Glow-worm is now offering a FREE Extended 5 Year Warranty on their Ultracom and Flexicom Boiler Ranges from 1st September to the 31st December 2011.  This great offer is available to installers who are a member of Glow-worm’s  loyalty programme Club Energy.

The Club Energy loyalty programme is designed to help installers to develop their businesses with free business development tools. As well as having access to Glow-worm’s extensive range of high performance heating products they are also entered into an ongoing partnership with Glow-worm that can be rewarding with access to:

• New customer leads
• Free boiler and renewable product training
• Free business development tools including a business website, professional advert design tools and professional quote generation and service reminder tools
• A priority techncial helpline
• Instant rewards on Glow-worm products
• Luxury UK and Foreign trips
• And now a free 5 year warranty

For more information about this great offer and Glow-worms Club Energy programme (click here).

Due to the fact that we are a heating and plumbing supplier, to compliment our vast, comprehensive stock range of Boilers, we have a wide array of Boiler Accessories in order to ensure that your central heating and hot water system is running effectively and efficiently. Just as accessories with any product on the market, Boiler Accessories are all ideal and complimentary products that will make a difference and improve the performance of your boiler and the system around it. The Rolex watch to finish the suit you could say…

At BHL we also offer a comprehensive range of quality Boiler Accessories for a variety of different boiler manufacturers in order to complement any new of existing central heating system in the UK. As a result, if you are looking for Boiler Accessories, such as a condensate pump or a plume management kit, BHL has the solution you need for quality Boiler Accessories for quality boilers.

The Boiler Accessories we sell include;

• Boiler Flues – The pipe, tube or channel that conveys hot air, gas, steam and waste product from a boiler to the outside environment.
• Boiler Controls – Give you the freedom to decide how your home is heated, making it warm when you need to, but switching off when you don’t, the right boiler controls could save you up to £235 a year.
• Filling Loops – A flexible hose with valves at either end used in sealed heating systems to introduce water into the system. It is generally situated near to the boiler and expansion vessel. This should be shut off once the system is filled.
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms – Is a device that detects the presence of the carbon monoxide (CO) gas in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Boiler Repair Kit – 28 commonly used fixings for a wide range of major boiler manufacturer’s appliances as well as 4 products needed for everyday service work.
• Condensate Pumps – A specific type of pump used to circulate the condensate water produce in a water heating system.
• Water Treatment – These ensure that the water used in the heating systems is appropriate for safe and efficient use.
• Universal Thermocouple – A junction between two different metals that produces a voltage related to a temperature difference within a heating system.
• Condensate Pipes – This is the waste pipe that carries condensation from the boiler to the drain outside of the property.

In relation to boilers, the main two types of accessories that are essential in the general usage and daily applications of a boiler and a heating system in domestic application are boiler flues and boiler controls. With the addition of these two types of boiler accessories, your domestic heating system will run more efficiently and effectively and thus, cutting down and reducing your general heating bills considerable which in itself is worth considering.

Boiler Flues are a composition of various pipes and components that convey hot air, gas, steam or smoke from a Boiler, Fireplace or Water Heater to the outdoors. At BHL we provide a wide array of components that help you construct the ideal flue system for your purpose and property, including both Gas Boiler Flues and Oil Boiler Flues. Boiler Flues usually operate by buoyancy, also known as the stack effect or the combustion products may be induced via a blower. As combustion products contain carbon monoxide and other dangerous compunds, proper draft and admission of replacement air is imperative from the use of Boiler Flues.

Furthermore, adding Boiler Controls or 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 Gas Boiler Controls and Oil Boiler Controls to ensure that you find the right Boiler Controls for you and your home. (Read more about Boiler Controls on our BHL Blog Entry)

Proper control of central heating and domestic hot water systems  with the use of Boiler Accessories can provide a comfortable living environment and help to minimise fuel costs. Energy efficiency in the home depends on controls that fit in with modern living patterns. Central heating and DHW controls are at the heart of the Part L of the Building Regulations and are key to delivering greater efficiency. BHL offer a comprehensive range of optional performance accessories, all enabling cost effective use of domestic heating.

Boiler Accessories are available to Buy online from BHL. We supply a wide range of Boiler Accessories online from leading manufacturers including; Vaillant, Worcester-Bosch, Glow-Worm and Honeywell.

Read more about Boiler Accessories here…

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.

The BHL team recently visited EcoBuild 2010 at Earls Court, London. The exhibition was massive with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors.

EcoBuild displays the latest energy efficiency and renewables products and materials from the leading manufacturers within the building industry. Many manufacturers use the exhibition as an opportunity to launch new and innovative products.

We wanted to see the Plumbing and Heating stands and be the first to learn about some of the new and exciting developments within the industry. It was also interesting to see all the other disciplines within the construction industry on display.

Worcester Bosch, as you would expect from one of the UK’s leading heating manufacturers had a large and impressive stand displaying their wide range of products including Worcester Bosch Boilers, Worcester Bosch Heat Pumps and Worcester Bosch Solar.

EcoBuild 2010 featured over 1000 exhibitors displaying a wide range of products and materials including Boilers, Solar Panels, Flooring, Green Walls and Wind Turbines

Kingspan had a large presence at EcoBuild and displayed a wide range of their products including Range Tribune Cylinders and Albion Ultrasteel Cylinders.

The Guardian’s Architecture and Design correspondent Jonathan Glancey in the EcoBuild 2010 Arena Lecture.

The New Albion Aerocyl Unvented Hot Water Cylinder and Aerocyl Buffer Tank on display for one of the first times.

The impressive Remeha (Broag) range of Avanta Boilers on display and showing off their build quality and use of top quality parts.

Glow-worm Clearly Heat Pumps on display at EcoBuild.

Worcester Bosch Underfloor Heating System which as the sticker suggests is new for 2010.

EcoBuild’s most impressive structure was Cityscape, an imposing 8 metre high cube clad in the very latest living wall technology.

Ideal Heating displayed a wide range of products including the Ideal Gas Boiler and Stelrad Radiator range. Ideal also sported their new corporate logo.

Baxi Ecogen, from Baxi is a combined heat and power appliance (CHP) generates electrical power and useful heat from the single source. The model displayed above explains it all. Baxi also displayed the Zenex built GasSaver, which I discussed in a previous blog post, Save Money with a Boiler Gas Saver.

Be sure to read our blog in the coming weeks when we will report on our findings in more detail including further details of the exciting Glow-worm Clearly Hybrid, which, according to Glow-worm is the first totally practical hybrid renewables solution that looks after the earth and your pocket.

We at BHL are always trying to keep abreast of the latest developments happening within the plumbing and heating industry.  The buzz word at the moment is renewables – and there has been tremendous growth and interest in renewable technologies recently.

BHL will be visiting this years EcoBuild 2010 at Earls Court, London. EcoBuild is the country’s largest exhibition for the sustainable building sector and it offers the opportunity to view the latest energy saving and renewable products including Solar Water Heating Panels, Solar PV Panels, Ground Source Heat Pumps, Water Harvesting and High Efficiency Condensing Boilers, as well as developments in sustainable design, construction and the build enviroment.

All the leading names from the industry will be displaying their latest products at the conference including Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Glow-Worm, Baxi, Grundfos, Bristan, Biasi, Ideal Boilers, Pegler Yorkshire and Cistermiser.

Amongst the manufacturers displaying new lines at EcoBuild is Worcester Bosch who will showcase a selection of new products, including  the new Worcester Greenfloor underfloor heating system as well as the Worcester Micro CHP unit – which is due for release in 2011. Worcester are also launching MVHR (mechanical ventilation and heat recovery) which will be displayed as part of a model house.

To find out about our visit to EcoBuild and the products we discovered, be sure to follow our blog in the next few weeks.

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.