Recent content by richw

Some people think it looks horrid. I've had some where the final 8 inches or so of pipe is 10mm plastic, and the advantage is that you can neatly mould and clip the pipe exactly where you want it. I've got it clipped vertically to the skirting, so I don't have the awkward gap between the...

That's easy - cut spending too. It's out of control - loads of low-hanging fruit.

You would need faith to vote on policies. I don't remember Labour promising to increase energy prices & council tax, and introduce digital ID. Obviously, that's only a recent example: we could say the same sort of things about the last lot, e.g. Boris and his non-EU immigration. Re. Reform, I...

Re. mounting the sink, I've just had done similar with a Howdens under-mount porcelain sink. The joiner raised the shelf slightly so the sink could rest on that. Some additional supports were added to the unit because a fair ol' chunk was cut-out and the sink is rather heavy. Works absolutely...

I think it's one of those things you get used to, so any change (combi, electric or tank) seems like another universe. Combis are great if your mains is up to it, and your usage doesn't demand two points in use at once (e.g. two showers on at the same time in the morning). An electric shower...

Well, yes, so instead of the water being cold(er), it will reduce from a bad flow to an appallingly bad flow. Not actually a useful difference. Same limitation of the uselessness of an electric heating element being used on-demand. A proper shower needs hot water and a good flow. Yes, I know...

I don't see how a 'modern' electric shower would be any better. They are the same thing: it's just a kettle heating element through which a flow of water passes. If you want it hot, it trickles. Another thing to remember is that a combi boiler is OK if you use only one hot water outlet at a...

An electric shower?! Yikes. They are awful. Only good feature is that they work when the combination boiler is broken! :) You need to ask yourself: 1) if you would prefer instant/on-demand or stored/tank hot water. A combination boiler means no tanks, which saves space, but it is a single...

Sounds a reasonable set of rules. Yes, you might lose some slave-labour in the likes of care homes or farms or car washes. You know what? Those things just have to cost a bit more to attract non-slave wages. If you go to someone else's home, you obey their rules. Same for a country. If I...

Almost 20 years ago, I hired a whacker-plate to do my patio. Put it in the back of my '98 Micra, no bother. Was a tad tricky lifting it in/out, but both me and the car survived!

Unless you live in a castle, your heating requirements will probably be under 15kW - never mind 24! A combi is sized for hot water demand, as heating mains-temperature cold water instantly on-demand needs a lot of energy. Are you happy with the hot water flow from your hot taps now? Any idea...

I bought one of these (might not be exact same model) a few years ago, and it's pretty slick. https://manhattan-tv.com/freeview/manhattan-t4r-tv-recorder These days, I am trying out a Raspberry Pi with TV HAT and TVHeadEnd meaning I can record to a 'server' and then play it back on any client...

No bother for me. I have a certificate too. But they are pointless pieces of paper, aren't they? I've had them in previous properties I've bought, but they mean chuff-all. Doesn't tell you about the quality and remaining life expectancy of the installation, nor if they are the style/colour...

If you really don't want trickle vents, just tell the supplier that you don't want them. If they don't want to play along, tell them you will go elsewhere. Someone will fit them without, regardless of nonsense eco red-tape.

I wasn't so much thinking of 'Spoons... more like the thousands of smaller establishments ran by a licensee.