plumbing

Removal and replacement of lead water supply pipes is not only good for occupiers’ health, but part of UK water companies ‘Green Recovery Programme’.

Last year’s Heat and Buildings Strategy set out the UK’s route to net zero, when it comes to our buildings, and decarbonising buildings is one of the topics in the spotlight in the elemental content theatres at this year’s InstallerSHOW – including a keynote delivered by Business & Energy Minister Lord Callanan to open the event on 21st June.

Following on from the opening speech, visitors can listen to expert speakers in the free-to-attend theatres addressing issues including large-scale social housing retrofit, local renewable energy generation, the Future Homes Standard and much more.

Burst pipes are the most common cause of home insurance claims in the UK [1] and cost an average of £3,500 in damage to property and contents.  The expense is not the worst of it, months of disruption follows as the property is dried out and repaired.
Frost is the greatest threat to water services throughout the winter.  UK Water Regulations require any fitting or apparatus to be correctly insulated to prevent frost, unless in a location that is heated for more than 12 hours a day [2]. It seems obvious when you are scraping the ice from the car on a frosty morning. However, the insurance claims show that many homeowners, landlords and occupiers seem to be unaware of this requirement.

A housing association has highlighted the positive impact that apprenticeships and traineeships have on individuals, businesses and the economy.

Hightown Housing Association says 19-year-old Levi Pierre apprentice has shown great potential and will become a role model for future learners.

Levi, who lives in Hemel Hempstead, spends four days a week at Hightown as a Property Maintenance Apprentice and one day a week studying at West Herts College for his Property Maintenance qualification.

Whether it’s the kitchen sink or the shower, there’s a good chance that all social housing tenants will experience plumbing problems in their home at some point. The Water Regulation Advisory Scheme (WRAS) recently commissioned a study into the most common plumbing issues in the home, with dripping taps and leaking pipes being the leading problems reported.

Many of these can be prevented by using properly tested products and hiring a qualified plumber or installer, ensuring that water systems or fittings meet the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws.