Stelrad is the UK market leader in central heating radiators, offering the widest range, and in more sizes, than any other manufacturer. Stelrad has a highly advanced production and distribution facility in Mexborough, UK and it produces over 2.5 million steel panel radiators a year, for both domestic and commercial markets.

From the classic and traditional Stelrad Elite to the sophisticated, stylish Arc – Stelrad has a variety of styles and finishes to harmonise with any period or contemporary setting. Stelrad have recently launched the new Softline range of radiators, which is a contemporary approach to the traditional panel radiator with it’s unique curved grill and clever design. The Stelrad Softline is ideal for customers looking for a step-change in panel radiators aesthetics.

Are you looking for radiators with unrivalled pedigree? Are you looking for traditional and classic radiators to boost the visual effect of new build or social housing properties? Do you want the ultimate in reliability and heating performance? Then look no further than the Stelrad Panel Radiators.

Whether you choose from the market-leading Elite and Compact Brands, or the Stelrad Towel Rail and LST models, you are assured of guaranteed output performance from the Stelrad Panel Radiator range, exceptional sizing flexibility and superb quality. The Compact range alone offer 233 models and includes the Vertex which is a vertical radiator designed specifically for application where wall space is at a premium and the Stelrad Compact Towel Rail, perfect for use in bathrooms or cloakrooms.

With an outstanding choice of heights, lengths and flexible connection options, the Stelrad Panel Radiators offer high performance and provide an ease of installation and production excellence that is suitable for the most demanding of specification requirements. As a measure of the Stelrad Panel Radiators all round dependable quality and performance, the Stelrad Elite and Compact ranges come with a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty.

On the other hand, whatever your central heating system, with the Stelrad Designer Radiators it is easy to add a new radiator, or replace an existing one. The new Stelrad Designer Radiator range offers an easy way to develop the ‘wow factor’ for any property. This unique range of space heaters provides eye catching designs that not only provide a stroking focal point, but a new way to supply imaginative and functional heating that guarantees outstanding performance.

Whether you choose the impressive Optia or the Excel with it’s intricate lattice design, all the Stelrad Designer Radiators are both stylish and practical. As this is a Stelrad range, you can be sure that every model has been engineered to the highest standards for exceptional performance and good looks that last. Stelrad Designer Radiators do indeed deliver the ‘wow factor’ with its inspirational and awsthetically pleasing designs and provides your home with styled warming.

Stelrad began in 1936 manufacturing steel column radiators from a purpose built factory in Southall. Nearly seventy years later the company has vastly improved in size and customer base has grown with many homes in the UK possessing a Stelrad radiator. Every radiator produced by Stelrad is kite-marked to quality standards under BS EN 442 for output and specification, and manufactured under quality procedures certified by ISO 9001.

Read more about Stelrad here…. or alternatively visit their website.

Water Treatment describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end use. The goal of all Water Treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the concentration of such contaminants so the water becomes fit for its desired use. One such us is cleaning and filter water within a central heating system in order to make the heating process more effective and efficient.

British Standard (BS7593) – Code of Practice for treatment of water in hot water central heating systems’. The purpose of BS7593 is to ensure awareness of potential problems, and of the remedies required to maintain efficiency and maximise the life of the hot water central heating system.

The standard also gives guidance on the preparation of the primary circuit of wet central heating systems prior to initial commissioning or re-commissioning following major remedial work and ongoing Water Treatment to ensure continued efficiency in operation. Although intended to cover domestic systems with up to 45kW heat output, it is recognised that their recommendations are also applicable to similar systems of higher heat output that require Water Treatment. We supply a wide range of Water Treatment products including:

• Inhibitor - Inhibitor is a general purpose treatment for total protection against limescale and corrosion in all types of indirect central heating systems, including those containing aluminium. Will extend the life of the system, and ensure maximum efficiency and minimum fuel usage. Once added, Inhibitor never needs to be replaced unless the system is drained down.
• Antifreeze - Antifreeze is a multipurpose inhibited antifreeze which is formulated to help give effective frost protection and control corrosion, limescale, boiler noise and hydrogen gasses in all types of indirect heating systems including those containing aluminium components. If minimum levels are maintained the Antifreeze ensures a permanent protection and does not need to be replaced.
• Heating Cleaner - At BHL our range of Heating Cleaner including boiler descaler, sludge remover and central heating cleaner from leading manufacturers including Fernox and Sentinel, helps keep your boiler working when you need it most, keeping you warm through the winter.
• Lime Scale Removal - Lime scale Removal is used for removing limescale from any type of water heater to restore its efficiency. It is safe to use with steel, stainless steel, cast iron, copper, brass, PVC, ABS rubber polythene and most plastic pipework. Limescale Removal is a powerful acid limescale remover and can dissolve up to 50% of its own weight of limescale, it is also corrosion inhibited.
• Boiler Noise - Boiler Noise is usually the result of limescale deposition within the heat exchanger of a boiler. This condition is worsened if magnetite is also present in the system, as this combines with the limescale to form a much harder deposit.
• Leak Sealer - Leaks in central heating water systems can result from external frost damage, dry solder joints, accidental perforation during maintenance or decoration, or internal corrosion.
• Disinfectant - Disinfection is necessary to protect against bacterial and micro-biological contamination in central heating and chilled water systems as well as underfloor heating and renewable applications. BHL offers a range of Disinfect products which are effective in penetrating and removing bio-films in the control of Legionella and Pseudomonas.
• Water Test Kit - Water Test Kits are a postal service for analysis of central heating system water which has been designed to provide the installer or system owner with rapid validation of correct cleaning, flushing and treatment with Inhibitor. It can be used during new system commissioning or during commissioning of existing systems after component replacement.
• Heating Filter - A Heating Filter is a proven high efficiency product designed to tackle all central heating systems, removing virtually 100% of suspended magnetic debris.
• Power Flushing - Power Flushing provides you with faster, easier cleaning for problematic, dirty heating systems, quickly helping restore optimum efficiency. Using Power Flushing with sludge remover can remove magnetite sludge clearly, safely, rapidly and efficiently from central heating systems.
• Scale Inhibitor - Scale Inhibitors feature a wide variety of products currently available for clamping, wrapping around or inserting into water pipes to inhibit water hardness scale. These can be magnetic, electrolytic or electronic devices and do not change the chemical composition of the water, although a physical change may take place.
• Polyphosphate - The Polyphosphate unit provides protection for domestic hot water systems from the effects of scale deposition. It works by proportionally blending a minute amount of Polyphosphate into the system water.
• Thermal Fluid - The term Thermal Fluid consists of two words; ‘thermal’ meaning heat, and ‘fluids’, which refers to liquids, gases and vapours. Pressure, volume and density all play an important role in Thermal Fluids. Temperature, flow rate, phase-change and chemical reactions may also be important in a thermal fluids context. There are two types of Thermal Fluid: Solar Fluid and Heat Pump Fluid
• Condensate Neutraliser - Condensate Neutraliser is an in-line unit containing a special media that will neutralise the acidic waste from condensing boilers. The flow of condensate through the unit is manipulated to achieve optimum contact with media ensuring effective neutralisation.

Water Treatment products are available to Buy online from BHL. We supply a wide range of Water Treatment products and online from leading manufacturers including; Fernox, Sentinel, Scalemaster and Liff.

Read more about Water Treatment here….

A Storage Heater is an electrical home appliance which stores thermal energy during the evening, or at night when base load electricity is available at a lower cost, and releases the heat during the day as required. Storage Heaters are usually used in conjunction with a two-tariff electricity meter, which records seperately the electricity used during the off-peak period so that it can be billed at a lower rate.

In order to enjoy the lower rates, the house must be on a special electricity tariff. In most countries, Storage Heaters are only economical (compared to other forms of heating) when employed with such a special tariff, in the United Kingdom, the Economy 7 tariff is appropriate.

Manual Storage Heaters usually have two controls – a charge control called input, which controls the amount of heat stored, and the draught control called output, which controls the rate at which the heat is released. These controls may be controlled by the user, or may operate automatically once the user selects the target room temperature on a thermostat.

Storage Heaters may also incorporate an electric heater, utilising either resistance heaters or heat pumps, which can be used to increase heat ouput. Such added heating is expensive, as it occurs during the high-tariff time of day.

Storage Heaters allow electrical heating, which is often more expensive than equivalent gas or oil fired heating systems, to be used without as much operating cost. If the Storage Heater is incorporated into the building’s floorplan, they take up less area than a gas or oil fired heating system. Users of gas central heating and some other systems often turn off the heating during the night as an economy measure, with the result that the house is cold at night and early morning, but because night Storage Heaters are on at night, the house is still warm at those times.

Automatic Storage Heaters – The damper may be pre-set to open automatically each day if required when using an Automatic Storage Heater. Setting the output control at settings other than minimum results in an automatic boost of heat. A high setting on the output control knob causes the damper to open early afternoon/evening, conversely a lower setting causes it to open later.  For a given setting of the output control, the colder the weather (and, consequently, the greater the charge taken automatically by the heater) the later the damper will open. Conversely, for a lower charge input (in milder weather) the earlier the damper will open for a given room’s temperature boost setting.

Combination Storage Heaters – Combi Storage Heaters have a convector heater built into the unit, in addition to a standard storage heater system. it means that the Combi Storage Heater will be used to provide the bulk of the heat with instant top using the convector heater

Fan Storage Heaters – Fan Storage Heaters are sophisticated at using off peak electricity. Instead of automatically releasing the heat by convection the next day, a Fan Storage Heater incorporates a silent fan as the name suggests, which takes air through the heater and discharges it through the vent at the base of the heater at a time that suits the user, just like other storage heaters.

A Panel Heater, also known as a radiant panel heater, produces heat by transfer of radiant heat, usually by infrared waves. They are lightweight, allowing the unit to be mounted easily and installed to radiate heat in any direction. There is virtually no decrease in the output of the Panel Heater as it agea. Due to the fact that about 80 percent of the energy is absorbed by the Panel material, there is a reduction in the cost required to run the unit. The back panel of the unit is also insulated to prevent heat loss.

Read more about Storage Heaters and Panel Heaters here on our Electric Heater Category….

BHL’s parent company Bumford Heating Ltd have been working on a Solar PV Panel project, installing a kit that will in turn utilise tomorrow’s technology of Solar Energy. Throughout this project we have been monitoring the progression of it for the benefit of you, our customers, so that you can see the process of Solar Panel installation and can begin planning your savings today!

Bumford Heating Ltd are a Yorkshire based national plumbing and heating contractor. Based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire they have supplied and installed thousands of quality domestic and contract heating systems since being established in Sheffield in 1968. Bumford Heating Ltd are an independent family run business with a proud history and an exciting future.

Bumford Heating Ltd Solar Panel installers set about constructing the frame work and basis for the solar panels, without these, the system simply could not be placed onto the roof of the household.

The installation is nearly complete, however it is a shame about the typically British weather, however, Solar PV panels still generate energy even without sunlight which is definately a huge plus considering the weather in this image. Read more about the Solar Panels here to start saving money on your energy bills….

Solar Panels are a form of active solar power, a description that highlights how solar panels make use of the sun’s energy: solar panels harvest sunlight and exchange it to electricity. Solar Cells, or photovoltaic cells are arranged in a grid-like pattern on the surface of the solar panel, which collect sunlight through sunlight during daylight hours.

Solar energy originates in the depths of the sun. The Sun endures a continuous stream of thermonuclear explosions as hydrogen atoms are fused into helium atoms. We come across the resultant energy as radiation that hits the surface of the earth. Solar panels such as flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors, convert this solar radiation into useable electrical energy and store them in batteries for our use. Enough solar radiation strikes the earth every day to meet Earth’s energy requirements for an entire year. Solar panels help us harvest this energy and convert it into useable energy to meet the everyday needs of modern life as we know it today.

Solar panels are usually manufactured using crystalline silicon or the more expensive gallium arsenide, which is produced exclusively for use in photovoltaic solar cells. In direct sunlight at the surface of the equator, a maximally efficient photovoltaic cell about 1/5m in diameter creates a current of approximately 2 amps at 2 volts, however, as a result of the Earth’s atmosphere interference, terran solar panels will never perform as well as solar panels exposed directly to the sun’s rays (such as space-based panels on satellites).

Solar Kits are essential in the context of ever rising energy costs, climate change and changing legislation, the need for a heating and hot water technology that is future proof, cost effective and able to use an unlimited, sustainable source of energy is essential.

Every year the sun provides over 8000 times as much energy as we consume worldwide and in the UK alone we receive between 900 and 1200kWh of energy per metre square of land per year. On average, every home spends 20-25% of its combined annual energy bills on water heating. A well designed Solar Hot Water Kit can provide almost all the hot water for a home during the summer months and around 50-60% year round. This is why Solar Hot Water Kits are one of the most cost effective and environmentally friendly renewable energy solutions available, reducing fuel bills and building carbon dioxide emissions.

Whenever fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas are burnt, carbon dioxide is released. CO2 is the principal contributor to the green-house effect which is leading to long term climate change. However, a Solar Hot Water Kit can provide as much as 60% of a building’s annual hot water demand from renewable energy as building carbon emission can be significantly reduced. Using Solar Hot Water Kits means that running costs compared with traditional fossil fuelled water heating systems can be reduced. More significantly, using free energy from the environment future proofs the Solar Hot Water Kits against fossil fuels as they become ever more scarce and prices inevitably rise.

As with any central heating or domestic hot water system, regardless of it being either conventional or renewable, it is essential that several controls and accessories are used in order to achieve the optimum usage out of the whole system so that it runs efficiently.  The right controls will keep your home at the perfect temperature and save energy, which in the long term will save you money and reduce the impact you make on the environment. Key components of a Solar system are vital in the overall efficient operation of it, therefore, here at BHL we supply a wide variety of supplies for solar systems including; solar sensors, solar heat exchangers, solar pump stations and solar pipe.

Solar Cylinders are designed for use with a boiler to provide auxiliary hot water during periods of low solar gain. The lower coil or heater exchanger will be connected to the solar hot water system with the upper connecting to the central heating system. the Solar Panels transfer heat energy from sun light to a thermal fluid within the solar hot water system. When the thermal fluid is hotter than the water within the hot water cylinder a pump activates pumping the fluid throught the heat exchanger where the heat passes to the water, via conduction, heating your Domestic Hot Water.

As a result from all the required components of a solar heating system, BHL have provided a simple, stress-free solution by provide a comprehensive stock range of Solar Kits, Solar Hot Water Kits and Solar PV Kits. By purchasing one of these kits from our product range you will be up and ready to go and start saving massively on your annual heating bills, which you will notice straight from installation.

Solar Panels are available to Buy online from BHL. We supply a wide range of Solar Panels and Accessories online from leading manufacturers including; Kingspan Solar, Vaillant, Baxi and Dimplex.

Read more about Solar Panels here…..

A central heating system will run constantly at the same rate throughout the whole day if left to do so at it’s own devise. Which when required to be used is ideal, but what if you work throughout the day and are only in at night? Think of all the wasted energy used when your central heating system is wasting unneeded energy when your property is vacant, well Central Heating Controls could be the answer for you.

Adding Central Heating Controls to your system, whether they are inbuilt or external, will make the overall system more efficient and provide you with more consistent levels of home comfort and enjoyment. Here at BHL, we supply a wide variety and comprehensive stock range of Central Heating Controls to ensure that you find the right Central Heating Controls for you and your home. It is worth noting also that to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations you must have at least some central heating control as part of your heating system, even if it is a simple room thermostat.

As well as providing you with greater flexibility and comfort, Central Heating Controls play an important part in energy saving. For the relatively low additional investment when upgrading your gas boiler, oil boiler and central heating system, Central Heating Controls can save up to 10% of your energy usage. Furthermore, Central Heating Controls can now be used within underfloor heating systems with compatible controls to aid in the overall efficiency and effectiveness of your underfloor heating system in the same means as a general central heating system.

Central Heating Standard Specification focuses on the central heating system and highlights recommended best practice. An installer following the CHeSS best practice guidelines will install these Central Heating Controls; a programmer, a room thermostat, a cylinder thermostat, a boiler interlock, thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s) on all radiators and an automatic bypass valve on new heating installations. All of the above components ensure that when installing a condensing boiler, that it operates to it’s maximum efficiency and that you minimise wasted energy.

A revolution in the past few years in Central Heating Control technology is the introduction of the weather compensator. A Weather Compensator is a sensor that is fitted and mounted onto the northern side of the house which measure the outdoor temperature. The Weather Compensator then determines how warm the water in the heating system needs to be, in order to ensure the requested room temperature inside the house is suitable in comparison to the temperature outside. As a result, the Weather Compensator ensures that you get the comfort temperature you want with the energy consumption that your central heating system uses is at a minimum around the clock, 24 hours a day.

To provide a comprehensive and ideal solution to your central heating control system dilemma, at BHL we have now created S Plan and Y Plan control packs which when complete as a set, contain all the essentials of a basic central heating control system such as; motorised valves, pipe thermostats and heating timers, which for a fraction of the cost, can begin to save you money annually on your central heating and domestic hot water bills.

We supply a wide range of Heating Controls online from leading manufacturers including Honeywell Heating Controls, Danfoss Heating Controls, Drayton Heating Controls, Horstmann Heating Controls and Sunvic Heating Controls.

Read more about Central Heating Controls here…..

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.

To arrange a site survey, please click here.

Rarely do Central Heating Boilers make the front pages but the governments recent Boiler Scrappage Scheme initiative changed all that, certainly for a day or two.

The Boiler Scrappage Scheme has been mooted for some time and is inspired by the successful Car Scrappage Scheme. The campaign for the Boiler Scrappage scheme was started by Mick Williams and I have followed and supported the scheme for some time now.  Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the Boiler Scrappage Scheme in his pre-Budget report in December.

The new Boiler Scrappage Scheme enables homeowners to get £400 off the installation costs when you scrap an old and inefficient G-rated boiler replacing it with a new, high efficient A-rated condensing boiler (and even renewable heating technologies) – Not sure if your boiler applies? Well if it has a pilot light it probably does. Need further clarification? Click here

There are currently 3.5m homes in England with the most inefficient type of boiler. The government is offering households (albeit only 125,000) £400 towards the cost of upgrading their old boiler.

It would be pretty obvious to most that an old boiler is not going to be that efficient, certainly not the 90% or better that a new A-rated boiler can boast. A new condensing boiler will use less fuel resulting in lower CO₂ emissions and running costs. Renewable options, including heat pumps do not burn fossil fuels, thus ticking all the green boxes.

To apply for the scheme the boiler you are replacing must be in full working order. You yourself must be under 60 and living in England. If you are over 60 you can still apply even if the boiler does not work. The scheme is not currently available in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

If you want to apply for the Boiler Scrappage Scheme you must first get quotes from different installers. Once you have chosen an installer you will need to get a quote in order to register for a voucher. Remember, installations must be carried out by Gas Safe, Oftec or Microgeneration Certification scheme registered installers.

Once you have received your voucher, you can then proceed with the installation. You will need to pay upfront for the new boiler and installation before you can then claim back the £400 by sending the voucher and invoice to the Energy Saving Trust. Payment will be issued within 25 working days of receipt of the voucher and invoice.

If you are interested in taking advantage of the scheme you’d better act fast. With 3.5m G-rated boilers but only funding for 125,000, some will be disappointed. But before you consider signing up, consider this. If your boiler is trouble free and operating effectively, is it worth replacing it? Sure, a new boiler will be more efficient but it probably wont last as long as your existing, cast iron appliance. However, should you decide to apply it is worth buying your boiler boiler directly, from a supplier like BHL rather than through your installer. BHL have a wide range of A-Rated Boilers at low online trade prices from leading manufacturers including Baxi, Worcester Bosch, Vaillant and Glow-Worm.