Recent content by djheath

So I had a play around today and ended up completely disconnecting the immersion heater circuit - live, neutral and earth in the CU. Even with this disconnected the RCD still tripped, so that means either the fault is somewhere else, or the RCD is faulty, or the PV wiring to the CU is causing...

Thanks. Interesting. Just for info, this RCD is just for the immersion heater and others side of things. The PV install is on the other side of the CU with a different RCD. I'll check what type, but it is different to the 80a one on this side.

Yesterday I had Solar panels fitted, including an iBoost device which is wired between the immersion switch in the airing cupboard and the immersion heater. When there is excess solar energy, the iBoost turns the immersion element on to use the energy to heat the hot water. All was fine when...

Just to follow up on this, in case it helps anyone else. I used the Excel sheet from here: https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/files/...e_calculator_2010/L1b_Calculator_1.3_2010.xls I included the conservatory as being part of the existing glazing that was being removed in the calculation and...

Thanks all. So, firstly to clarify, nothing is built yet. I'm still at the planning stages. Building reg plans and approval was (I thought) the last step before getting the builders in! The SAPs calculation is a condition of the approval of the building regs plans. Secondly, the door to the...

We've had our small simple extension conditionally approved by building control, but they have said they want to see SAP calculations to show compliance with L1B as we have over 25% glazing. Extension is 8 x 3 m with two roof lanterns, two sets of bifolds and a side glazed door/wall. We live...

If anyone has any other info about this it would be great, as I've been doing a lot of reading and still not got the perfect answer. Some cladding manufacturers say there should be an air gap behind the cladding of 25 mm, but my existing installation seems to be blockwork, 19mm battens, then...

It's not great, but I don't mind it really. Every house in the street has it, so it would look very odd if we had something different.

My 70s house is part clad in uPVC shiplap. This is mounted to wooden batterns which are mounted to the breezeblock, and then internally this is plastered. I'd like to insulate behind the uPVC as the wall is facing north and north east and is very cold. Can I fix the celotex type insulation...

TPO damage is a fine up to £20,000 or a tree report is £500 - so a fair difference! I also think damage would be limited, but if the digging of the ground for foundations damaged the roots that then killed the tree, the council would say it's my fault and I'd be fined. Therefore mitigating...

That's right, 7 metres will be the closest point. Thanks

Apologies for the long post, but I'm unclear on how to plan and progress with a simple extension. I'm looking to build a pretty straightforward full width rear extension - single storey, 3 m deep x 8 m wide, two sets of bi-folds, roof lantern etc, very simple. We're pretty certain it can be...

Thanks for the replies. So next question: With the bottom of the cold water tank being located about 10 cms off the top of the loft joists, and the shower pipes running over the loft joists to get to the bathroom (about 6-7 metres total length each), does this mean I have a negative head and...

My shower flow rate is terrible and regularly gets air locked. I'm thinking this is a combination of factors namely; 1. The hot water take off from the cylinder is from the vent pipe and well above the cylinder T. 2. The pipes go up into the loft via quite a few bends and are only just below the...

The kitchen mixer tap keeps getting an airlock, just on the hot water supply. I have a cold water tank in the loft with a hot water cylinder in the air cupboard upstairs. Every so often the hot tap just in the kitchen stops running. No spluttering, nothing. I disconnected the tap and no...