A domestic plumber 2022 year in review | Three Counties Plumbing

Reducing the cost of your plumbing appliances

We have all felt the pinch this year so far. With rising monthly bills, our wages don’t seem to be making much of a dent in our accounts anymore, and this is only set to get worse throughout the year. Luckily, your domestic plumber team has a few tips! One way we can look to save money is on our monthly water bill. Taking a look at the efficiency of our plumbing appliances, ensuring we don’t have any leaks and making just a few simple changes around the house could dramatically reduce our water costs and give our wallets some breathing space!

The average water bill has increased by 50% since 2010 and has only been growing since this time. With the economy and environment in constant need of support, it is more important than ever to save money where you can. The first step is to figure out where you are using the most water. The biggest water hogs are usually your toilets and dishwashers, but there are other things you can do to save money.

Considering switching to a metered supply – Most water bills in the UK follow ‘best rates’. This rate will be dependent on your home value and disregards how much water you use. Switching to a metered supply means you only pay for the amount of water you use.

Opt for a shower over a bath – Whilst we all like a bath after a long day, choosing a bath every time could be wasting a lot of your water. With an average bath taking 80 litres and a shower only using 35, we know which one your water bill would prefer!

Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth – Many of us are guilty of leaving the tap running whilst brushing our teeth. If you have up to 5 people in your home and they all do this, you will lose an extra 20 litres of water per day.

Wash up your bowls – don’t use the dishwasher – With a dishwasher using 55 litres of water per use, it might be time to switch to the sink for smaller loads. Save your dishwasher for when you have larger parties and need a quick turnaround of plates.

Install a water butt and ignore the hose – Did you know that the average garden hose uses 10 litres of water per minute! Your garden doesn’t need water every day. Consider installing a water butt in your garden to collect rainwater and use this to water your plants during the summer months.

Choosing a water softener from a domestic plumber for your home

Hard water areas significantly impact our appliances and bodies, but luckily, your domestic plumber has the tips and tricks to get you back on track- a water softener!

A water softener is a whole-house filtration system that removes hardness in your water. Did you know that by having softened water, your home appliances such as kettles, washing machines, and dishwashers will last significantly longer and perform better? A water softener addresses the prime issue of hard water. Hard water is damaging to your home and family. Hard water creates scale build-up in your pipes, clogging them and decreasing the water pressure.

Scale decreases the life of your household items, such as coffee and ice machines. Hard water damages explicitly hot water appliances. This is because the higher the water temperature, the more calcium and magnesium will be present. A water softener works by removing calcium, magnesium, and other metal cations in hard water. This process is completed through ion exchange.

The process changes your water from hard water to softened water. The main components of a water softener include the mineral tank, control valve, and brine tank. The process starts when hard water flows into the mineral tank and then through spherical resin beads. Speak to your local domestic plumber about installing a water softener in your home for 2023.

Advantages for your kitchen and bathroom

There are several advantages to your kitchen. For example, your laundry won’t need as much detergent, and your dishes will come out streak-free and stain-free. Your pipes will no longer have scale build-up, and your glassware won’t have mineral spots. Water softeners also reduce soap films and lengthen the life of appliances. Benefits for your bathroom include that you won’t get a build-up on your shower curtains.

Advantages for your skin and hair

There are multiple advantages for your skin and hair. For example, your bath water will no longer irritate your skin. Your soap and shampoo will lather; therefore, after washing your hair, it won’t feel sticky anymore but soft.

Advantages for your energy bills

Of course, there is an advantage for your energy bills too. A water softener can save you money on your energy bills as your water heater won’t have to work as hard. The main advantage is that you won’t have to spend your time, energy, and money cleaning up the after-effects of hard water.

Getting rid of the moulding lurking in your bathroom

Any domestic plumber will tell you that the bathroom is often the most humid place in your house, and without proper ventilation, it could lead to some serious health effects on your family. Bathrooms are a great place for mould and mildew to appear and thrive. Bathroom mould can not only look awful but can be dangerous to your health if left to its own devices. So how do you identify bathroom mould, and what health issues can it cause?

Common causes of bathroom mould

There are many reasons why mould can occur, but generally, it is due to excess moisture. Common causes include:

• Leaking pipes
• Rising damp from basements
• Roof or window frame damage
• Condensation

In new homes, mould can also appear if the home is still drying out and is not being ventilated correctly. It is for this reason that new build developers will often tell you to leave the window vents open all year round to help with good ventilation and support the drying out of walls and plaster.

Bathroom mould is often caused by failing to have a fan on or a window open for an optimal amount of time when you are taking a hot bath or shower. The steam from the hot water will rise, and with nowhere to go, it will cling to the mastic, the walls and the ceiling. Continued lack of ventilation will lead to bathroom mould. If you do not have a window in your bathroom, we recommend using your fan or having a bathroom fan installed by our plumbing team so you can keep your bathroom well-ventilated. Keep the window open or your fan on for at least 30 minutes after you have used the bathroom.

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Merry Christmas from your domestic plumber team Three Counties!

We have shared so much advice and guidance with all our clients this year we thought we would round up our most practical tips and tricks that will continue to support you in 2023. Three Counties Plumbing and Heating have had a fantastic year supporting clients with their commercial and domestic plumber emergencies! We are looking forward to supporting our existing and new clients in the new year, but until that time, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!