford Heating offer a hassle free service, going out of their way to minimise disruption and tidying up when the job is done. All Bumford Heating’s Engineers have the latest industry qualifications and are trained to the very highest of standards. If you choose to invite Bumford Heating into your home, Relax – you’re in expert hands – they have over 50,000 satisfied customers since 1968.
Worcester-Bosch are the UK’s leading manufacturer of central heating boilers and renewable energy products. To emphasise their position in the marketplace, Worcester have just embarked on their new winter TV campaign.
Worcester’s new advertising campaign for winter 2010 highlights how much reliance is put on our heating and hot water systems, and why we should be looking after it. Worcester have relayed their brand’s reputation for quality and reliability, the ‘Thank Worcester for That’ campaign will appear on our screens, over the airwaves and in national press right through the winter, ending in December 2010.
Each part of the campaign shows a range of people in everyday situations enjoying a feeling of warmth and comfort – all with the peace of mind that they have Worcester products, such as the high-efficiency Worcester Greenstar condensing boilers, installed in their home providing all of the hot water and heating they need, when they need it.
Worcester Bosch have also begun sponsoring Ray Mear’s latest show, Ray Mear’s Wild Britain which aired in October on ITV1.
The name Megaflo is synonymous with unvented hot water appliances in the same way that Hoover is with vacuums and Tannoy with public-address systems. So when news of a new Megaflo cylinder hitting the market is announced, it causes quite a stir within the industry.
Introducing the Heatrae Sadia Eco, the new High Efficiency Megaflo cylinder from Heatrae Sadia. Heatrae Sadia are emphasising the new cylinders efficiency, indeed it is claimed that the Megaflo Eco loses almost 30 per cent less heat than the previous model. This heat loss saving has been achieved by using thermal imagery testing techniques to ensure all areas of the cylinder are covered.
Other features include extra insulation, a 20 per cent improvement in flow at low pressure and a three piece inlet water valve control. The Megaflo Eco is also available in a Pre plumbed, system fit option, which offers a quicker installation and neater finish when in situ. On top of all this, the Megaflo Eco cylinder carries a lifetime warranty including on site service support.
The Heatrea Megaflo Eco cylinder is available to buy online at BHL. Click here to buy the Megaflo Eco. Click here to buy the Heatrae Megaflo Pre-plumbed Cylinder.
Heatrae Megaflo Eco Features
Constructed in Duplex stainless steel for maximum strength – pressure tested to 15 bar.
Patented internal floating baffle system to accommodate water expansion
No anode – eliminates costly anode maintenance
Insulated casing for the temperature and pressure relief valve to minimise heat loss.
Unique ‘L-shaped’ long-life Superloy immersion heater reaches deeper into the tank giving more hot water.
Titanium immersions as standard on all direct models.
Patented cold water inlet diffuser minimises mixing of cold and hot water.
High performance ‘coil-in-coil’ heat exchanger.
Exceeds CHeSS* Best Practice for recovery times and insulation.
Improved insulation for maximum heat retention.
New water inlet controls increase flow rates by up to 20%.
Improved performance at low pressures down to 1 bar.
Installer friendly design.
Complies with future European Energy
Using Products Directive.
New splash-proof IPX4-rated wiring centre gives greater choice of installation location.
A few weeks ago we told you about the changes to the BHL website (see the article here). The feedback we have received from our customers about the new design has been very positive. But despite all the investment in time and money in the new website we still felt that the new website didnt offer the customer the best opportunity to find a product.
The BHL website is great for customers who know exactly what they are looking for, but perhaps not so good for customers visiting the website with a blank canvas. This is why we introduced a new feature which we have called Refine Your Search (RYS). RYS is a useful feature that enables our customers to narrow their search for products by simply responding to search criteria and therefore making the search more specific. This is the easiest way to narrow down search results. If you have a particular colour, size, model or manufacturer in mind, add that information to your search. RYS also enables products to be searched for by price.
Finding a Radiator
Central Heating Radiators come in a wide range of sizes and styles. Trying to find a specific radiator on most suppliers websites can be frustratingly time consuming. But on the BHL website customers can search for radiators by Brand, Colour, Material, Price, Height, Length, Model, Output and Style. For example, a customer looking for a specific central heating radiator, say a double radiator 600mm high with a length of 1400mm using the RYS facility will be presented with the following results.
Looking for a Combi Boiler
If you are in the market for a new Central Heating Boiler it is important that you buy the correct model for your home. BHL have tried to assist the buying process by introducing RYS. You can now search by Boiler type, Brand, Output and Efficiency. For example a customers looking for a Gas Fired, Sedbuk A Rated Combi Boiler with a domestic hot water flow rate of 16 litres per minute can choose from the following results.
Buying Central Heating Controls
There are hundreds of different Central Heating Controls all offering a whole host of features. Choosing the correct central heating control can improve efficiency and save you money on your fuel bills. The RYS feature on the BHL website will customers narrow their search for products, so for example if you are looking for a Digital, Wireless, Honeywell Room Thermostat then RYS will present you with these results.
We think that the new Refine Your Search feature coupled with industry leading features such as ‘Alternative Products’, ‘related Products’ and ‘Customers who bought also bought’ will ensure that shopping with BHL remains a safe, secure and easy experience.
