With the UK still in the throes of the toughest winter it has experienced in many a long year, with energy bills to match, most families are taking a long hard look at their energy bills and asking themselves what went wrong.

Be it gas, electricity or oil, there is no escaping the fact that energy costs went through the roof this year, and with  erratic global weather  conditions pervading who can say that next year won’t be just as bad.

That’s why when the spring flowers hopefully begin to raise their heads some time soon, there will be a period of appraisal for most families as they weigh up the realities of which fuel they can afford to heat their homes in winter 2010/2011.

Each source of energy will have to be taken into account and the pluses and minuses have to be weighed up. Those people who through no fault of their own made the decision around ten years ago to place their trust in oil will find it difficult to find too many plus factors these days with the ever rising price of crude oil making it almost financially impossible to use it to heat a home.

Apart from anything else,   on the negative side conventional oil boilers are very unfriendly to the environment, an issue that can no longer be ignored.  On the plus side, oil fired boilers are capable of providing consistent flow rate that is equal to that of a traditional gas boiler, but a considerably higher price.

With crude oil prices now sitting at around $80 a barrel, and with little chance of a price reduction in the near future, most home owners who heat their boiler with oil will need to get their pencil out and reach the difficult conclusion that continuing on the oil trail will only lead to increased energy costs. There are those who will argue that it doesn’t really matter what type of fuel is used in order to fire the boiler, you still run the risk of having the price go up as they do from time to time.

 While there is a lot of sense to this argument, there is no escaping the fact that replacing your money drinking oil fired boiler with one of  the new generation of British Gas boilers will justify the outlay, and in a very short time.

So why wait till next winter for the penny to drop, start the ball rolling now, before it becomes a snowball.

For more information on boiler, heating cost  and all your energy needs visit http://www.britishgasboilers.co.uk/

Tags: Boiler, British Gas, Condensing Boiler, electricity, energy prices, Fuel Bills, Gas, oil

Very few UK families actually take the trouble to find out but if they did, they might be shocked to discover that they spend around £1400 a year on their gas and electricity bills: Quite a lot when you consider that the average disposable income per family is around £23,000 a year, meaning around 6 percent. Although the UK is feeling the effects of global warming more and more, there are still ways to reduce the burden of utility bills. They can be reduced by up to 25% with a little effort and diligence, by finding the cheapest gas and electric operating methods, with the money saved being put to a much better use.

To begin with, an average UK household spends around £150 a year on lighting. This is too much when you consider the developments in lighting technology in recent years. The new linear fluorescent bulbs not only use less energy but will also last around ten times longer. These compact fluorescent light bulbs have been designed to fit most standard fixtures, so there is no real need to replace any fittings in the short term. Estimates are that each bulb can save more than £30 in its long life span.

Another item of electricity wastage that needs to be placed under close scrutiny is the large number of fairly sophisticated electronics that even the average family has in use. These include televisions, DVDs and home computers. It is a common misconception that these items don’t use too much electricity and none when they are in use. Plasma screen televisions are reputed to use tremendous quantities of electricity in return for the tremendous quality that they provide. However money can be saved by switching them off when no one is watching. Also, when TVs and DVDs are in standby mode they use up energy and should be switched off.

As far as using gas is concerned, the equations are slightly different. People generally invest in gas equipment for the long term, to heat their home or their hot water. It doesn’t have to look too glamorous as long as it does the job, especially in the case of water heaters or boilers. Outlay on installing or updating a system can scare a lot of people away from the investment, which is very false economy. The savings made will be returned consistently over a couple of years, and the equipment will remain in place for years, if not decades longer.

Whatever you do and how far you take it, either diligence or wise investments will help the average UK family both reduce their outlays on heating and lighting their home while making the money that they spend on these important utilities stretch as far as they can.

Tags: Boiler, British Gas, combi boiler, Combination Boiler, Condensing Boiler, condensing combi boiler, DVDs, electricity bills, fluorescent light bulbs, Gas, gas bills, Gas Boiler, home computers, Home Electricals and Computers, Plasma screen televisions, Televisions

Each winter in the UK between ten and fifteen people lose their lives by inhaling carbon monoxide fumes. These highly poisonous fumes leak into their homes through gas appliances and flues, and without exception, particularly those which have not been properly installed. The number of people, usually the elderly and infirm who become ill due to breathing these fumes, cannot be measured, but are estimated to run into the thousands. The symptoms of the poisoning are hard to trace and can often be confused with a dose of the flu or a virus that can occur in the winter months. Although it is difficult to believe, these people are actually lucky because they are more than likely being exposed to very low quantities of the gas. However someone who is exposed to the gas in its undiluted form can succumb to it within just a few hours. Sadly, most people who pass away from carbon monoxide poisoning do so in their sleep, and have no idea that they are at risk.

Everyone who has even one gas appliance in the home should take great care to protect themselves and their family from the risks that exposure to the gas can bring. It is not a difficult task to carry out and basically involves the following simple checks:

• Your gas appliance was poorly installed and not by a British Gas (Corgi) registered installer;
• Any gas appliances in your home which are not functioning properly and the matter haven’t been taken care of.
• Any gas appliances in your home have not been checked to meet recognized safety standards and are being used on a regular basis.
• Fresh air is not being allowed to circulate, even at the most minimum of levels, in a room of the house;
• If a chimney or flue in the house has been allowed to become blocked up, and is not cleared.
• Even if your gas appliance has been installed by a British Gas (Corgi) registered installer, if you later allow an engineer who is not on the Gas Safe Register to tamper with your appliance, they may cause damage that will allow the lethal gas to leak into your home.
• You continue to use a gas appliance, even if you fear that it is not functioning properly. A sure sign that the appliance may be faulty is that if the flame becomes orange or yellow. Another sign of a faulty appliance is soot beginning to appear around the appliance which shows that the outlet may be beginning to block.

In addition to these measures, it can be a worthwhile investment to fit a carbon monoxide alarm. The alarm, which must meet current safety standards (BS EN 50291) and carry a BSI Kitemark, will sound an alert if carbon monoxide levels

Tags: Boiler, Boiler Replacement, British Gas, BS EN 50291, BSI Kitemark, carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide alarm, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, combi boiler, Combination Boiler, Condensing Boiler, condensing combi boiler, Corgi, Corgi registered, flue, Gas, Gas Boiler, Gas Safe Register, Home Electricals and Computers

In these troubled times every penny counts and there is no shame involved in getting down to details to cut back on costs. By taking care of the fine points and comparing the cost of your electricity bills amongst potential suppliers, a typical family stands to save themselves a few hundred pounds a year, money that can be well spent somewhere else. Service suppliers, and electricity suppliers are no exception, tend to get complacent about the customers they have. It is perfectly legitimate to inform your existing supplier that you are unhappy with their price tariff (even if you aren’t) and begin to shop around for better price.

Electric suppliers also live in the same cruel, hard world that we do and they are very aware that there is lots of competition around these days. They tend to concentrate their marketing efforts on enticing new customers to the fold while at the same time doing their best to keep existing customers, without necessarily offering them the keenest rates available. That’s why people who consume electricity are well advised to shop around at regular intervals for the best tariffs.

The steps involved in doing an electricity price comparison are very straightforward. They should run as follows:

• Find one of the many electricity price comparison sites online.
• Enter your postcode on the customised form. Doing so will enable the site to find all the potential suppliers in your area, as well as each one’s tariffs.
• You would be well advised to enter details about your current supplier, as well as the tariff that you are currently paying. The site will usually ask you to enter your monthly usage as well as payment you make. If you don’t have this information readily available, you should carry out a physical read on your meter and calculate both your usage and calculate the sum according to your tariff. These days, meters are rarely physically read, with the electricity supplier working on an estimated average charge. This practice is often not in favour of the consumer.
• The interactive form on the electricity comparison site will often ask you to fill in an ideal tariff that you are willing to pay. They will also ask if you want to pay at a fixed rate, or green energy (energy generated in more energy efficient ways).
• The interactive form on the electricity comparison site will also ask you how you want to pay your account, and supply you with a list of alternatives.
• After that, all you need to do is sit back and wait until the electricity tariff comparison site runs through the suppliers in your region and comes up with the best deal for you.

In many cases it can turn out that your existing supplier is still the most competitive in your region and that the tariff you have been paying is as good as it gets. A situation can also arise where your existing supplier quotes a tariff that is lower than what you have been paying, which will give you an ideal opportunity to ask for a retrospective discount. If another supplier offers a lower tariff, then you have achieved your objective. However, it always worthwhile taking a close look at the potential new supplier before switching, and even asking your existing supplier if they can match the tariff. Often the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know, and if you have been happy with your supplier and they have been happy with you, then you might find that they will be reluctant to let you go so quickly.

Tags: Boiler, Boiler Replacement, British Gas, combi boiler, Combination Boiler, Condensing Boiler, condensing combi boiler, electricity suppliers, fixed rate, Gas, Gas Boiler, green energy, Service suppliers, tariff comparison

As new innovations come to light in all walks of life, we often have to familiarise ourselves with the new phraseology that comes with them. Only a few of us will have heard of combi boilers and particularly that of the condensing variety. One thing for sure is that those of us who have are happy for the difference they have made to our lives.

What does a condensing combi boiler do? It offers a winning combination of:

• Unlimited hot water.
• Reduced heating bills.
• Constant and reliable sourcing of effective and green energy applications.

Condensing combi boilers operate pretty much the same way as the standard combi heater boiler. The principal difference between these two options is not there to be seen but to be felt: both in the increased efficiency and performance of the boiler, and also in the considerable cost savings of running it.

The design of the condensing units which allows for maximum heat retention is a major factoring in retarding excessive usages of energy. In addition, condensing combi boilers can be readily tuned to operating on a slow but steady basis. If the unit is tuned to a high setting, but to operate for a shorter time, it will generate considerable heat and maintain it. This means considerable energy savings in gas, as the boiler should only need to be operated once a day and not several times, as most conventional boilers are.

Those of us who have made the switch from a conventional gas boiler to a condensing combi will tell you that it has opened up a whole new way of life. Not only is the home warmer and more comfortable, hot water is on tap all day long, and the gas bills are going down, something that has to be taken very seriously these days when the economy and the environment are so much in the news.

If you are interested in learning more about condensing combi boilers, how they operate and what they can do for you, why not check out the British Gas website. http://www.britishgas.co.uk/

Some of the UKs largest and longest established gas boiler manufacturers such as Glow-Worm, Worcester and Baxi have added condensing combi boilers to their ranges, which tells you that this new innovation is here to stay. Why not have one to stay in your home?

Tags: Baxi, Boiler, Boiler Replacement, British Gas, combi boiler, Combination Boiler, Condensing Boiler, condensing combi, condensing combi boiler, condensing units, Gas, gas bills, Gas Boiler, Glow-Worm, heat retention, Unlimited hot water, Worcester

Very few people can afford the luxury of changing their gas boiler as part of a fashion statement. The truth is that if the average consumer had the choice he would stay with the sane gas boiler forever. Gas boilers are, after all, fairly unglamorous items and far from being a status symbol. You very rarely overhear men in pubs or boardrooms discussing what kind of gas boilers they are running at the moment.

On the other hand, when your gas boiler does begin to act up, you will soon get to know about it. Your house will begin to get colder and your gas bills will start to climb. And before you know it, you will be faced with the fairly large expense of changing your gas boiler.

How many people take the trouble to investigate if their gas boiler is working at its maximum potential and if so, then how much would they be saving in their heating bills? Don’t forget that a gas boiler is a fairly sophisticated item of machinery with lots of moving parts that can wear out or begin to malfunction.

Not only that, but technologies are developing in our energy conscious society that make gas boilers much more cost effective. If your gas boiler is more than ten years old and has been a loyal servant, working quietly behind the scenes to heat your home, it might be time to consider replacing it with a newer model. If it has reached the ripe old age of twenty and not yet given out, you should count your blessings.

No matter the reason, replacing your gas boiler will be one of the most important decisions you will make, dare I say it, even more than your car or stereo. And not only that, but replacing a gas boiler can actually save you money. Your energy efficiency will improve and your gas bills could drop by as much as 20% and you will soon find that your investment is paying off.

If you want to investigate further how and when to replace your boiler, take the time to check out the information provided by Sedbuk, which you will find online: http://www.sedbuk.com/

Sedbuk is the abbreviation of Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK and provides a wealth of information on the subject.

Another worthwhile hint is not to wait until disaster strikes but begin to prepare yourself for replacing your boiler during the summer months, and for obvious reasons. In the hotter months of the year, suppliers are less pressured and can be persuaded to reduce their prices a little. Make sure that you check out which size boiler best suits your needs as well as the size of your property. All these factors will make a difference both to the initial coasts as well as to the cost of gas in the long term. It goes without saying that when it comes to installing your new boiler, as well as dismantling your existing one, only certified professionals should be used.

Tags: Boiler, Boiler Replacement, British Gas, Combination Boiler, Condensing Boiler, Gas, gas bills, Gas Boiler, gas meter, gas supplier, Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers UK, SEDBUK

If the truth be told, most prefer the status quo. There is a well-known and pretty dangerous statement that’s says "better the devil we know than the devil we don’t know". The danger in taking that kind of advice is that we will never change anything in our lives because we might be frightened to try. And in most cases the status quo is fine. However, in cases where we are unhappy about something, especially something that we are paying for, then it is the consumers’ right and responsibility to make whatever changes they think necessary.

So why would you want to change your gas supplier? Well, generally there are two main reasons: first of all, if you feel that you are paying too much for your gas. These days most gas bills are calculated using an estimate only. Most people agree with this and generally the figures line up according to previous bills and your estimated annual usage. That’s all very well and convenient for most parties. But what happens when the estimated usage starts to go up, and without any reason? That’s when the warning bells should start to ring and it is the consumer’s responsibility to check out the reasons and prevent them from happening in the future. If no reasonable explanation is forthcoming, then the consumer should begin to feel that he is being ripped off and start to take whatever steps necessary to protect his interest, as well as his bank balance.

One way of preventing unpleasant surprises is to take regular readings of your gas meter. Even though your gas meter reader doesn’t come to call any more, it doesn’t mean that you can’t keep track. And if you suspect that your gas supplier is overcharging, you can even take some digital images of your meter once or twice during a billing cycle which provides ideal proof that you are being overcharged. If it transpires that you are being overcharged for your gas, the first thing that you should do is demand retroactive compensation, as well as immediately closing your account. There is no shortage of honest gas suppliers out there.

When the time comes to change your supplier, ask for an accredited reading from your existing supplier, as well as details of usage for the last year or so. This will be a handy tool for your new supplier to assess your annual usage and calculate what tariffs they will charge you. Most gas companies these days have different tariffs according to usage, and if you use a lot of gas, you should be able to expect a low tariff.

It is not a crime to consider changing your supplier, and even less of a crime to do so. Another worthwhile hint is to let your current supplier know that you are on the lookout for new gas supplier. You will be surprised how quickly they will come up with a special offer or new deal. As long as you are happy with them, there is no reason to disappoint them by not taking it up.

Tags: Boiler, Boiler Replacement, British Gas, Combination Boiler, Condensing Boiler, Gas, gas bills, gas meter, gas supplier

For those who ask what is carbon monoxide poisoning, they should know that the effects of one of the deadliest gases around can be at worse fatal, and at best, lead to serious health problems.

Ideally, fuels such as gas, coal and wood burn cleanly and provide heat for the home and office without any problems.

But when an appliance is not serviced regularly, or indeed, not installed, or repaired properly, then you’ve got potential danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Known by the initials CO, carbon monoxide is so deadly because it’s a poisonous gas that cannot be smelt, seen, or tasted.

This is why the authorities come down hard on people who think that they can install, service and repair gas appliances without the necessary training and paperwork. It should be remembered that the law states that only those engineers on the Safe Gas Register can do such work on a gas appliance. Gas boilers and fires, and other such fuelled appliances, cannot be DIY tasks. And you do so at your peril.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur even if you breathe in small amounts of the gas. What’s more, exposure to the gas over a of period of time, can lead to serious health problems such as paralysis and brain damage.

So everyone should try and be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Simply put, the symptoms can be similar to those suffering from tiredness, food poisoning, flu and all number of viral infections. People with such symptoms, who live in homes with gas appliances, should always ask themselves whether their diagnosis is right. Of course, some common sense is required, but it is worth being aware that exposure to carbon monoxide can happen over a period of time from a faulty gas appliance. This is why appliances should be regularly serviced and regularly checked for faults.

Six of the main things that you may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning are: dizziness, headaches, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.

Now there are some clues as to whether a home-based appliance might be the cause of such symptoms. It may be that you have similar symptoms to above, but only when at home. It may be that you feel better once you’ve left home, but the symptoms return when you go back home. Or that others around you in the house appear to have the same symptoms and this goes for pets as well.

If you suspect that you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, to whatever degree, take immediate steps. Open all doors and windows immediately, turn off all appliances, and leave the house, and alert your energy company if you suspect a leak. Do not return until a qualified gas engineer has checked your appliances. And see a doctor to check you over for a signs of poisoning.

With CO, always err on the side of caution

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Tags: British Gas, carbon monoxide, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Central Heating, Combination Boiler, Condensing Boiler, electricity, electricity and gas, emissions, energy, energy companies, Energy Efficiency, Gas, Heating, Heating and Hot Water, Hot Water, Poisoning

British Gas Wales trades under the name of Nwy Prydain.

And although Cardiff-based Nwy Prydain provides exactly the same service as British Gas, there are some interesting variations.

These include no standing charge, so customers have the advantage of only paying for what they use. This innovation was first introduced by Nwy Prydain and has proved very popular with customers. They also offer a significant discount if you take both electricity and gas from them.

A further bonus is their Free Bill Payment Cover which offers to clear your energy bills in case of accidental death – something not to be sniffed at these days.

And British Gas Wales, under the guise of Nwy Prydain, has a Welsh language service, meaning that Welsh language speakers can get the best from the company and its various offers.

Nwy Prydain is a one-stop energy company.

It not only provides an extensive range of competitive tariffs for gas, electricity, or duel fuel (gas and electricity), it covers your home maintenance and repair needs. This includes anything from installing a complete new central heating system, to providing hassle-free maintenance over its long life. For existing systems, it also provides a comprehensive repair service, meaning that most parts of your system, including your boiler and radiators, can be repaired quickly and cost-effectively.

But http://www.britishgasboilers.co.uk/about-us.htmis not only about energy and central heating systems. It can effectively cover all your home repair and maintenance needs, including most plumbing and drains; electrical appliances; gas appliances; and, kitchen appliances.

It also sets out to help its customers by offering advice and tips on all the major issues connected with running a home. These include understanding how your bill is calculated; how to pay your bill; suggesting ways that your bill could be reduced by sensible practices around the home; tips on basic maintenance to help avoid future problems; what to do in the event of a breakdown; and, take some of the mystery away from central heating systems in general.

Nwy Prydain also promotes active energy efficiency, with reports and advice available on general energy savings; energy efficient products (including light bulbs); how to save energy and help your wallet; and, the introduction of new technologies and grants that are being made available for domestic use.

All in all, Nwy Prydain is one of the most pro-active energy companies operating today.

Tags: British Gas, Central Heating, Electricty, Fuel, Gas, Nwy Prydain

A social tariff is there for those that need help to pay their fuel bills.

With fuel prices gobbling far more of people’s home budgets than ever before, rules are now in place which try and make it clear who is needy and how the energy companies should respond.

The regulator of the Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets, Ofgem, has set some quite strict guidelines.

But, firstly, who qualifies for the help? It is those people that are deemed vulnerable customers and those that are seen as fuel poor customers (defined as spending on energy more than one tenth of their income).

After some confusion when the idea of social energy tariffs were first introduced, Ofgem stepped in to clarify the situation, now demanding that social tariffs should be equal to the energy provider’s most competitive (cheapest) tariff. It was thought unfair in many quarters that those having a hard time to pay their energy bills, were those that were, ironically on the most expensive deals.

So following Ofgem’s stance, the energy companies had to commit to a spend of £225 million between the years 2008 and 2011 on social tariffs.

One of the U.K.’s largest energy companies, British Gas, was the first to introduce a social tariff, having recognised the concept of fuel poverty way before many of its competitors.

The British Gas social tariff, known as The Essentials Tariff, is currently the largest in the U.K. It has the laudable aim of reducing the energy bills of over 750,000 of British Gas’s most needy customers.

These include people with Pay-As-You-Go electricity and gas meters, those without a bank account and the ones who have signed up to the British Gas Winter Rebate plan. For many of these customers, the new guidelines will make a meaningful difference to the prices of their electricity and gas.

And there are other ways to get help with your fuel bills, including grants and schemes, which tend to be grouped under the heading of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

It depends in which part of the U.K you live to who administers the scheme and who sets the eligibility criteria.

In England, it’s called the Warm Front Scheme and in Wales, the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme. You are eligible if you are on a wide number of benefits.

For more information have a look at the EAGA website at www.eaga.co.uk or phone 0800 408 0694. Details about home energy efficiency schemes, and how to apply, are available by calling your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on freephone 0800 512 012. For other grants, contact your local authority or energy supplier and find out if they have any information.

You can also phone the Energy Saving Trust on 0845 727 7200 to ask about grants and schemes in your area.

In Scotland, it’s called the Warm Deal Scheme; for more information visit: www.scotland.gov.uk. In Northern Ireland, its called the Warm Homes Grant and have a look at the EAGA website at www.eaga.co.uk.

On a general basis, a home energy efficiency grant is not something to be sniffed at. They range from £500 to a very significant £5,000; so there’s no excuse not to try and use the grant system to keep warm.

Tags: Electricty, Fuel, Fuel Bills, Gas, Social Tariff