Heating our homes and workplaces with low carbon heat is a massive priority for the UK Government in their mission to try and combat climate change. In 2019 the UK became the first major economy to pass laws to reduce its green house gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Meeting this target will require virtually all heat in buildings to be decarbonised, and there is the potential for hydrogen to play a role in this process. 'Hello Hydrogen', a group of the UK’s biggest gas networks, boiler manufacturers and energy suppliers have come together to advise on the hydrogen journey, and they go into depth on their website about what Hydrogen is and how it can be utilised in the future. So why Hydrogen? Hydrogen is set to play a vital role in the way we heat our homes in the future, eventually replacing the natural gas we currently use as we look for long-term environmentally-friendly ways to save the planet and keep bills down. The problem is – not enough people know about the benefits hydrogen can bring or the work already taking place to start the change. Hydrogen can be produced in the UK and supplied through the same gas pipes already in our streets and going into our homes. Hydrogen boilers and cookers that work just as natural gas ones do today, have already been developed. The first hydrogen homes and villages are being trialed to find out how easy it will be to replace your current boiler and appliances to hydrogen-ready ones. This switch will help create tens of thousands of jobs in the UK, reduce greenhouse gases and end our reliance on fossil fuels from overseas.

Exciting times ahead for DA Bunning Gas, as Dale decides to take over customer base from AA Gas Services

BAXI explains Heat Pumps have been around for many years and to put it most simply they transfer heat from one location to another. They can be very efficient and use electricity to generate heat. With the reduction in the carbon intensity of electricity, heat pumps will play a large role in reducing the UK's carbon footprint. What is an Air Source Heat Pump? Air Source Heat Pumps are generally 300-400% efficient. The efficiency of a heat pump is commonly termed as Coefficient of Performance (COP). This means that for every 1kW of electrical energy input, they provide between 3kW and 4kW of heat energy output. SCOP is the Seasonal Co-efficiency of Performance. This is an annual efficiency value that takes into consideration year round ambient conditions and load on the Heat Pump. Like all renewables, the system must be designed and installed to maximise the efficiency of the technology. With Heat Pumps, this means, accurate heat losses to correctly size the Heat Pump and lower flow temperatures to maximise COPs. Heat Pumps are designed to operate continuously adapting to the heating demands as they happen. BAXI have invested in extensive simulation software to ensure the system design, Heat Pump size and expected performance are validated and benchmarked. Heat Pumps are generally more suited to modern heating designs, however not exclusively. They are a perfect match for new build properties that have modern building standards of insulation and air permeability. For retrofitting into existing buildings careful consideration must be given to the heat loss through poor insulation and air infiltration first. In hard to heat properties, Heat Pumps can also be used with boilers to form a hybrid solution, providing a flexible heating source, to maximise performance and reduce running costs. How an Air Source Heat Pump Works The fan draws ambient air from outside into the evaporator. Liquid refrigerant absorbs the air's heat and evaporates into vapour, even at low temperatures. The vapour enters the compressor, where the pressure and temperature are increased. The heated refrigerant passes through the condenser, transferring heat into the home's heating and hot water system. The refrigerant flow is then controlled by the expansion valve to continue heat pump operation. Heat Pump technology works in a very different way to boiler-based heating systems, which means that when thinking about retro-fitting a Heat Pump into a property, it would not be a like for like replacement.

GasEngineer spoke with Richard Braid - Managing Director of Cistermiser, regarding the detrimental effect limescale can have on the efficiency of our boiler and what we can do to reduce build-up. Heating engineers will be all too familiar with how frequently and aggressively limescale can form in heating and hot water systems in hard water areas, and the problems it can cause. Around 60% of UK homes are in hard water areas and one the worst is the Midlands. If preventative measures are not taken, rock-like limescale deposits can adhere to surfaces - including the inside of heating system pipework and components such as heat exchangers - and it's a stubborn one to try and remove! Overtime the build-up will significantly reduce performance, efficiency and longevity of heating appliances. The impact can't be ignored: just a 1.6mm coating of limescale on the boiler's heating element can cause a 12 percent loss in heating efficiency. Component damage and faults are also likely, and complete boiler failure is even possible. It is now standard practice to include limescale prevention measures in new boiler installations in homes supplied with hard water, and there are several ways to inhibit limescale. At entry level there are electrolytic and magnetic methods, which are compact and don't require an electrical supply. Some models may have a relatively limited lifespan, which is something to bear in mind. Alternative options include the installation of a water softener or phosphate dosing. Phosphate is a natural nutrient that does not alter the hardness or softness of the water; instead, minerals in the water are kept in suspension, preventing them from forming limescale deposits. The phosphate also creates a thin, non-residual protective coating on metal surfaces. The food-grade phosphate compound used is tasteless, odourless and safe for consumption. It is consistently introduced in microscopic quantities through a dispensing device installed directly on to the cold water supply. Devices operate without electricity and do not require drainage. Food for thought when trying to keep limescale to a minimum!

Merry Christmas from everyone at DA Bunning Gas! Another very busy year for us all here at DA Bunning Gas, and we have some really exciting things planned for the New Year which we cant wait to share with you all. We would like to thank you all for your continued support and custom over the last 12 months. CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS: Friday 22nd December - Closing at midday Monday 25th December - Monday 1st January - Office closed. Please note we will be working limited hours during this period for emergencies ONLY (Emergency Number: 07957 630550). Any other queries will be dealt with on our return. Tuesday 2nd January - Normal Hours. Wishing you all the very best for 2024, and hopefully see you soon. Team DA Bunning Gas

Baxi is proud to have been manufacturing in the UK since 1866. In the UK and Ireland, Baxi has a portfolio of some of the best known and most respected brands in the heating industry. From our award-winning customer support to our industry-leading hands-on training, we are fully committed to making life with Baxi as easy as possible. BAXI have shared with us some of their top tips for ensuring your boiler is ready for the colder winter months. As the nights draw in and the days get cooler, your boiler’s workload increases significantly. However, you may not have had your heating on for months. Ageing pipes, lower boiler pressure, grime building up inside your central heating system – there’s plenty that can happen over time that can reduce the effectiveness or even damage your boiler. Let’s run through all the things you need to do before the cold winter hits, whether it’s to bleed your radiators or check boiler pressure: Ensure you get an annual boiler service Make sure your boiler pressure is within effective range Bleed your radiators Test your heating before winter sets in Insulate your pipes We’ll delve deeper into each of these tips to make sure your boiler is ready for winter below. 1.) Maintain your boiler with an annual boiler service A lot of people skip their annual boiler service, but it’s so important! A healthy boiler makes for a healthy home, and servicing it will extend the life of your boiler for perhaps years. You’ll save money in the long run, and avoid the headache of boiler breakdowns and problems. Think of an annual boiler service like servicing your car: any problems will be noticed by a professional long before you break down in the middle of nowhere. A heating engineer will thoroughly inspect and test key components of your boiler to ensure it is working safely, efficiently and reliably. 2.) Check your boiler pressure This will be done during your annual boiler service, but on the off-chance you skipped that, check your boiler pressure before switching your central heating on for the winter. We have an in-depth guide for checking boiler pressure, which you should definitely read thoroughly, but in short: make sure your pressure gauge is between 1 – 1.5 bar, otherwise your boiler will start to show error codes, or stop working entirely. If your boiler pressure is too low, top up the pressure until it reaches at least 1 bar. If it’s too high, you should bleed your radiators to relieve pressure. 3.) Bleed your radiators No matter how perfectly sealed your central heating system is, over time air will get inside and start making a nuisance of itself. This might result in cold areas of your radiator (usually the top). If you have, then it is time to bleed your radiator. Bleeding your radiators is easy – all you need is a radiator key (easily available online or from your local DIY store) and an old towel or rag. We explain how to bleed your radiators in our article here. 4.) Test your central heating before it gets too cold One of the best tips to make sure your boiler is ready for winter is to test it before the weather gets too cold. So, around October or early November, just as it’s starting to chill, you should test your heating. Better to do that than wait until the weather is too cold to find out your heating’s kaput. While it’s still mild outside, test your central heating. Run it for a few hours; make sure the radiators warm thoroughly, and there are no cold spots. Check for tell-tale signs of something amiss: are there clanking or gurgling sounds coming from your boiler? If so, there may be an internal problem with your boiler: an annual boiler service will find what’s wrong. You should also check the control elements of your boiler, providing it has them. Here’s some common controls you should make sure are correct: 5.) Insulate your pipes A cold snap can wreak havoc on your pipes, especially if they’re old. The best way to make sure ‘how do I get my boiler ready for winter?’ is to look after the pipes that connect to your boiler. You need to insulate your pipes to protect them from the freezing cold. Especially the pipes outside your home. These are exposed to the elements, and are prone to freezing. One of the best tips to make sure your boiler is ready for winter is to take steps to stop your pipes from freezing. If you have a condensing boiler (a boiler that captures hot gasses and uses them to create more heat), the wastewater vapour from the condensing process flows out of your home slowly (about 2 litres an hour). This slow trickle makes them prone to freezing in sub-zero temperatures. Insulating exposed pipes with lagging will go a long way to stop this from happening. A frozen condensate pipe can damage a boiler and even break it, so insulating it from the cold weather would be a very savvy decision. For those with fairly modern boilers, you may have a particular problem if temperatures are forecast to get really low, so please check those condensate pipes. This is an extremely common fault, too common in fact, particularly when it gets very cold. You may be even more susceptible to this if your boiler has been fitted with an incorrectly sized waste condensate pipe (this is a pet hate of ours as so often other fitters will for whatever reason fit condensates with smaller pipes that is recommended), as smaller pipes are more likely to freeze up. To avoid this happening to you, keep your pipes well insulated and if they do freeze, defrost them safely by doing the following: -Locate your condensate pipe. This will be a white pipe that comes out of the wall behind your boiler and should run directly into an outside drain. -Boil a kettle and leave it to cool for 10-15 minutes so that it's warm rather than boiling. -Starting from the top and working your way down, pour the water over the pipe until the ice within has melted. -Reset your boiler and it should work as normal. -Alternatively you could apply a hot water bottle, microwaveable heating pack or warm cloth to the frozen part of the pipe instead. If you're not sure if your problem is the frozen condensate, some newer boilers have specific error codes for this problem, as demonstrated below: ATAG - 133 Baxi - E133 or E28 Glow-worm - F28 or F29 Ideal - LF, L2 or F2 Main - E133 Potterton - E133 Valliant - F28 or F29 Viessmann - F4EE Worcester Bosch - EA229 or D5 Please be advised that this is not an exhaustive list, so if your boiler is not listed here, or if it is showing a different error code, this does not always mean that you can definitely discount the condensate. If your boiler has been working well and the breakdown coincides with a period of below freezing temperatures, it is highly likely that the condensate is still the problem and can often be recognised by a gurgling noise coming from your heating system.

November is usually a time that we dedicate to raising awareness of Carbon Monoxide and how it can be deadly if not detected. Throughout the month of November we will be offering our customers an opportunity to WIN a FREE carbon monoxide detector - details of which can be found at the end of this blog. WHAT IS CARBON MONOXIDE? Known as the silent killer, due to its lack of colour, taste and smell, carbon monoxide is invisible to the human senses, which is why CO alarms are so important. Each year in the UK alone, over 200 people are hospitalised with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, which leads to around 60 deaths. It is also known as the silent killer, due to its lack of colour, taste and smell. Basic household appliances such as cookers, boilers, stoves and fireplaces can all produce carbon monoxide. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to stay safe, and help is at hand - if you suspect carbon monoxide, call 0800 111 999. Due to increases in energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis, households are desperate to keep costs down. But cutting corners costs lives, and it is important not to place you and your household at risk when it comes to keeping warm. Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month is the perfect time to refresh your knowledge and join the campaign to raise awareness! Check out the top tips below: SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are not always obvious and are often mistaken for flu-like illnesses. Here are some of the symptoms you can experience with Carbon Monoxide poisoning: -Tension-type headache -Nausea -Dizziness -Breathlessness -Collapse -Loss of consciousness -Symptoms may be less severe when you’re away from the source of the CO. If this is the case you may have a carbon monoxide leak, and should ask a qualified professional to check appliances immediately. WHO NEEDS A CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM? All properties with fuel-burning appliances should have a CO alarm, w hether it’s a gas boiler, a coal fire or a flue running through the room, a CO alarm should be present in each area where a potential CO source may occur. The same applies to leisure vehicles such as caravans and boats, where additional risks are often present; with other vehicles, engines or generators increasing the risk. If you’re camping, CO can even enter your tent from a smoldering BBQ outside, so always take an alarm with you when travelling. WHAT TO DO IF A CO ALARM SOUNDS -Open nearby doors and windows. -Stop using all fuel-burning appliances and, if possible, turn them off. -Evacuate the property leaving the doors and windows open. -In an emergency call National Gas Service on: 0800 111 999. Alternatively call your gas or fuel supplier on their emergency number. -Do not re-enter the property until informed it is safe to do so. -Get medical help immediately for anyone suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. -Do not use the appliance again until it has been checked by an expert. WHERE TO INSTALL CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS In every room that contains a fuel-burning appliance: -At least 300 mm from any wall (for ceiling mounted alarms) -Between 1 and 3 m (measured horizontally) from the potential source of CO -At least 150 mm from the ceiling, above the height of any door or openable window (for wall mounted alarms) -Always refer to CO alarm manufacturer installation guidelines for more specific positioning advice. Here at DA Bunning Gas we use FireAngel carbon monoxide detectors. FireAngel provide market leading smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and other home safety products. Their products are used and trusted by over 90% of the UK Fire Rescue Services. All of FireAngel’s carbon monoxide alarms are Kitemarked by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and are developed in the belief that everyone should be properly protected with affordable and reliable home safety. They also come with a 10 year warranty. Be in with a chance of winning a FREE carbon monoxide detector for your home - We have 4 to give away and here's how to enter; Simply.... 🔥LIKE and follow our Facebook page @DABunninggasLTD 🔥LIKE and COMMENT on our Facebook competition post ONE of the symptoms associated with carbon monoxide poisoning. We would love it if you could SHARE the post with your nearest and dearest. T&Cs: Closes on the 30th November, 2023 at 11.59pm. 1 entry per person. Winner will be chosen at random and notified by Facebook message. UK entrants only (Oswestry and surrounding areas) This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. Fitting of the detector will be included, however will have to coincide with a service appointment. GOOD LUCK!

The main cause of boiler and central heating breakdown is poor water quality* which is caused by sludge. Here’s five reasons why sludge is worth knowing about so you potentially save some money on energy bills. Sludge causes 60% of annual boiler breakdowns in the UK Dirty water in your heating system contains magnetite – also known as sludge – made up of tiny magnetic particles. It can build up quickly in untreated heating systems, floating around in pipes and radiators until they eventually reach the boiler, clogging up components and eventually causing the boiler to breakdown. In fact, out of the 3.2 million boilers that breakdown in the UK each year, 1.9 million are due to sludge.* Sludge can reduce the amount of heat your customers’ radiators give out by 47% Sludge settles at the bottom of radiators and blocks the heat coming through properly. This is why radiators can still feel cold in places, even if the customer has their heating turned up. By following water treatment best practice, radiators heat output can increase by up to 47%*. Sludge can increase your customers’ energy bills by up to 7% a year You may be continually turning the heating up but not feeling a real difference. This might mean that sludge could be blocking up the system. When sludge blocks the heat coming through, more energy is used to get the right temperature – costing more in heating bills. Getting sludge dealt with has been shown to save people up to 7% a year on their energy bills**. Sludge is increasing your customers carbon footprint A central heating system contaminated by sludge must work harder to pump water around, using more energy to make the room feel warm enough. A sludge-free system will use less energy and reduce carbon emissions by up to 7%* Most UK heating systems are not protected against sludge To prevent sludge building up in systems, a change to Part L Building Regs in June 2022 was introduced, meaning new boilers must be fitted with an inline filter, and engineers should carry out a system clean/flush and add scale and corrosion inhibitor. Existing boilers can have a magnetic filter retrospectively fitted which will capture the sludge particles before they settle and cause a problem elsewhere. How to deal with sludge – From an expert “To find out how clean the water is in a system, get an engineer to carry out a water test. If the water is dirty, you can flush out the system and get rid of the sludge that is blocking the heat from radiators and making the boiler work harder. You can also fit a filter in the system and dose the water with a solution to prevent sludge build-up in future. This also helps the appliances to work better and last longer.” Colin Yearp, Heating Engineer and Head of Training at ADEY * Independent research by ADEY alongside KIWA GasTec and Delta EE ** Against a corrosion filled system

We are proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week 2023, taking place 11 – 17 September, and we hope that by raising awareness we are helping to keep our customers and community gas safe. Gas Safety Week is an annual safety week to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances. It is coordinated by Gas Safe Register, the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas. Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly and without warning, as you cannot see it, taste it, or smell it. Here are some pointers below on how to keep yourself and others gas safe: Check for warning signs that could indicate your (or others) gas appliances are not working correctly. Signs may include lazy yellow /orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, error messages or unexpected noises from your boiler or dark and sooty stains around your gas appliance. Check you know the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse, and loss of consciousness. Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm. Alarms should be marked EN50291 and display the British Standards Kitemark. Never DIY on gas appliances or block vents. Either of these actions could cause an appliance to become unsafe. If you are worried about an appliance, give us a call! Have your annual gas safety check. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants should be aware that it’s their landlord’s responsibility to arrange this. Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered and qualified for the type of work that needs doing. You'll be pleased to know that here at D.A. Bunning Gas we are Gas Safe Registered. We are more than willing to present our Gas Safety card when we come to visit. We will also be running a Gas Safety Week colouring competition for anyone aged 10 and under, and this is how you can enter: Download the artwork from our website: www.dabunninggas.co.uk or our Facebook page: DABunninggasLTD. Submit completed artwork via email or post to: office@dabunninggas.co.uk or D. A Bunning Gas LTD, Unit 8C, Whittington Business Park, Park Green, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 4ND. Please include your NAME, AGE, and a CONTACT NUMBER on the artwork. The winner will receive a £10 Booka Oswestry Voucher and will be selected by Dale after the 17th September, 2023.