Harpersplumbingfeed

A hard frost can turn a dripping outside tap into a split pipe overnight. The best way to stop pipes freezing in Hertfordshire and Essex homes is to insulate pipes in cold spaces like lofts, garages and outside walls, keep some heat in the house during cold snaps, and know where your stopcock is before you need it. If a pipe does freeze or burst, our

The first chilly evening of autumn is when most of us flick the heating on and hope for the best. The short answer to getting your heating ready for winter in Hertfordshire and Essex is to run it for a test before you need it, check the pressure, bleed any cold radiators, set your controls and book a

An air source heat pump takes heat from the outside air, even in winter, and uses a compressor and electricity to raise it to a temperature that can heat your radiators and hot water. It typically delivers several units of heat for each unit of electricity used, which is why it’s promoted as a low-carbon alternative to gas and oil.

A heat pump can work in many homes, b...

Home air conditioning is worth it for households that regularly struggle with overheating, especially in bedrooms, loft conversions, home offices and rooms with lots of glazing. It improves sleep and comfort during hot spells, and most modern split systems can also run in reverse to provide efficient heating in spring and autumn.

It’s less likely to be worth it if the ...

An oil tank needs attention if you see cracks, bulges, whitening or discolouration on a plastic tank, rust or weeping seams on a steel tank, a damaged or sinking base, water collecting in the bund, a strong smell of oil or unexplained oil loss. Any of these can lead to a leak, and oil spills can be expensive to clean up and harmful to the environment.

A quick visual ch...