Reasons to buy a range cooker

Big, beautiful and bursting with functions, a range cooker has the capacity to steal the show - making sure the kitchen is the true heart of any home.
But what are the options when it comes to ranges, and why choose a hearty range cooker over a built-in oven for your kitchen?
One of the greatest benefits of a range cooker is its heavy-duty durability and solid construction - they are literally built to last a lifetime.
Not only does this mean your initial investment has long-term benefits, but a range cooker is also kinder on the environment as it puts landfill sites under less pressure, and with a solid fuel range, can offer Carbon Neutral heating and cooking.
Range cookers exude a feeling of permanence and solidity and, once you use them in the right way, quickly become a focal point in the kitchen and a home essential that you can't live without!

Range cookers have a distinct style, which stand out in the kitchen. Ranginge from a traditional, yet colourful finish of the Broseley Rosetta to the industrious Broseley Thermo Sovrana to the ultra-contemporary Firebelly Razen Cookstove. They add a homeliness, and even a feeling that whoever owns one is a competent and capable cook!
These factors mean that, unlike built-in ovens, range cookers can quickly become a focal point in the kitchen - making this area a place to which people naturally gravitate in the home, particularly if the smell of freshly baked bread or a simmering stew fills the air,  a freestanding range cooker has a much stronger presence than built-in appliances.
 While most "normal" cookers just come in the standard white or stainless steel, range cookers are available in a large number of extra colours, such as cream enamel, red enamel or even soapstone panels on some of the stoves! These extra colours allow the stove to complement or contrast existing decor to truly create that focal point.
While the common perception is that range cookers are old fashioned so don't have the same features as a "normal" cooker, but this can actually be the opposite. With additional features such as a warming drawer, ideal to warm plates before a large meal or to place bread to rise. With the larger stoves you can also connect them up to your central heating to get the most out of that lovely wood-fire and heat not only your kitchen, but the rest of the house and you hot water as well.

Elderly ignore free gas safety checks as winter starts to bite

£134 million worth of potentially life-saving gas safety checks offered free by the energy suppliers go unclaimed every year, as a staggering number of people are killed by the effects of cold every winter, according to research carried out for Gas Safe Register, which found that 88% of elderly homeowners have never claimed a free gas safety check. As the winter weather begins to bite and puts increased pressure on our central heating systems, latest official ONS statistics show that 25,700 died from cold-related illnesses last year. Among these are the nine elderly people, who died every hour from cold-related illnesses.
Gas Safe Register is urging people, particularly the elderly, to make sure they take advantage of free gas safety checks if they are eligible and ensure they have well-maintained and safe gas appliances. When a gas boiler, gas fire or heater fails, the average home can quickly drop to 16°C, the temperature at which hypothermia can set in. While younger people feel cold, it’s far more serious for the elderly, whose temperature falls far faster and to dangerous levels when their home temperature falls below 16°C. That’s why the energy companies offer free checks to the most vulnerable.
The UK has the highest winter death rate in Northern Europe, so Gas Safe Register is warning people to make sure their home gas appliances will see them and their loved ones safely through the winter. ONS data shows that the cold can cause or exacerbate illnesses such as high blood pressure, thrombosis or respiratory infections, as it weakens the immune system.
Paul Johnston, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register says,

“We’re urging everyone to take whatever support they can to keep safe and warm this winter. Having your gas appliances checked annually is vital to ensure that they are running safely. If you don’t get your appliances checked every year, you are risking gas leaks, fires, explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning. Although all appliances need to be checked every year, it’s very important for elderly people, as appliances in their homes tend to be older and not as reliable.”

Top 5 ways of staying warm safely:

1. Get your gas appliances safety checked once a year to make sure they work safely and don’t break down in the cold.
   
2. If you are having your gas appliances checked, always use a Gas Safe registered engineer – it’s the law and will help keep you safe.
   
3. Always use gas appliances responsibly. Never use a gas cooker to heat a room or a house.
   
4. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas produced by badly maintained gas appliances. Look out for danger signs - sooty stains on or around appliances, floppy yellow flames (instead of crisp blue ones) and excessive condensation in a room are all signs that your gas appliances could be producing carbon monoxide.
   
5. If you are over the age of 60 you may be entitled to a free gas safety check. Go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/elderly to find out more or ask your energy supplier.

Gas Safety At Winter

With the cold weather setting in many households will be relying on gas boilers and gas fires to keep their family warm this winter. This increased usage can put pressure on gas appliances and could lead to them breaking down when they are needed the most.
It’s vital that everyone has their gas appliances regularly serviced and safety checked every year to prepare them for the cold winter months.

Stay safe and don’t be left out in the cold this winter. Make sure you know what to do if your central heating fails you.

 Download our top gas safety tips and help protect yourself, your family and your home.

Saving money through energy efficiency

With the UK's major energy suppliers bumping up their prices by up to 18% this winter, the belated arrival of the cold winds represents a great opportunity to look at ways of cutting your fuel bills.

The imminent announcement of a consultation on the government's Green Deal, which aims to help you make your home more energy-efficient, should provide an added incentive.
And there are lots of ways you can save money - in some cases a great deal - just by making a few simple upgrades to your home.
Some improvements cost virtually nothing and can take a matter of minutes to install; others require a bit of capital and expert help. Others still require small changes in habits that should more than reward the effort.
All are well worth considering. According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), the average household could save about £280 a year on its fuel bills by being more energy efficient. Bearing in mind the average bill is about £1,300, that's quite some saving.
This equates to more than a tonne of carbon emissions every year, thus helping to combat rising global temperatures.
There are plenty of schemes around to help you get a better idea of what upgrading your home to make it more efficient actually involves.
Old Homes Superhomes is one such project, which is supported by the National Energy Foundation. Sarah Harrison, head of Eco-refurbishment, says the scheme can help people understand not just the financial benefits of so-called retro-fitting, but also how upgrading homes can improve your quality of life.
Insulation When it comes to energy efficiency, the smallest measures are often the most effective, so insulation is a good place to start.

Top tip

The most cost-effective energy efficiency measure you can use is to place kitchen foil behind your radiators to reflect heat, according to the National Energy Foundation.

Doors and windows can then be sealed quickly and easily using self-adhesive foam and rubber strips, and draught excluders. Seal up any gaps between your floors and skirting boards and, together, these measure could save you more than £50 a year, according to the EST.

Next look at insulating your loft and walls properly - about a third of an uninsulated home's heat is lost through the walls, and about a quarter through the roof.
Walls will require varying degrees of works depending on their construction, but proper insulation can save hundreds of pounds a year. Just topping up your loft insulation can also shave a substantial amount off your annual bills.
Also look at secondary and double glazing - almost 20% of heat loss from the average home comes from windows.

Heating Upgrading old electric storage heaters to modern alternatives can save you more than £100 a year, and in some cases considerably more.
Replacing an old, inefficient boiler with an A-rated condensing model could save as much £300 a year, although you will have to decide whether this is worth the £1,000 to £2,000 cost of buying and installing one.
Even fitting a room thermostat could save you more than £50 a year.
Energy-efficient behaviour You may scoff at the point of turning off appliances when you're not using them, but add up all the savings and they can be worthwhile.
For example, switching plugs off at the wall and avoiding standby mode on TVs, computers, stereos and the like, together with switching off lights when you don't need them, could save you almost £50 a year.
Wash your clothes at 30 degrees instead of 40 and don't use a tumble dryer in the summer, and you could save another £30.
Upgrading appliances/electronics If you need to replace any domestic appliance, then it may be worth spending a little extra to get the most energy-efficient model you can afford. Some fridge/freezers with an A+ energy rating can be incredibly affordable.
They are all rated by law, from A to G, so you can tell how efficient they are. However, there is a great deal of variation within these bands, so also make sure you look at the specific figures on energy consumption. Some appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, also have grades A+++, A++ and A+.
Very roughly, a new efficient appliance could save you between £20 and £40 a year on energy bills, according to the EST.
More modern consumer electronics are also more energy-efficient. And if you're looking for a new television, bear in mind that LED TVs are more efficient than LCDs, which in turn are a good deal more efficient than Plasmas, according to Which?
Not strictly an appliance, granted, but replacing old incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient versions can save you £3 a pop.

Energy generation and renewables These measures aren't about upgrading what you already have, but investing in technologies that allow you to generate your own energy.
As a result, they can be quite expensive, which is one of main reasons why the government is launching its Green Deal.

Feed-in tariffs are available for domestic energy generation

One way is to use wood to heat your home. According to the EST, replacing electric heaters with a wood pellet heating system could save as much as £580 a year.
Carbon emissions would also be reduced, as the carbon dioxide given off when burning is offset by the carbon absorbed by the tree from which the wood was cut.
Solar panels are another popular way to generate power, and can typically provide about three-quarters of an average home's electricity needs.
Wind turbines are an alternative that, if situated in the right part of the country, can provide more than enough electricity to power a typical home.
Government feed-in tariffs mean you get paid to generate electricity, and for selling any excess to the main grid. In fact, one turbine could generate savings and income of more than £3,000 a year including tariffs, the EST says.
Another option is heat pumps, which take heat from the air or the ground but which need electricity to run. In some cases, these are better at saving on carbon emissions than money.
You will need to calculate the payback time carefully when deciding whether to invest in any of these technologies. But remember that if you sell your home, the buyer can also benefit from the cost savings, which can add to the value of your property in their eyes.

Smart homes: take remote control

Your mobile phone will soon allow you to switch your domestic electrical gadgets on and off – and cut your bills – from anywhere in the world

By Miles Bignall

 You get out of work early for once. How good would it be to be able to turn on your central heating before you get home so it's all toasty as you step through the door? Or you left for work in a hurry, and are worried that the hair straighteners are still plugged in. What a relief it would be to turn them off en-route using your mobile phone?
It might sound like something from Tomorrow's World, but both prospects are closer than you think.
In the next few months British Gas is set to start the first big trial of "smart home" technology, and, if all goes well, it plans to begin installing it commercially in customers' UK homes over the next year.
The final price is still to be settled, but the company hopes to bring the package in at under £200. For that, consumers will get the technology they need to create their first "smart home", although they'll need to pay extra for any smartplugs that allow you to turn off appliances remotely. These cost around £25 each.

The service is likely to excite gadget fiends and those hoping to reduce their gas and electricity bills. Buyers should easily save the installation cost through lower bills that result in not heating their homes when they are not there.
At its heart is a control box that is linked to the home's broadband hub. Users have to upgrade their thermostat to a (supplied) digital model, but apart from that, it should install in almost every broadband-linked home.
It effectively lets you talk to the central heating system from anywhere in the world. You can also use it to turn on, or off, other key appliances using the smartplugs that send and receive messages wirelessly to the central hub.
The technology to make it happen already exists. British Gas has set up the system in a mock home in its laboratory at its Staines headquarters, and a small group of staff are testing it in their homes.
This week Guardian Money had a sneak preview of the system that has been developed in conjunction with AlertMe, a company in which British Gas owns a 20% stake.
Sitting in our London office we were able to turn the heating and lighting in the Staines "smart home" on and off. The service has a dedicated web page which showed us which appliances had been left on.
We were able to see the inside and outside temperatures, turning the heating up and down accordingly – a boon for those who fear their partner overheats the home while they are at work.
If you don't have a smart phone, the system can be just as easily controlled with a basic text message sent from a standard mobile or any PC.
Paul Grosvenor, British Gas's head of innovation, and one of those who has been using it for the last year, says that he has definitely seen lower gas and electricity bills as a result of the tests: "Consumers are increasingly demanding the ability to do more with the latest technology, and we see 'smart homes' as the future. This technology gives you the ability to conserve energy because you use it more cleverly. You are in control, wherever you are."
He says he regularly used it last winter to change his heating settings, even turning on the system while he was away to protect the home from freezing during the really cold spell. He says he also found it a much easier way to set up his boiler timings than the original complicated system.
British Gas says the system will eventually have the ability to be customised. With smart key fobs it will be possible to configure it to shut down every appliance linked to a smart plug, plus the heating, when you leave the premises.

In the long run, it will also be linked to the home's smart meter, although it will also work with a conventional meter.
Along with the other big power companies, British Gas is already in the process of offering smart meters to every customer as they have their old ones replaced.
These are read remotely using the mobile phone network, doing away with the need for a call from a meter reader. They will also do away with estimated bills and can be linked to the latest in-home displays, that show householders exactly how much power they are consuming at any one time, both in kilowatt hours and, more crucially, in pounds and pence.
Leave too many appliances on, and the smart meter display will show a red warning light – great for those with children who tend to leave everything on.
Meanwhile, there is one drawback to the introduction of a remote control heating system – it could promote "couch potato syndrome".
Grosvenor is ashamed to admit he has used his mobile to turn up the heating from his sofa, instead of walking over to the thermostat.
"If you're lying in bed on a Saturday morning and the heating's gone off, it's very tempting to send a text to turn it on again rather than going down into a cold house," he says.

'More insulation and less heating', says think tank

The government needs to focus on insulating homes before funding new heating technologies, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
It says the government's Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) could cost taxpayers up to £860 million in the current spending review, but is unlikely to prove either "attractive" to or "cost-effective" for householders.
The Institute said the government is wrongly focusing on backing renewable heat technologies, which it says only "wealthier people" can currently afford to install.
The report 'Warmth in a changing climate: How should the government encourage households to use renewable heat?' asked a series of focus groups about renewable heat. Many people said they were put off by the "high upfront costs" of installing new technologies.
The groups also said they were "sceptical" the new technologies would deliver enough heat at an acceptable price.
Andrew Pendleton, IPPR associate director, said the government's current approach is wrong. "Providing a feed-in tariff style for heat production rather than offering a package of measures aimed at providing warmth risks undermining consumer confidence in heat technology.
"A tariff-based incentive will also fail to address the high capital costs, identified as the key barrier in IPPR's consumer workshops."
The report said that while cutting emissions from household heating is important, costs across the economy could be higher than anticipated and take-up may be low. It added that in some cases, technologies may simply not provide enough heat to meet consumers' expectations or to heat homes to a safe level.

While new gas fires are becoming more and more efficient with fires such as the Apex Capacious offer up to 89% fuel efficiency this would be useless if the house itself doesnt hold the heat. One of the quickest and cheapest ways to reduce heat loss is using by reducing drafts.A typical home loses 20% of its heat through draughty doors, windows and ventilation ducts. Fit draught proofing products to your doors, windows and keyholes. You can buy them from DIY stores but check that they comply with standard BS7386 for maximum efficiency and durability.

Insulating your loft is also one of the most cost effective ways to reduce your heating bills and you can do-it-yourself. By laying down loft insulation to the recommended thickness of 270mm you could knock up to £200 off your annual heating bill. Make sure you use protective gloves and goggles if you install the insulation yourself.

Gas safety week 2011

September 12th sees the launch of the first ever Gas Safety Week run by Gas Safe Register. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of gas safety in the home.Gas Safety Week aims to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances.
Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas. You can’t see it, taste it or smell it, but it can kill quickly with no warning.

By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home and your loved ones. Follow these top tips to help keep you and your family gas safe:

• make sure only a Gas Safe registered engineer works on your gas appliances
• make sure gas appliances have a regular service and an annual gas safety check,
• always check the engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card

As part of Gas Safety Week we’re going around the country raising awareness of gas safety and giving out essential advice to help people keep safe in their homes. Many people buy gas appliances but we want to remind them that only a Gas Safe registered engineer should fit their appliance. We’re working with major gas appliance retailers B&Q and Comet to help raise awareness of gas safety and during Gas Safety Week we’ve got events taking place in some of their stores across the country. If you’re in the area why not pop by and see us:

Date	Location
14th September 10am - 2pm	Coatbridge, ML5 4AN (B&Q) Erdington, B35 7RD (B&Q) Sutton, SM1 4RQ (B&Q) Swansea, SA1 7DF (B&Q)) Isle of Man, IM2 2QT (B&Q)
15th September 10am - 2pm	Dundee, DD2 3PT (B&Q) Meir Park, ST3 7QA (B&Q) Plymouth, PL7 4TB (Comet) Tottenham Vale, N15 4QD (Comet)
16th September 10am - 2pm	Trafford Park, M41 7LG (B&Q) Enfield, EN1 1TH (Comet) Rotherham, S60 1TG (Comet)
17th September 10am - 2pm	Durham, DH1 2HT (B&Q) Grimsby, DN32 9AW (B&Q) Gillingham, ME8 6BY (B&Q) Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7TX (B&Q) Kirkcaldy, KY2 6QL (Comet)
18th September 10am - 2pm	Bolton, BL1 2SL (B&Q) Swindon, SN2 2DJ (B&Q)

Gas Safety Week will see national advertising and promotions across the whole country with organisations both small and large getting involved. If you or an organisation you work for would like to get involved there are plenty or ways to support Gas Safety Week. No matter how big or small your organisation we would love you to pledge your support of Gas Safety Week. We have created various tools for you to use to support the week and to help get the Gas Safe message out ther

Students Leaving For University

First year students soon to be moving into university the new term by now and many are most likely adapting to independent living in rented accommodation for the very first time.

Without putting a dampener to all their new-found freedoms, it is imperative they understand the dangers that can occur from faulty or badly-installed appliances.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially lethal gas which cannot be detected by the senses. It is a product of the combustion of organic matter under conditions of restricted oxygen supply, which prevents complete oxidation to carbon dioxide (CO2).

Each year in the UK, people die from acute CO poisoning caused by emissions from gas heaters. Many more suffer the symptoms of chronic poisoning including headaches, sickness and chest pains, which are easily misdiagnosed.

According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), last year 15 people died and 234 suffered major injuries from CO poisoning caused by gas appliances.

Prevention remains a vital public health issue, requiring public education on the safe operation of these appliances.

Common sources of carbon monoxide in the home include faulty central heating systems, gas appliances and fires. Blocked flues and chimneys mean the gas can’t escape and is inhaled by the unsuspecting individual.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, so it’s important to be aware of possible causes and how to minimise the risk of exposure by putting these safety tips into practice:
• Have any chimneys and flues checked regularly
• Make sure gas appliances and heating systems are inspected every year
• Fit audible carbon monoxide alarms – available from DIY stores
• Never run cars, motorbikes or lawnmowers in a closed garage.

People can prevent serious consequences by learning to spot the warning signs. CO poisoning may be a possibility if other people in the same home are suffering similar symptoms, or if they tend to disappear when a person goes away (for example on holiday).

Symptoms can also be seasonal (for example, people suffering from headaches during the winter when indoor heating is used more often).

Students, as well as many other vulnerable groups living in rented accommodation, must make sure their landlord has any gas appliance regularly maintained by a Gas Safe Register engineer and issue the tenant with a copy of the gas safety record following the annual safety check.

Young people can also ensure that they are protecting themselves by installing an audible carbon monoxide alarm. If it is a battery-operated device then they will need to test that the battery is working on a regular basis, just as you would with a smoke alarm.

Recently, there have been incidents where parents have found their children dead due to badly-installed appliances and a lack of understanding that not all installers are trained to fit all appliances.

Competent Gas Safe Registered installers must help to inform members of the public of the risks so that parents, offspring and their wider network of family and friends can be more aware of the dangers. The more people this message gets through to, the more lives will be saved.

In reality, gas safety may not be high on the list of importance for students when they move into their new home. But being clued up when they rent accommodation, and understanding their rights as tenants, could save their lives. According to Gas Safe Register, in April 2007, six Oxford University students narrowly escaped death as a potentially deadly CO leak was discovered in their student accommodation.

When the emergency services arrived, they found exceptionally high levels of the deadly gas in the property. Had it not been for their parent’s encouragement to fit an audible CO alarm in the house, these students could have lost their lives.

The alarm signalled, warning them of high levels of CO leaking from a gas cooker.

If a landlord refuses to service and safety check the gas appliances they have provided, they are breaking the law and the individual can ring the HSE and report them on 0845 345 0055.

CO poisoning can be fatal depending on the concentration inhaled, and can be confirmed by finding high levels in the blood.

Treatment includes making sure the patient is away from any source of the gas, providing basic life support as appropriate and giving oxygen before transferring the patient to hospital.

People who suffer mild poisoning invariably make a full recovery, but between 10 and 50% of those who are exposed to severe poisoning may suffer long-term problems.

There have been many TV campaigns highlighting the importance of installing a fire alarm, but not so many regarding CO alarms.

Gas Safe Register is the official body for gas safety in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Guernsey, and continues to campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of using illegal installers – those who are not registered with Gas Safe.

Those who are registered can highlight the dangers by imparting knowledge to a customer who may well pass this information forward to another person – with an outcome of a life being saved.

Planning a new kitchen? Cut your energy costs

If you think that installing loft-insulation, fitting double-glazing, or changing your heating and hot water systems sounds disruptive – you’re not the only one. Many people feel that it takes time and patience to install energy efficient measures in their home - time they don’t have.

At the Energy Saving Trust we’ve listened and realised that it is more cost-effective and less disruptive to incorporate energy efficient measures at the same time you are undergoing smaller refurbishment work on your home anyway. Whether it’s fitting a new kitchen or refurbishing a room for the arrival of a new baby, you’ll already be ready for the disruption and the cost that comes with such projects.

So we have produced a series of room-by-room guides introducing the benefits of incorporating energy saving measures whilst refurbishing a home.

The first guide from this series is for kitchen refurbishment and is designed to help you choose the right energy saving measures when building your new kitchen.

The kitchen guide is a sneak preview into the series of guides coming out soon including: a bathroom and living space refurbishment guide and a loft conversions and heating and hot water systems guide. These will become available later this year.

So if you’ve got your eye on a new kitchen suite – grab a guide and see how installing energy efficient measures in your home will save you money in the long-run!

Give Your Home A Free Check-Up

If you are looking for ways to stop wasting energy and money you'll find lots of ideas here. The Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation that provides free and impartial advice on how to save energy.

The Energy Savings Trust are currently offering a free online evaluation of your property to allow you to see just how much energy you can save by making some improvements to your home, and unlike many other similar reports, it doesnt just give you how much Carbon Dioxide emissions you could reduce, it also gives you it in quids, mulah, money and that really does hit home. Especially with the rising British Gas prices that for dual fuel households already stands to add some £200 + to your annual heating bill.

The check just requires a few details such as the terrain your house is situated in, how many rooms etc, but once this has been completed you can choose to either have the report emailed to you or posted out, below you will see part of the report I recieved:As you can see I could save up to £346 per year and reduce my carbon footprint by over 2 tonnes by doing simple things such as upgrading a boiler (something I'm saving up for) making sure my loft is insulated as well as suggesting slightly more expensive options such as solar water heating or Solar Photovoltaic panels on the roof heat heat my water or generate electricity.

This report only takes ten minutes but the savings could be unfathomable and just think where you could spend that money you've saved.

Fuel Poverty Statistics Revealed

Statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have been published, revealing that fuel poverty in the UK has risen by more than 20%.

In 2009, there were around 5.5 million fuel-poor households in the UK, up from 4.5 million in 2008. In England, there were around 4 million fuel-poor households, up from 3.3 million in 2008.

The increase in fuel poverty between 2008 and 2009 was largely due to rising prices. Gas prices rose by 14% and electricity prices by 5 % between 2008 and 2009.

DECC says rising incomes, improvements in the energy efficiency of housing and social and discounted tariffs continue to help some households from falling into fuel poverty.

Fuel poverty among vulnerable households, defined as the elderly, children or somebody who is disabled or long-term sick, for 2009 stood at 4.5 million UK households, up 0.75 million from 2008, and 3.2 million households (England), up 0.5 million from 2008.

DECC's projections for England indicate there are likely to be around 4 million fuel-poor households in 2010 and 4.1 million households in 2011. Although some price rises will impact on households in the latter half of 2011, it will be 2012 before the full impact of these are visible in the fuel poverty data.

A spokesperson for DECC said: "Actual fuel poverty figures for 2010 and 2011 will only be known when we have detailed results of the surveys on household income and efficiency programmes, and will be available for publication in 2011 and 2012 respectively."

The Aga Rangemaster Just Met It's Match!

Almost everyone has heard of the Aga rangemaster cookers, most people now even call that style of cooker an "Aga" regardless of the brand that actually made the fire!

That complete dominace of the market is about to come to an end, Broseley have released a range of range-cookers that both rival the Aga Rangemaster in terms of stunning good looks, build quality and features.

The Broseley ThermoSuprema 18.5DSA Boiler Stove combines the features of a traditional range stove and combines it with that of a boiler stove while not sacrificing anything in terms of appearance. As a centre piece to your kitchen, this robust, quality built cast iron room heater/cooker will complement any surrounding. The Thermosuprema 18.5 has a large viewing window, which adds to the ambiance of the room, bathing the kitchen area in that lovely warm glow and giving suggestions of where we have come from over the last few centuries, from cooking over an open fire to now using a stunning cast iron range cooker that cooks you food whilst heating your home with the ability to complement existing domestic hot water and central heating systems.The appliance is DEFRA-approved for use in a smokeless zone.

Boasting additional features such as heat conserving double doors,Crankable Grate to allow easier air flow to the fuel, Chrome Fender and handles, Removable Hob Rings, Large Storage Drawer and Temperature Gauge for the best cooking experience.
So, whether you're cooking up a simple dish or the most complex of modern recipes, you can rely on your Thermosuprema to perform beautifully.

Safety Cold Water System
All boiler cookers feature the Broseley ‘Safety Cold Water System’ which allows these woodburning boiler stoves to be connected directly to a sealed heating system without the necessity for extra feed and expansion tanks. Ideal for link up systems with combi boilers, thermal stores, solar themal and many other heating sources. All installations on a sealed heating system need to be carried out by a Broseley Fires trained engineer to ensure the optimum set-up is created to give the most heat to your home.

Available in the both the standard cast finish as a cream finish for that added touch. I feel the cast iron finish works brilliantly with the firebox basking the room in the lovely glow, while you can see your food cooking in the oven next to it and see the your pans on the top bubbling away. A truly enjoyable and some would say romantic cooking experience that heats your home as well as

Renewable Home Heating - Solar Panels

Given today’s concerns about global warming and climate change, a growing number of us are looking to use renewable energy to reduce our carbon footprint and, when it comes to providing domestic heating and hot water solutions which satisfy these demands it can be quite confusing.

If you’d like to reduce the amount of fossil fuels that you depend on to heat the water in your home and, at the same time, significantly lower your carbon dioxide emissions, why not consider installing a solar water heating system? Solar water heating systems work by absorbing solar energy. The energy is transferred from the solar panel to heat the water in your hot water cylinder. Highly efficient, completely controllable and low maintenance, a solar water heating system is easiest to install if you already have a conventional ‘system’ or ‘regular’ boiler
and could provide up to 60%* of your annual hot water from a clean, renewable source of energy. Works come rain or shine, So ideal for the British Weather!Solar water heating panels do not rely on high temperatures or even direct sunlight to work. Even on cloudy days, they can deliver significant energy savings. That's because they work on the principle of light absorption, rather than needing heat or direct sunlight.
Unless your home is a listed building or in a conservation area, planning permission for solar water heating panels is unlikely to be required. However it is always best to check with your local planning office. For renewables planning guidance visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

What Is A Combi Boiler?

A combi boiler provides heating and hot water directly from the boiler.

Here’s an example of a central heating and hot water system layout using a combi boiler:

A combi (or combination) boiler is an ingenious space-saving idea, and an increasingly popular choice in UK homes. In fact, combis now account for well over half of all the new domestic boilers installed in Britain every year.

A combi boiler is both a high-efficiency water heater and a central heating boiler, combined (hence the name) within one compact unit. Therefore, no separate hot water cylinder is required, offering space saving within the property.

Further benefits of a combi boiler are significant savings on hot water costs and the fact that hot water is delivered through your taps or shower at mains pressure. So you can enjoy powerful showering without the need for a pump.

Another combi boiler benefit is that it can generally save you money on installation time and costs, since no tank in the roof space means less pipe work and a shorter installation time.

Combi Boilers such as the Worcester Greenstar 24i Junior 100280 Combi Boiler offer up to 90.1% efficiency and boast a grade A efficiency rating and gives a maximum heat output of 24kW to the central heating system and offers instant hot water as well as a keep hot feature.

Ideal for smaller homes and apartments the 24i Junior offers 9.8 litres per minute of hot water at 35 degrees. It also boasts highly flexible flue options and a wall-mounting frame to hide the unsightly pipework.

It also boasts a variety of control options ranging from the basic mechanical to the all-singing, all dancing digistal that features automatic daylight savings time adjustment, 24 hour functionality as well as a programmable room thermostat to accurately control the temperature of the house.

And a recent survey revealed that 9 out of 10 professional installers would choose Worcester for their own homes*. All of which gives you the reassurance of knowing that when you invest in a
Worcester product, its quality is endorsed by the professionals.

As domestic boilers currently account for 21%* of the UK’s total CO2 emissions, the fact that a Worcester condensing boiler also delivers dramatically reduced emissions of both CO2 and NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) helps in the battle against climate change. All Worcester Greenstar boilers are within class 5 – the lowest of the 5 categories – for NOx emissions.

How To Choose A New Boiler

It might not be as exciting as the new Cappuccino Maker or the Wide Screen TV but the boiler is one of the most important pieces of technology in your home. 4Homes have got together with www.house.co.uk to bring you a guide to the world of hot water and warm homes.

There's the mournful shaking of the head, the quick sucking in of air between the teeth and then the phrase every home owner dreads "Oooh dear. You're going to need a new boiler here and no mistake".

It's enough to strike a chill into the stoutest heart. However not only are boilers probably less expensive than you think they're also a key part of the home.

With a good boiler you can have a plentiful supply of heating and hot water provided efficiently and economically. An old or unsuitable boiler is likely to leave you with ever increasing heating bills, while making you vulnerable to a system that is unable to provide hot water to more than one outlet at the same time (we've all been there - the shower goes cold as someone starts doing the washing up in the kitchen) or packs up completely if someone dares try to have a bath while the heating is on.

The Energy Saving Trust recommend that you should think about replacing your boiler after 15 years. Whilst boilers beyond this age can often still function, their effectiveness and efficiency becomes reduced.

Boilers over fifteen years old can have an average efficiency of around 65%, this is compared to over 90% efficiency offered by "A" rated condensing boilers from British Gas.

The first thing to decide when choosing a boiler is what sort of fuel you're going to use - town gas, LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) or oil. Then you need to decide on the size of the boiler, measured in BTU (British Thermal Unit) or Kilowatts, the number of radiators, the type of hot water system and whether you're planning to upgrade your system.

How To Choose

It is important to take advice (preferably from a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas, or an OFTEC registered engineer for oil) before deciding which boiler is best for your home.

Don't install a boiler yourself. It must be installed by a qualified engineer and inspected regularly. It is not sufficient that the owner of the company be Gas Safe registered, the person fitting your boiler must be able to demonstrate that he/she is registered by showing ID before you permit access.

Once fitted you will need to have your system checked regularly. In the meantime you should know enough about the workings of the boiler to be able to spot any drop in water pressure which could damage your system.

You may wish to take out a service care agreement against any future problems with the system and be prepared for any unexpected emergencies.

If you haven't had your boiler replaced in the last 15 years you could do worse than replacing it with one of the new generation of high efficiency condensing combination boilers which could save you as much as 37p in every pound you spend on heating and hot water.*

*Source: SUDBUK boiler efficiency database, published as part of the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme. Applies to energy-saving (condensing)boilers, depending on type of boiler being replaced and consumption. Based on the average life span of a boiler (15 years) in a standard three bedroom semi-detached house and on an average UK gas price of 1.41p/kWh as recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, December 2001.

Maintaining Your Heating System Tips From British Gas

• Ensure your central heating and gas appliances are serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Never block or cover vents. Clear vents allow your gas appliances to breathe and burn safely and efficiently.
• Consider fitting a carbon monoxide detector in your property - one of these small, inexpensive devices could save your life. Maintained correctly, they will warn you if the carbon monoxide level in your home becomes dangerous.
• Although in the summer the weather may be warm and sunny, fire up your central heating system occasionally to keep it ticking over and prevent it from jamming when the cold sets in.
• Bleed your radiators every now and again to ensure they have no air in them. You'll know if they need bleeding as they may be cold at the top.

Types Of Boiler

Conventional Boilers

If you have a gravity heating system (with a water tank in the loft) then you'll need a conventional boiler. These use a traditional system which heats up a store of water before you need to use it, via a hot water cylinder and header tank

Condensing Boilers

Although more expensive than a conventional boiler a condensing boiler is highly efficient - using an extra heat exchanger to extract further heat from the water vapour produced in the combustion process, so very little heat is wasted.

Combination Boilers

For a flat or small house Combi Boilers are most suitable since they don't need to store water but instead heat the water as you use it.

Useful Links

There is no cylinder, no tank and no connecting pipe work, which saves space and reduces hot water costs. A combination boiler produces a near instantaneous supply of hot water on tap, 24 hours a day. Unlike conventional heating and hot water systems, a combination system does not store hot water.

British Gas
www.est.org.uk

The Boiler Efficiency Database
www.sedbuk.com

The Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust

Gas Safe Register

www.gassaferegister.co.uk

DEFRA
www.defra.gov.uk