Improve Your Water Quality

May 12, 2012 in Plumbing Accessories

Water has many uses throughout the home, from a relaxing shower or bath in the bathroom, to cooking in the kitchen, to providing drinking water for the whole family. If you’re wondering if it is possible  to improve the quality of your drinking water without resorting to having to buy bottled water, there are many ways you can achieve this both cheaply and easily. Drinking water can contain things like bacteria, trace elements of metals and other minerals and even small organisms. It isn’t just substances like chlorine and fluoride, chemicals which clean your water and can strengthen bones and teeth, but also things like arsenic and other metals that can find their way into sources of drinking water. There are also instances in which dangerous pollutants get into the water. Sometimes it is as simple as just looking at the water with a microscope to see signs of what is in there.

One solution that many people go for in order to improve the quality of their drinking water is having a water filtration system installed in the home. These provide peace of mind in knowing that the water coming out of your taps has been cleaned but also is relatively easy to maintain and doesn’t require any extra effort when you’re just looking to get a quick glass of water, wash or prepare food or take a relaxing shower.

The water in most homes actually undergoes some form of purification by the people responsible for providing the water. In most cases, a substance called chlorine is used to make the water safer for the consumer. The down side is that chlorine has side effects. Over a long period of time, this substance can be harmful to humans so a solution is required as well. This is where the carbon filter comes into the picture. This is one very good filter for domestic use. The purpose of this filter is to carry out two tasks at the same time. In the first place, this filter makes the water pure. Again, this filter gets rid of the chlorine in the water and this makes the water very safe for drinking. There is also the fact that this filter is very easy to maintain and this makes it a truly great choice.

Other excellent methods of purifying water include boiling the water and keeping the water in the sun for some time. These methods can help purify water and make it safe and clean. The sun can help disinfect water because it contains ultra-violet rays. These are some of the best ways to get rid of impurities and make water safe for drinking.

Other solutions include fixing a magnetic jacket over the pipes where the water comes into the house, which drags certain impurities out of the water. However, this keeps the impurities in the water and could lead to localised blockages of the pipes.

Whatever solutions you choose to employ, it will have many advantages. From making water safer to drink, to improving the lifespan of things like washing machines and dishwashers, to ensuring you don’t have that build up of residue on your wet room shower screens in the bathroom. Softer, purer water makes for a more pleasant bathing experience generally, and makes it easier to keep both yourself and your home clean.

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Water Heaters – A Quick Guide

May 10, 2012 in Plumbing Accessories

Although we specialise in bathrooms, and a lot of our writing and posts focus on them, we understand that they are not the only important plumbing that you will have inside your home. Of massive importance to your plumbing, and without which your bathroom will be useless, is the water heater.

What does a water heater do? How does it actually work?

How does it actually work?

Water heaters are basically simple: they heat water from the temperature it enters the system at to a hotter temperature. This means that, when you turn on a hot water tap or adjust your shower, you get warm water.

How is a simple water heater designed?

The outer shell is what you will see when you look directly at a water heater. This is not the surface of the water heater, rather an insulation layer to provide energy being lost when heating the water and also to provide protection from burns and scalds. That doesn’t mean that this outer casing isn’t important: if it suffers any problems or is damaged then it is best to sort it out immediately and save yourself the anguish of losing hot water or facing a more expensive repair later on.

1) What is located inside the water heater is a metal tank that is shaped as a cylinder with a protective covering. This protective cover is usually made of porcelain, which is a type of glass. This is the reason why water heaters are commonly called cylinder glass lined.

2) The outer shell of the heater has two main functions. One of these is to serve as a protective covering while the other is to contain the insulation, which provides the primary level of efficiency for the water heater.

To picture it our easily, you can compare a water heater from a thermos bottle with a lit candle under.

3) The water from the pipes will enter the fill tube, which goes down to the bottom of the water tank. Since heat rises, the water is being brought down to the bottom by the fill tube in order to be heated. Once heated, the water will also rise and it begins to exit the tank through the hot water outlet or piping.

4) All water heaters must be built with a drain valve. This is used in order to drain the water tank. Draining is usually done in order for servicing, emptying and flushing the sediments found in the inner tank.

5) In addition, all water tanks must also contain an anode rod made of aluminum or magnesium. This is supposed to be softer than the lining of the inner tank. This is due to the fact that softer material can attract the negative particles first, before these particles can attack the inner tank. In other words, the anode rod is considered as a sacrificial rod.

6) Gas water heaters usually make use of a burner as a heat source, while electric water heaters make use of an element in order to provide hot water.

7) Once the water is already heated, a thermostat is used to regulate or manage the temperature.

8) Safety should always be the first thing to consider in water heaters. A PR valve or the pressure relief valve (also known as the T&P valve or the Temperature and Pressure valve) must be located on top of the heater device. This is very useful especially in cases wherein there is excess temperature or pressure. It opens automatically in order to remove excess water keeping the device in a safe condition.

9) Now you are already aware on how water heaters hold, safely heat and regulate the temperature of the water. Electric heaters pose lesser risks compared to gas water heaters since there is always the possibility of producing carbon monoxide. However, an exhaust pipe is usually built in all gas water heaters. This extends from the top of the tank through the center part of the inner tank going to the outer shell of the heater. This is also called the flu and baffle, which is the one that controls the flow of the toxic gas produced while heating. The flu is connected at the top of the heater and out to the draft hood, which is also linked to the venting system that carries the dangerous gas out of the house.

So in summary, how do these water heaters work? Water will begin to enter the inner tank through the dip tube that is carried to the tank’s bottom portion. This is where the water is heated by a burner or an element equal to the temperature set on the heater’s thermostat. The anode rod is the one that attracts the negative particles while the PR valve is the one that protects the heater from excess temperature. The heated water will then leave the tank through the hot water outlet and down to the hot water piping of the house. This whole mechanism is covered or protected by an insulation that also covers the outer shell of the heater.

This is simply a cylinder that contains water and heats it with a heating source and a temperature regulating device. You can see why they’re essential for enjoying a invigorating shower or relaxing away in a freestanding bath.

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Thermostatic Valves For Safety

April 29, 2012 in Bathroom Taps, Plumbing Accessories

In the future, all new build homes will come with thermostatic mixer valves added to the bathroom for safety. This is important for anyone building a new home to know, but also useful for anyone looking at renovating their bathrooms as it is something that potential buyers are going to come to expect from homes that they purchase. It’s important to know what one of these valves is, how and where to fit one and exactly what they are used for.

A thermostatic valve is fitted to the hot and cold feeds going into the bath and basin (and possibly shower, depending on what kind of shower you have) to ensure that the warm water supplied to the taps is never too warm. This prevents scalding and is especially important for the elderly and those with young families. They work by regulating the temperature of the hot water, and adding in cold water if necessary to keep the water from being too hot and becoming dangerous.

These devices are relatively small and come in common plumbing diameters to make sure that they fit easily and simply to the existing pipework so they can be added to the bathroom with minimum disruption and effort. They are available in sizes and designs that are ideally suited for basins or baths. Ideally they are fitted under the basin or bath and hidden away from view in either the pedestal in the case of a basin or behind the panel in the case of a bath.

Once the thermostatic valves are fitted, as long as they are fitted correctly and functioning properly, they will prevent people from scalding themselves or from suffering burns. There are other benefits too: you know you can leave a bubble bath running unattended and won’t have to come back and spend time adding in cold water to get it down to a comfortable temperature. You won’t have to watch your children in the bath as carefully, secure in the knowledge that they won’t be able to do themselves a mischief by running the hot taps onto themselves. And you won’t have to waste time checking the temperature of your water with a hand or elbow before enjoying a well-earned soak in the tub.

Whether you’re adding a new bathroom, renovating an old one or just looking to protect your loved ones, a thermostatic valve will bring you peace of mind, make your life simpler and add a feature that will greatly appeal to potential house buyers.

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DIY Projects To Improve Your Home

April 27, 2012 in Bathroom Tips, Guides, Off Topic

When it comes to making your home more inviting and liveable there are lots of quick and easy DIY jobs you can do to make your home more welcoming and pleasant. Whether it is to aid resale value, ensure that you get a quick sale when you put it on the market or to make it more attractive for yourself when you come home from a long day at work, doing any of these suggested projects will make a huge difference.  Although large renovations may make the greatest difference, they are both time consuming and costly. They can also cause massive disruption to the home, putting a room out of use for days at a time. These quick, easy and cheap fixes will also make a large difference, but for a fraction of the cost and in much less time.

1. Crown Molding

Adding a crown molding is a simple project that can be done for most homes. This involves adding strips of decorative wood at the intersection of the wall and the ceiling. Depending on the value of the wood, this project can be very inexpensive but can effectively add a touch of elegance to any room. There are many crown molding designs to choose from and it depends on how much you are willing to invest.

2. Simple Kitchen Remodeling

While this may sound expensive, this does not have to be as elaborate and costly. This may only involve repainting the kitchen cabinets and changing the cabinet handles. Attractive lighting fixtures can also be added to change the mood of the kitchen. Swapping old furniture with more modern items from other rooms of from thrift shops can update the look of your kitchen without having to spend much.

3. Adding a Backsplash

If a backsplash is not yet installed, it is a worthwhile investment to add one. Not only does it make the kitchen more appealing, it also protects the walls from water and food materials that can deteriorate the paint. This prevents additional cost of future repainting and gives texture to the space.

4. Bathroom Flooring

Flooring can sometimes be the best way to upgrade the value of the room. Adding neutral bathroom flooring using inexpensive but elegant materials like decorative concrete or attractive ceramic tiles can certainly add a stylish touch to the bathroom. These should be chosen to match the existing furniture and fixture of the room to create a harmonious ensemble. Work out whether your bathroom is modern, or features traditional pieces such as freestanding baths and choose your decoration accordingly.

5. Replace the Front Door

The front door makes the first impression of your homes. This should be as attractive and elegant as possible. Using recycled hardwood with natural finishes can give this a classic touch without being costly. Some opt for doors with windows fitted with decorative glasses. This can be very elegant and versatile.

Home improvement projects can be easily done on weekends. This can also be a time for family bonding with every member pitching in to help. These simple DIY projects can be a first step to doing larger but easy renovations like adding a patio or a sunroom. And numerous studies have shown that improving the bathroom and kitchen are some of the surest ways to add value to any home.

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Tiling As A Finishing Touch For The Bathroom

April 25, 2012 in Bathroom Tips, Guides

When it comes to adding the finishing touch to a bathroom, or quickly changing the whole look of the room, the bathroom tile really comes into its own. Available in a seemingly infinite number of designs, you can find the perfect tile for your room, regardless of what look and theme you are going for. Of course, when faced with such a large choice, it is easy to get over-faced: this is where it is often a good idea to look at showrooms, magazines and sites online to find inspiration.

With such a wide range available, it is possible to combine tiles to perfectly suit the layout of the room and your own personal tastes. You can use tiles for accents, to serve as borders on a large space or to bring colour and contrast to existing designs. By choosing your tiles according to what colours and textures go together you can create nearly any effect you please while ensuring that the surface remains durable and waterproof.

Of course, when choosing your tiles, you first have to consider the budget you have available as well as what space you are looking to cover. by shopping around you will find that you can often get more for your money than you had initially thought, as well as coming across a large range of tiling that you may not have considered. It is often a good idea to talk to suppliers as they will have ideas that you don’t as well as practical advice and tips that can save you time as well as limiting problems that you may face.

Adding Colour

An effective and ,at the same time, affordable way to add more colours to a bathroom floor is to use colourful grouts. For white ceramic bathroom tiles, use brown or grey grout as it adds more depth in your design. In addition, using mosaic tiles also creates the same effect. In case you already have a very simple design, you can always use mosaic tiles to add more flair to the design.

Be Creative with Shapes and Sizes

Lining bathroom tiles is the most common design. If you want something different, why not turn some tiles around in order to create diamond shapes. More than that, you can also insert more brightly colored tiles. Let your imagination take the lead when you start designing using bathroom tiles. You may also get more ideas from books and magazines. Many homeowners also share their experiences and tips. They usually warn others not to use a particular colour or texture. Use their experience to guide you through your project and also highlight potential pitfalls.  Some research will make sure that you save both time and money later.

Whether you want to do this by yourself or hire a professional, always remember that bathroom tiles designs should be carefully planned if you want to create a unique and beautiful bathroom for you and your family. Graph paper is often helpful when looking at different layouts and working out what scale to use and what shapes and colours go well alongside one another.

By planning, shopping around and taking your time you can make your bathroom look beautiful. Tiles give you versatility and the ability to create nearly any look that you want. Whether you have a sleek, modern bathroom or a rustic, traditional bathroom including a freestanding bath, you can always create the perfect look using tiling.

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Maximise Your Bathroom With A Modern Mirror

April 23, 2012 in Bathroom Mirrors

Modern bathrooms are strikingly different to the traditional designs that many of us grew up with. In the past, the room was relatively simple and only basic fixtures and necessary components were actually included. This, however, is not the case now. A lot of different accessories and fixtures have been added to make the room more practical and much more pleasurable to use. Chief amongst these is the bathroom mirror, which has become the most important accessory and is one of the first items on the list for a new build or renovation.

During the installation of bathroom mirror there are different considerations that must be taken into account to ensure that it is practical as possible, and also to make the overall room look as attractive as you can. The basic purpose of bathroom is for washing and grooming and the  mirror is often central to doing both these things. From washing your face and brushing your teeth, to dying your hair and shaving. as well as many other tasks are  more easily performed in front of mirror; making it essential for daily use. Styling hair, applying a face-mask or washing the face, putting on make-up, and shaping and trimming eyebrows are all only really possible when looking at your reflection.

Normally a bathroom mirror is over the vanity or basin and its size is of the same as the vanity or basin beneath it. It does not matter if the vanity or basin is double, single, or corner style. Whatever the size of bathroom vanity or basin, the mirror is usually equally sized to bring symmetry to the bathroom. Like any other accessory the mirror is selected with great care and focus on its need, and the same is the case in the selection of mirror. Some mirrors are coming with additional bracket to place toothpaste, shampoo, comb, and toothbrush, liquid soap to perform every day tasks without any extra effort. An important feature of modern bathroom mirror is when they are paired with vanity. Vanities are available in antique, contemporary, Victorian, and modern styles and mirrors make a unique combos. The same style is given to the mirror on its boundaries to match it with the vanity. Bathroom mirror is the only place where a man or woman stands and adores him / herself for long.

In modern bathroom styles, mirror is not only fixed in front of vanity. This small mirror restricts the use for only face. Now, people want to see them perfect in their new outfits, want to see their body as to see the figure or hidden areas to make them more clean and tidy. This requires another full length mirror that is placed in either wall where they can see the body or the dress to get satisfaction. This mirror is also tried to match with the vanity mirror to bring order in the bathroom setting. Antique style bathroom tends to have wide wooden boarder with carving or color. There are different shapes as round, square, rectangle, and arch that are suited well in the modern style. Victorian style mirror renders a luxury look to the bathroom. It, at once, enhances the appearance of bathroom. Just focus on the interior so that the selected mirror does not spoil the overall look of bathroom. Mirrors with brass frames give contemporary look, while raw wood attach on the four sides brings vintage effect.

Modern approach of bathroom mirror is the mirror without any frame. The border can be completely omitted or it can be frosted or painted in different designs. This gives a sleek and delicate touch to the bathroom. A frameless mirror with simple vanity is a relatively modern approach that facilitates another full sized mirror on the adjacent or the same wall and really look great.

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Choosing The Right Bathroom Vanity Unit

April 8, 2012 in Bathroom Cabinets, Bathroom Furniture

Most people want a bathroom that is functional and in style. An easy way to accomplish this is to add a vanity unit to the bathroom. There are many styles and designs to choose from. Choose a style you like and let it be the theme for the entire bathroom. There are contemporary designs and antique designs, the one you choose is a matter of taste. The bigger the bathroom area you have the more choice you have.

With smaller bathrooms the choices are more limited and you need to be careful to pick the right pieces. Also you should not get vanity accessories that take up too much of the available space. Doing so will congest your bathroom and make it less functional. The better choice is a contemporary vanity that fits the confined space that is available.

Always keep the bathroom space in mind when picking the vanity, this will ensure you get the right size. Realize that having a lot of items in the bathroom will give it a cluttered and unflattering look. You really should only have essential items in the bathroom; everything else takes away from the limited space available.

If the space is available and the budget is large enough go for small vanities and basins. This way you can have a basin and storage for toiletry items. This is a practical way to go because it allows you to be more organized in the bathroom. If there is not sufficient space to add a vanity, try for a corner piece instead. This will give you a more efficient use of the space and allow storage and a basin. Often corners go unused when they could effectively be used more efficiently in order to make best use of the space available.

It is always important to plan to use space efficiently, keep this in mind when planning for the type and design of the new bathroom vanity. The efficient use of space also includes being able to organize your items to make the bathroom more functional. Pick a vanity that includes as much storage space as possible, to ensure that you keep items to hand but also prevent them from cluttering up the bathroom.

The vanity should have shelves for towels, wash cloths and robes. Some vanities will have two shelves whereas others may just have one, work out what you actually need to fit in the vanity to make sure that you have the right sort of shelving in which to store the items you need in the vanity. Be careful not to use this space for junk items that are sometimes accumulated in cupboards under sinks. If this is allowed to happen the bathroom will be far less functional than it could be. Throw the junk away instead of storing it.

The next thing to consider is the finish you want for the vanity unit, and the overall design. Many vanity units come with a white finish and are designed to go with a modern bathroom, but oak and other wood effects and finishes are available and it is possible to get vanities that look more rustic and antique if that fits in better with the overall design of the bathroom.

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Creating The Perfect Shower Area

April 6, 2012 in Shower Enclosures, Showers

While the economy is still difficult for many, and moving home is harder than it has been in decades, many homeowners are having to make do with smaller and simpler bathrooms. However, even with this restriction, a number of design options are available which enable homeowners to realize their dreams of owning a bathroom suite. Taking full advantage of the space and some minor renovations can make a big difference on how the entire bathroom looks.

Start by replacing your large, bulky and outdated fixtures with sleeker, modern models. Modern fixtures do not take up a lot of space and will make a well designed shower plan appear larger and trendier. Observe and compare the old pieces with the modern replacements and you will find that you can actually free up space with using contemporary fixtures while making the entire space look more sophisticated. Recent developments have encouraged an increasing number of people to consider installing showers inside their bathrooms. There is no denying that using a traditional bathtub can still make any bathroom look more elegant and luxurious but going for a hot shower is a more practical alternative to getting some rest and relaxation after a hard day’s work.

For bathrooms with ample amounts of free space available, walk-in shower models are ideal and provide a variety of choices for users. Homeowners have the option of choosing partitions that can segregate shower areas or creating an entire walk-in shower. The free space can be used as wet room complete with a showerhead and anti-slip tiles. People can choose not to have glass doors installed although the use of glass can make the space more pleasing to the eye. For bathrooms with a limited amount of space available and an existing bathtub installed, use of a shower enclosure is recommended as you can have the showerhead installed over the tub then surrounding the shower enclosure with a curtain rod to complete the look.

Another idea you can try is by installing a shower stall to an existing bathroom space. There are shower stalls that can fit neatly in one corner of the bathroom which can help save space while making the interior look more stylish. Some of the most popular models of shower stalls utilize frosted glass panels that look chic. These come built-in with modern fixtures and features that are practical, useful and sleek.

Although there is a wide variety of models and features to choose from, one common issue with installing showers is the space needed for the installation. However, homeowners have an option of turning the entire shower space into a wet room by just finding the most appropriate spot to install a showerhead. This will increase the area available where people can take showers although there is a need to cover the entire floor area with anti-slip tiles.

Using lighter hues on walls and glass for shower doors can also help create an impression that the space is larger than what it seems. A creative use of space and fixtures can go far into creating a more lavish bathroom suite. Even cheap shower enclosures can make your bathroom more inviting and attractive and make your home better.

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Choosing The Floor For Your Bathroom

April 4, 2012 in Uncategorized

Deciding on what flooring to use for the bathroom can be a difficult task. There are many types of flooring that must be considered when planning bathroom flooring. Carpet, marble, wood, laminate and tiles all have their advantages and disadvantages at being the best choice for bathroom flooring.

Carpet flooring in nice in the winters, but in the bathroom this is not an ideal choice. Carpet can lead to bacterial infections and can lead to the growth of mold when wet. Maintenance and cleaning of carpets is a difficult and time consuming task.

Marble flooring can provide your floor with an excellent look, and is easy to clean and prohibit growth of bacteria. Although this is an ideal choice for bathroom flooring, most people cannot afford this luxury as marble can be very pricey. This floor is also very slippery when wet and can cause frequent falls without a rubber rug laid down.

Wooden floors can be a cheap alternative to both marble and carpet. It comes in a variety of different colors. As far as maintenance and cleaning, wooden floors require an oil finish at regular intervals. This flooring is not ideal for the bathroom as it can warp and expand when exposed to too much water.

Laminate flooring is the least expensive option for the bathroom. Laminate flooring consists of a photograph of wooden or ceramic surfaces in a sheet covered with a plastic layer. Cleaning and maintenance is quite simple. Since laminate flooring is only a sheet of plastic wrapped paper, it does not last as long as the other flooring choices. It can easily lose its adhesive and start to come up. With this choice, you will find yourself replacing the floor more often.

Tiles are often the best choice for bathroom flooring. Safety should be a top priority when deciding on bathroom flooring. Choosing water resistant and anti-slip Tiles will lead to a tension free life. Non-slip tiles are necessary to prevent frequent falls. Today, many people also prefer stain resistant tiles that are easy to clean. One should focus on selecting tiles that can last for many decades when choosing bathroom flooring.

Be sure to consider all possibilities to make an informed decision before selecting your material for your bathroom floor. Carpet and wood are not an ideal choice for bathroom flooring because of the water it will be exposed to. Marble can be too expensive, while laminate is so cheap it will not last long. Tiles are usually the best choice for bathroom floors. Researching the different types of tiles can help you to make your decision on your final choice of material for your bathroom floor. The right floor will make stepping out of your bathroom safe and warm, and require little maintenance to keep it looking brilliant. The more you add features into your bathroom the more important the right floor is, you don’t want to add in a freestanding bath only to find it look out of place on the floor it rests on.

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The Apprentice

March 29, 2012 in Bathroom Suites, Off Topic

In yesterday’s The Apprentice, broadcast on BBC1 on 28th March, Alan Sugar tasked his group of hopeful entrepreneurs with creating a gadget for the home that they would conceive, test with a focus group, design and pitch to both Amazon and Lakeland. The boys’ team chose to make something for the kitchen whereas the girls decided to tackle something for the bathroom.

Obviously, this means that our professional curiosity was piqued. The girls floated two ideas: a sort of pillow device to cover the bathroom taps with to make bathing more relaxing and comfortable and a splash screen for use when bathing children. Although the focus group (which noticeably included a number of parents) came down strongly on the side of the pillow device, the team came down in favour of the splash screen for sake of ease of manufacture. Selling a wide variety of taps, we do understand that taps come in many different shapes and forms and that finding a way to affix something to all of them and successfully cover them all would be difficult. However, no one seemed particularly inspired by the splash screen. It most resembled a post office counter and provided precious little protection from splashing.

To us, the splash screen seemed largely redundant when you consider that a shower screen does the same job. It was also alarmingly expensive: we may work to tight margins to make sure that our customers get the best possible prices but quoting margins of nearly 300% to retailers seemed fanciful (this means that they were telling the retailer they could charge the customer roughly 4 times what they themselves had bought the items for). Add in the fact that the splash screen seemed massively overpriced even at cost and not particularly well designed and it wasn’t an altogether massive surprise when the girls lost the challenge and their product was identified as one of the main reasons they had done so.

By limiting themselves to people bathing their children the girls had cut down their potential target market. The first stage of their brief was to find a problem that needed solving, the second was to check this with potential customers, and then to design and manufacture their product. There was little to no interest in the bath screen yet they persevered regardless. While we know there is a great deal of innovation in the bathroom sector and lots of great products out there, we’re sure they could have found something which was a more pressing problem and created a product with more universal appeal. Who knows, we may even have ended up stocking it.

As an aside, if you are a parent who is having trouble with your children splashing about when you bathe them, consider one of our range of shower bath suites which all have purpose designed screens to prevent splashing and we’re not making ridiculous margins on.

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