In our digital world the help we need is sometimes one click away. Even though most plumbing and gas related jobs actually require a professional, there is a lot of content on the internet which is very useful when dealing with little problems.

This is a list of 10 great instructional channels on plumbing you can start watching and implementing right now. Enjoy, and please share other resources if you know any.

1. VideoJug DIY

Short and useful: VideoJug hosts a wide range of DIY plumbing videos that will help you a lot in your DIY efforts. Instructional clips on a myriad of topics, from fixing dripping taps to common washing machine problems.

VideoJug is the 2012 YouTube Trends How to Video Winner. Maybe the site has too much advertisement, but the content is high quality and it deserves your attention.

2. The Family Handyman

Here’s another digital goldmine, a website packed with useful and instructional videos. The Family Handyman is your personal plumbing consultant that will help you with water heaters, broken sinks and much more.

Just type some words about your problem on the top search bar and discover the most relevant videoclips available. The Family Handyman also provide DIY forums which will help you.

3. The DIY Network

When it comes to getting videohelp on your DIY plumbing tasks, there’s another great online resource to draw on. The DIY Network has a great plumbing section with videos on most of the most frequent problems we encounter in our bathrooms and kitchens.

What makes the site unique are its “Inside Plumbing” dedicated sections on leaks, drainage, faucets and much more. So check them out and enjoy their content.

4. Have fun with Plumber Parts

Plumber Parts is a lively YouTube channel with lots of actionable videos shot by a fun guy with a passion for DIY plumbing.

Some of the videos are quite advanced, but you can definitely find interesting stuff that will really help you.

Enjoy his content!

5. DIY Plumbing Advice

Another great source of how-to content on plumbing is DIY Plumbing Advice YouTube channel. Their guides are easy to follow and really instructional. Their video on “How to repair a Moen Shower” was viewed almost half million times.

They also provide useful advice on other house improvement topics, saving etc. You can also send them a message about further topics you would like to get advice on.

Now it’s your turn

Share with us one or more additional resources that make DIY plumbing a little easier. Is there any website, video channel or resource you would definitely recommend?

The rising cost of utilities such as gas and electric along with concern for the environment, has meant that most of us try to save energy. Saving energy does not imply that you need to sit in the cold; there are some changes you can make to your home that will actually increase its value.

Loft Insulation

Experts say that around thirty percent of the heat in our homes goes straight through the roof. Proper loft insulation can reduce that loss to virtually zero. In the UK there have been government grants to help with the cost of insulation and most people find that it saves them a significant amount of money on their gas and electricity bills.

The practice of giving grants towards the cost of loft insulation has meant that in general you will pay less than a hundred pounds for the service. Home owners often find that they get their money back within a year.

Change Your Plumbing to Low Flow

It’s not just heat and light that we need to be careful with, the fact is there’s a world wide water shortage and so we need to do whatever we can to conserve our water supplies. When you have a low flow plumbing system installed in your home you’ll find that less of the water goes down the pipes.

Low flow toilets use quite a bit less water when they are flushed, so well worth considering. You can also do your bit by not running the water when you brush your teeth and by taking a shower instead of having a bath.

Energy Efficient Doors and Windows

UPVC windows and doors will significantly reduce the heat loss in and around your home, largely because they fit better than old fashioned windows and doors. If you go one step further and have energy efficient windows installed you will lose even less heat and save more money on your utility bills.

When you are purchasing windows that you want to be energy efficient the first thing that you should look for is the energy star logo. Get double or even triple glazed windows if you really want to keep the noise out and seal the heat in.

Replacement doors and windows are not cheap, you can probably expect to pay in excess of £7,000 but, you will add considerable value to your home if you decide to sell it.

Damp Proofing

If you live in an old property then you could find that you are plagued by damp, which also eats into your energy bills. Getting a new damp course is not cheap but you will save a considerable amount of money over time on your heating bills, you will also add value to your home.

Making your home greener will make life more comfortable and it will cut the cost of your energy bills. Most home buyers look for things such as insulated lofts, damp proofing, and new windows and doors. If you want to add value to your home then your best option is to go green.

These tips are brought to you on behalf of Juice Electrical Supplies, providers of energy saving devices in the UK.

What is the Infographic all about?

• The infographic is a visual representation showing how much it costs to insulate your home, as well as detailing the savings you could make each year with each type of insulation.
• By showing how long it takes each type of insulation installed to pay for itself, you can work out the length of time it will take to reap the benefits. This forms a vital part of the decision-making process, and applies also to our gas services.
• A graphical representation makes it easy to assess and understand the information given, in a user-friendly, clear and concise manner.
• The infographic is a helpful decision-making tool for consumers to weigh up the different types of insulation, their costs and the savings made, so that they can make informed decisions themselves about insulating their own home.
• Many people might not be aware of the different types of insulation available to have in their home, so the infographic also serves as an informational and educational tool, to increase awareness about insulation.
• The infographic is a helpful way to encourage people to become more environmentally-conscious by enabling them to become more energy efficient at home, whilst making savings in the long term.

Sourced from: Ashbrook Roofing

They’ve created a great infographic complete with 20 genuinely useful tips about how you can make your home nice and cosy while also saving some money on your energy bills.

There are lots of common sense tips included. Stuff like servicing your boiler and wearing an extra jumper. But there are some really interesting stats too. For example, did you know that installing thick loft insulation that is 27cm thick can save you £175 a year on your energy bills? Or that by simply turning your thermostat down only 1c could reduce your heating bill by 10% each year?

This infographic is provided by www.everest.co.uk. Find out how you can make your home warmer & save money by installing double glazing here. 

Step 1: Decide on the size of the room

If you are simply housing the boiler within the room then you can look to make it no bigger than about 1 metre in width but many people decide to make it around 2 metres wide and make it in to a utility room instead of just a boiler room. This way you can place your washing machine, tumble dryer and any other household goods that you don’t want taking up space in the rest of the house like ironing boards etc…

Step 2: DIY or hire the professionals?

This is definitely the kind of task that could be taken on from a DIY point of view, the difficult part as always would be the plastering and electrics. The room would need a partition wall putting up with some form of insulation within it to keep it warmer than the rest of the garage; it would need power outlets, plastering, painting and flooring putting down. Most of this could be done by yourself but it would definitely be recommended to get a professional in for the plastering and electrics to give it a good finish. Plastering is very difficult to get right and the fibrous plaster that the professionals would use would ensure you get a high quality room.

Step 3: Finishing touches

Once your room has been completed it is time to think about what colours to paint it, what flooring to put down and so on. It would be highly recommended to put down laminate flooring as there is a good chance there could be water spillages within it. It is also a good idea to build a cabinet around the outside of the boiler with a door on the front to access it, this isn’t essential but just gives it a bit extra protection and keeps the pump that little bit more protected from the cold.

Sarah Hewitt is a new blogger who blogs about anything and everything. You can contact her via her Twitter page or Google+

It may be hard to believe given the recent weather conditions, but spring is here!  Now is a good time to start work on all of those DIY projects that you need to get done for the summer.  If you’re thinking of installing air conditioning this year, why not take a look at your heating at the same time?  Here is a quick run-down of some of the most popular types of heating and cooling systems:

Traditional Central Heating

Traditional central heating systems are the cheapest and easiest systems to install.  Older systems were quite inefficient, offering limited control over the temperature of each room, and featuring inefficient radiators.

Modern systems have better thermostats, more efficient boilers, thermostatic radiator valves, and other improvements.  If your existing system is costing you a fortune to run, maybe it’s time to upgrade?  Since most homes already have some form of central heating built-in, it’s usually not too expensive to update the system.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Geothermal heating and cooling is becoming increasingly popular in green communities (watch this video introduction). Unfortunately, it’s prohibitively expensive and complicated to add this to an existing property, because it requires digging under the property.  If you’re planning a major extension, however, or working on a self-build property, then you should consider installing one of these systems.

Geothermal systems use a heat pump to extract or deposit heat, depending on the temperature you are trying to achieve.  While these systems are expensive to build, their running costs can be as much as 70% lower than traditional heating and cooling systems.

Ductless Air Cooling Systems

Ductless air cooling systems are min air-conditioners which are designed to cool small areas.  They rely on an outdoor compressor and a refrigerant line which cools air to feed it into the room served by the unit.  These systems are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.  The running costs are negligible given the size of the area that they usually serve, but traditional air conditioning systems are more effective if you need to control the temperature of several rooms in your home.

Usually, these systems offer cooling only, however some models come with a separate system with a heating element for convection heating.  Running an electric convection heater is expensive (although these heaters do provide instant warmth), so this is not advisable for use as a primary heating system.

Radiant Heating Systems

Radiant heating systems are similar to standard central heating systems, however instead of relying on radiators, heat is delivered through pipes placed under the floor.  Under-floor heating is incredibly comfortable, and effective.  The change in temperature is felt more quickly than with traditional radiators, especially in rooms where people tend to walk around barefoot – such as the bathroom.

The downside of radiant heating systems is that it is quite disruptive to install them.  You would need to pull up the floorboards in each room that you want to install the system in. In addition, radiant heating systems offer heating only – you would need to install a separate cooling system.  However, once installed, radiant heating systems can be quite energy efficient.

Juice electrical wholesalers provided this guest blog post. Visit them on Facebook for more information.

On discovering the blockage you should first pour bleach down the plug hole or toilet and flush, and repeat the process several times. If there is no sign of a natural flow of water returning then you may need your drains unblocking by a local drainage professional.

When you speak to a professional you will find that they will employ a range of techniques including drain jetting and manual rodding to help the water flow return. Drain jetting is a relatively technical process where specialist equipment is used to force water up the length of the pipe and release any blockage in its path.

Drain jetting is an effective technique as it often stops any lingering buildups from becoming more problematic.
The other technique commonly employed is manual rodding. This is a more intrusive and dangerous method if not executed professionally. Links of flexible piping are connected and inserted down the length of the pipe until the blockage is found. When the rod meets the cause of the problem the drainage professional twists and turns the rod until the blockage is loosened and the water can flow at its natural pace.

Preventing a blocked drain happening in the future

If you want to prevent your drains from becoming blocked again in the near future then you should first take a look at what you flush down your toilet, and what you put down your plug hole. Ensure you do not flush cotton wool, cotton buds, face wipes and excessive amounts of toilet paper down your toilet as these will all cause problems for you. If you use a dishwasher then you should try and rinse the cutlery to avoid food from clogging the dishwasher’s drainage system.

Some professionals will even mention that you should protect your drains from neighboring plants and trees so that plant matter cannot land directly into the drain. If you are experiencing a blocked drain and bleach is not working, consider allowing your local drainage professional to carry out drain jetting or manual rodding on your behalf.

Tom Clark writes on a various subjects from eco living and home maintenance, to technology and business. He is helping people who need their drains unblocking with the most efficient methods available such as drain jetting.

Wood burning stoves are highly practical and many people will purchase one because of their practicality and their efficiency (also consider some drawbacks). But, when you purchase a wood burning stove, you will have to figure out how to install it in your home.

Many people dread the installation of one of these stoves because, unless you have experience in installing them, they are difficult to install. Many of these people usually feel stressed out and are unsure that they will be able to accomplish the task of installing a wood burning stove. But luckily for these people, there are many reliable companies that will be able to accomplish this job and help relieve the burden of not being able to install one.

When selecting a company to install a stove, you should be very cautious because many companies are unreliable and can deliver a sloppy job. That is why it is recommended that you should contact HETAS before you install one of these units in your home.

Basically HETAS is a Government official recognized body that is available to provide people with connections to trustworthy and competent wood burning stoves installation services. It is recommended that you consult HETAS because you must make sure that the heating appliance installation is done by a knowledgeable professional and they help you come in contact with these reliable companies.

Some people decide that they will do the installations to themselves to save some money, but there are many reasons why you should go pro when installing a heating appliance in your home including:

• It can present many dangers to both the installer and the family. Many of these wood stoves emit certain chemicals and if they are installed wrongly, they can cause people to die as a result of chemical poisoning. You should never risk your health and the health of your family just to save a few measly dollars.

• A professional will be able to meet any rules or regulations such as building regulations. Usually if you do it on your own you will be forced to obtain the necessary permits, whereas a HETAS approved professional company is already certified and they can begin working immediately once they present a certificate.

• You can mess up the job. Like it was mentioned before, installing these stoves is a difficult process that is better left to the professionals.

HETAS will be able to connect you with a reliable company so that you can make sure that nothing goes wrong during the installations of your heating.

This was written by Yorkshire Stoves Direct, who install & supply wood burning stoves in the UK.

Gas fires

There are a few different types of gas fires and heaters you can get, some more attractive than others! There are portable ones which can be carried around the house and filled with gas cannisters or fires which are attached to the wall and run straight from your gas pipe. Both will use around the same amount of gas (really not a lot!) and can keep a room or area nice and warm. One of the many reasons people opt for gas heaters is that gas is a lot cheaper than electric! If you are running a fire straight from your normal gas mains then it will just be added onto your normal utility bills. Those who opt to purchase gas cannisters will find they pay a small premium. The only issue some people have with a gas fire is that it can take a while to heat up, compared to electricity.

Electric fires

There are many more options when it comes to electric fires, which is what can make them so popular. You can have tiny portable versions that can be carried from room to room (or even plugged into the car!), ones that glitter with fake flames and others that work as heater fans. Of course the biggest downfall with an electric heater is the cost! Although they may be pretty quick to heat up you’ll find the cost of using them can be pretty high. As the prices of electricity continue to rise it can cost a lot of money to keep one room warm for a whole day. Due to this the number of electric heaters sold has dropped over the last few months, making way for gas heaters instead.

So, which one is right for you?

If you are not bothered about the look or style of a heater or fire then go for a portable version, whether it be gas or electric. Those who are worried about their utility bills rising should definitely opt for the gas fire, which will also look great in your home. If you need a quick burst of heat as and when, then the electric fire is the one to go for. Really, it all depends on where you are using it, why and how often. Once you know all of your requirements it will be a lot easier to pick the heater best suited to your home.

Gas cookers are some of the most popular in the World, especially as gas can be so much cheaper to use than electricity. However, there is a worry about the diminishing fossil fuels and whether we can continue to use gas to heat our food or even warm our home.

There has been a lot of research into gas cookers that are more environmentally friendly and cheaper to run than the current models we use nowadays. Let’s take a look at some of these now.

Your current gas cooker

Do you know how much your current gas cooker costs you every year? Have you ever taken the time to look at your utility bill and break down the cost? Not many people have, but if they did it could come as quite a surprise. Although it’s general knowledge that gas is cheaper than electricity there are other factors to take into account.

A gas cooker can take quite a while to heat up, especially if one of the older models. If you’ve had your cooker for some time then you will begin to notice the lack of power and the time it takes to get warm. When a cooker starts to slow down it will begin to use more gas to just get to the right temperature. As this happens your utility bills will rocket and more and more of this precious fossil fuel will be used up.

Gas fired eco range cookers for the future  

Many of you may have seen an Aga in a beautiful country kitchen and wondered how people can afford one, never mind the cost of running it. There’s also the impact these giant range cookers have on the environment and all of a sudden it is crossed off the kitchen wish list.

There is, however, a lot of research going into a gas fired cooker that is more efficient than your normal Aga range ovens. The cost of running one of these has been estimated at £100 to £300 a year currently, depending on whether you are using it to warm your kitchen on a regular basis too.

The impact that these eco friendly range cookers has on the environment is a lot less than many of your typical gas cookers, including the expensive Aga models. Many people are already counting down the days until they can get one of these beautiful cookers in their homes, without having to worry about the costs or possible damage to the environment.

Alternatives on the market today

Although it may be a little while until the gas fired eco range cooker is available on the market, there is something similar which still ticks many of those boxes. For the same price as the gas cooker (when it is available) as well as an extraordinary saving on your utility bills, you can get an oil fired version instead.

In fact, the average running costs of one of these range cookers is £180 per annum! Due to electricity and even gas being more expensive than oil this is one of the most cost effective ovens you can purchase for your home. Add the fact that it keeps the house warm too and you’re onto a winner.

Get in touch with us if you need help!