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DTS Plumbing are having a spring clean!

Spring has almost sprung (depending on which day you look outside)! What better to start the season than a revamp of our branding and services! This blog will keep you up to date on what we have planned for this season and some long-term plans.

New Branding

We have been working very closely with a local artist who has created numerous pictures to represent our business! Andy from Reyt Good Illustration has translated our core values into the artwork. We like to think they highlight that we are a local, family company who build relationships with our customers.

Over the coming months, we will be having some of the new images printed on to different items, just because we love them that much! Not only that, we are planning more images for seasonal events and updates!

On top of that, we have since been rated as one of the 3 best rated plumbers in Sheffield! This involves a 50 point inspection including ratings, trust, local reviews and customer satisfaction!

We are so proud to announce this, check it out on the link below!

New Services

More exciting things are coming to DTS! Most of our customers know that we specialise in boiler installation and maintenance, which means keeping our customers warm. However, we have been looking into other heat sources and are happy to announce that we will soon be offering Air Conditioning! We know Britain only gets the odd sunny day throughout the year so although we may be wishing for a heatwave, there are many more benefits.

Air conditioning provides both hot and cold air in places which are usually difficult to heat or keep cool. These may be rooms such as conservatories, orangeries, single-storey extensions plus many more. However, they can be fitted throughout the house. Our official training will be in April, however if you have any questions in the meantime don’t hesitate to ask. 

0% Finance

If you are thinking of a new boiler or are having problems with your current boiler and want to spread the cost of a new one, fear not! We are now offering 0% finance on all Worcester Bosch boiler installations for up to 10 months. On top of that, Worcester Bosch offer a warranty up to 12 years, giving you peace of mind for the next decade!

For more information, get in touch via the website, email or give us a call. We would be happy to discuss the different options with you!

Changes to Service Plans

Currently, we offer 3 bands of service plan which are designed to be great value and maximise savings! Our service plans are becoming increasingly popular with customers both new and existing! Therefore, we wanted to offer the best value for money. 

Therefore, we will be adding a Trade Database. This will be recommended trades we work closely with who we feel have a similar ethos and focus as us.

Not only that, we are currently developing an Exclusive Club which will be a range of local businesses offering a discount or giveaway for our service plan customers. This will have a range of businesses from things for the home, financial services and many more. This will be included within all service plans and will have no extra charge! If there any particular businesses you would like to see in there, please don’t hesitate to let us know!  

http://www.dtsplumbing.co.uk/boiler-service-plans

As always, thank you for reading and for any more information. Have a happy and healthy start to spring!

Thanks,
Shannon, Dale & DTS Plumbing Team

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When buying a new boiler, it is a bit of a minefield! We have done blogs on when to consider a new boiler and what to look for from your boiler installer. To follow on, we have put together a blog on the different types of boilers to enable you to decide which is best for you. This may be a combi boiler or regular boiler.

Combi Boilers

Traditionally, combination boilers entered the market as a boiler for a one bathroom property. As always, technology has advanced and this isn’t necessarily the case in present times. However, some people think that combi boilers are a “one-stop shop” and are a solution to all problems. 

One of the main reasons combi boilers can be a great addition is they save a considerable amount of space. They combine a central heating boiler and a water heater into one unit, allowing you to get rid of any hot water cylinders or tanks. This means you can have a combi boiler installed in almost any place in your home!

A combi boiler also heats your water on demand. So, when you are wanting a nice hot shower you don’t have to wait for the water to heat up. And, if you are the last one to have a shower, it means it wont have gone cold!

Not only do you get hot water on demand, the hot water from your taps and shower come through at mains level power. This means the mains pressure of the water tends to be a lot higher. Therefore if you like a more powerful shower, you are more likely to reap the benefits! 

There are, however a few limitations on combi boilers. For example, combi boilers do not contain or use an immersion heater. Therefore if your boiler breaks down there is no back up for hot water (aside from an electric shower). Meaning that until you can get the boiler fixed, there would be no heating or hot water throughout the house.

Although the combi boiler offers a more high pressured shower, this is only if no other water sources running. If more than one water outlet be running at once, the water pressure will be significantly reduced. This is because the hot water is feeding more than one outlet.

Regular Boilers

Regular/Traditional boilers are a trio of a boiler, hot water cylinder and at least one water storage tank located in the loft. The regular boiler is a good solution to older properties with an older radiator system as these systems sometimes struggle to cope with the pressure from combi boilers. 

Regular boilers are great for large properties where a lot of hot water is used at the same time, usually through multiple bathrooms. This means that the kids aren’t arguing over the water pressure when they are both having a shower or the pots can be washed at the same time as running a bath! 

As mentioned above, if a combi boiler breaks down, you are left without heating and hot water. However, if a traditional boiler set up has an immersion heater installed to the hot water cylinder, you can still get hot water if the boiler breaks down!

As most things do, the regular boiler also has its drawbacks. The set up of regular boiler requires a large amount of loft space and an airing cupboard to house the tanks and the cylinder. Therefore, a regular boiler isn’t ideal for smaller properties or properties with a small amount of loft space.

On top of that, the hot water isn’t instant. Once all of the hot water from the cylinder has been used, the water will have to warm up again before you can use it. Not ideal in the winter when you are waiting for a warm bath.

For more information on boiler installations head to:

http://www.dtsplumbing.co.uk/boiler-installations

Thanks,

DTS Plumbing & Heating

www.facebook.com/dtsplumbingandheating

There are hundreds of different plumbers around South Yorkshire and the country as a whole. But what sets each one apart from the other? This blog will contain all the information about what we at DTS Plumbing complete when installing a boiler in your home.

Initial Survey

We start off with the initial survey to discuss what you have in mind for your new boiler and the installation. This includes your budget, any preferences on brands you may have and the way in which you would like to control your heating or hot water. Sometimes, surveys and boilers can be quite “technological” and confusing. Therefore, we break this down into understandable terms and discuss all stages of the installation. We will then send your quotation within 48 hours and will be on hand to discuss any queries you may have!

Water Quality

When installing a new boiler, the quality of the water is key. To ensure that the central heating water is of compliant quality with British Standards, we complete a flush on the central heating system as standard with every boiler installation. Once this is complete, we take a sample of the water and send it off to an independent laboratory, who make sure the water is clean and will maximise the life of your central heating! We also install a magnetic filter with every new boiler, so that if any sludge does start to build up, it is much less likely to reach the components of your boiler causing any damage!

Did you know, installing an A-Rated boiler on a dirty central heating system reduces its efficiency rating in just 6 days!! Once this is complete, we receive a report which will be shared with you, then should your boiler break down it will ensure your warranty remains valid!

Protection Against Frozen Condensate Pipes

In recent years, when weather has been at its worst, there has been lots of talk about frozen condensate pipes preventing boilers from working. When installing a new boiler, if any of the condensate pipes run externally, we will insulate these with a coated lagging that protects pipes from exceptionally low temperatures! Therefore, this protects your boiler from cutting out during the winter months, leaving you without any heating or hot water!

Warranties

AT DTS Plumbing & Heating, we are accredited installers with Worcester Bosch. This means that we can install boilers with up to a 12 year warranty, giving you the peace of mind that your boiler breakdowns are covered within the warranty until 2032. This covers parts and labour, so you wont be left with an unexpected bills

Thermostats & Controls

When installing a new boiler, we ensure that the controls are exactly what the customer wants. This ranges from the most simple controls to smart controls that can be controlled from your phone from outside the home. Some even controlling each room individually! All controls we install are Boiler Plus compliant and in line with regulations.

If you have any further questions, please dont hesitate to contact us on enquiries@dtsplumbing.co.uk or 01142483011.

Thanks,

The DTS Plumbing Team

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http://www.dtsplumbing.co.uk/instant-boiler-quote

Do you have a boiler that is getting temperamental? Are your energy bills creeping upwards?

It may be time to consider a new boiler to maximise the efficiency of your central heating. Not only that, it will get the house toasty warm ready for Christmas.

Advantages of a new boiler

• Energy bills should decrease. A number of our customers who we have fitted boilers for over the last year say they have had refunds from their energy company. We install A rated boilers that are built to last and reduce overall energy consumption.

• It maximises heat throughout the house. Your boiler may be heating the radiators and water, but is it heating them to their full potential? We love feedback from our customers. Particularly, when they say they cant believe how warm their house is after they have had a new boiler fitted!

• Warranty cover. Once your new boiler is fitted, it is then covered by the warranty. We install boilers that come with a minimum of a 5 year warranty, all the way up to 12 years. Providing you uphold the conditions of the warranty, any costly repairs will be covered by the warranty!

What DTS Plumbing and Heating offer…

• Our installations are completed by an experienced gas engineer. We fit a new boiler plus compliant controls, a magnetic filter and flush the central heating system as standard to ensure that the system is protected how it should be. Once the flush has been completed we take water samples which are tested by an independent company to confirm the quality of the water in the central heating system. We also offer protection against frozen condensate pipes, to make sure that you have heating when you need it the most.

• We offer 0% finance or a Buy Now Pay Later option on all central heating installations. Therefore, if your boiler breaking down comes as a nasty surprise and isn’t cost effective to repair, you can spread the cost to make it easier to manage. 

• A tailor-made installation built around you and your property. We will do a survey on your property and then spend time discussing your new system with you. This includes; your budget, the make-up of your property, the location of the boiler, brands of boiler and what you want from your heating system. 

Our Accreditations

We have accreditations with a number of boiler manufacturers allowing us to offer extended warranties and install the boiler that suits your needs most. These include;

• ATAG Approved Installers – 10 year warranty
• Ideal Max Accredited Installers – between 5 and 12 year warranties
• Worcester Bosch Accredited Installers – between 6 and 10 year warranties

This is important to us as it gives our customers peace of mind that their new boiler is covered, should anything go wrong!

If you need any advice or want to discuss the a new boiler, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Thanks,

The DTS Plumbing and Heating Team

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So it’s Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints Eve, Day of the Dead or Fright Night; whatever you call it make sure the only scary thing lurking around your home is the endless stream of trick or treaters.

What to Look Out For

Now we don’t want to frighten you but there’s a sinister silent killer lurking, one that no-one is safe from, you can’t see, smell or taste it and it goes by the name of Carbon Monoxide otherwise known as CO. We have covered a blog about the dangers of carbon monoxide previously, however it is something that is important to us and we really want to raise awareness of. This blog also covers what other haunts to look for throughout your home to keep you safe!

Dangers of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide can strike quickly and without warning so it is important to be aware of the symptoms of CO poisoning: 

Headache

Breathlessness

Nausea

Dizziness

Loss of consciousness

Collapse

There are warning signs to look out for, if you see any or all of these, it’s time to act:

Lazy yellow flames on your gas appliances

Sooty stains on or around your boiler

Excess condensation

Turn off the gas supply, open the windows, evacuate the building and phone a
Gas Safe registered heating engineer.

However, don’t give up hope, you CAN protect yourself against its deadly effect this halloween.

Protection Against Carbon Monoxide

We would recommend having your boiler and gas appliances serviced every year by a qualified and Gas Safe Registered engineer, if you live in a rented house or student accommodation (parents take note!) your landlord should arrange this and provide you with a certificate.

For peace of mind, take additional precautions and install a carbon monoxide detector, but make sure it has the British Standard kitemark.

Other Things to Look Out For

There are many other gas and plumbing horrors to look out for throughout your home! These include:

Leaks or drips from the boiler

Boiler making gurgling or banging noises

Leaks or drips, particularly near to electrical fittings

Water bubbling up from sinks and toilets

As well as many more. If you have any questions on any horrors, our team are available to assist you further!

Please take time to watch the video below – it really hits home how serious this can be!

Thanks,

The DTS Plumbing and Heating Team

http://www.facebook.com/dtsplumbingandheating

Shannon and Dale are no strangers to the plumbing industry, both having had close family members who were also in the trade. This blog will give a bit of an insight into the plumbers of the family, many of them having an impact on where DTS Plumbing and Heating is today.

Dale – DTS Plumbing and Heating Founder & Owner

Dale started working in the plumbing world aged just 14. He worked for his uncle, who also has a plumbing business, in the school holidays doing labouring. He then left school and started his plumbing college course and apprenticeship , continuing to work with his uncle Glyn and cousin Ryan.

Dale chose to be a plumber as he enjoyed all aspects of the job and had a particular fascination with tools. His passion for plumbing was due to the fact the industry is always changing so there is always something else to learn. Not only that, he is always seeing different places, meeting new people and no day is the same.

Now that he is the owner of a company, Dales passion is passing on his knowledge and experience on to our apprentices, as well as encouraging them to deliver work to a high standard and make customers their main focus.

Terry – Shannons Grandad and Former Plumber

Terry started off as a plumbers apprentice at a Sheffield building company, Hassall’s, in 1952, when he was just 15. After 6 years of training, he took a break after getting his call up papers for National Service.

Two years later he returned to his trade and for the best part of 37 years thats what he did; with a couple of other jobs along the way when the building industry took a down turn.

Sadly, Terry passed away 6 years ago. So, although Dale was already plumbing, he didn’t get to see them start their own plumbing business; he would, however, be very proud of them both.

Glyn & Ryan – Dales Uncle & Cousin and Gas Engineers

Dale spent most of his teenage years working along side Glyn and Ryan which broadened his knowledge of all things plumbing and heating. They were the main starting block for his passion in the industry, taught him an exceptional amount and still run their successful plumbing company to date. We enjoy the friendly competition and like to help each other out where possible.

Glyn decided he wanted to be a gas engineer from being an early age. It all started when his family had a new gas fire installed and he was amazed that something was built from nothing!

We hope you have enjoyed our insight into our plumbing family history! Visit our website fortnightly, for our new blog!

Thanks.

DTS Plumbing and Heating

http://www.facebook.com/dtsplumbingandheating

There are many questions we get asked on a regular basis. So to help our customers, we have compiled a list of the top 10 questions we get asked. Some are plumbing related, others are company related, but we hope in some way they will help!

Plumbing Related Top Questions

1 – How do I top the pressure up on my boiler?

Switch the boiler off and allow it to cool down. Check that both ends of the filling loop (usually a silver braided hose on the pipework under boiler) are securely attached. Open both valves and allow water into the system. You should be able to hear this as the pressure is rising. Let the pressure gauge reach around 1.5 bar then close both valves, one after the other. If you are needing to do this regularly, there may be a leak on your central heating!

2 – My heating isn’t coming on automatically, what should I do?

Check your thermostat. It may need new batteries causing it not to detect the need to switch the heating on! When switching your heating on, we recommend that it is set between 18 and 21 degrees. This is the most energy efficient temperature.

3 – I have a bad water leak, what shall I do?

Turn off the water at the mains to prevent any further damage. Once the mains water is turned off, look for where the leak originally came from and see if it is possible to isolate the water supply to allow you to turn the water back on. Only turn the water back on if you are certain that the leaking area has been isolated! Once this is done, call a plumber to repair the leak.

4 – My radiator isn’t getting hot. What should I do?

If your radiators have a small amount of heat at the bottom but nothing at the top, it may be that it needs bleeding. This is a straightforward process that requires a bleed key and an old towel to remove any excess air out of the system. However, if there is heat at the top and not at the bottom or none of your radiators are heating up at all there may be a more in-depth problem with your central heating.

5 – I can smell gas. What should I do?

Turn off the gas at the emergency control valve located at the gas meter and open windows and doors in the area. Once this is done, call 0800 111 999 to come and isolate the gas supply. This needs to be done as soon as possible as gas may still bypass the valve on the meter. Then call a Gas Safe Registered engineer to repair the problem.

Company Related Top Questions

6 – What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept debit card, credit card, cash and BACS payments. However, we do not accept cheques. Payment for all jobs are taken on completion and our engineers have card machines with them to make the payment process simple!

7 – Do you offer cover on my plumbing and heating?

Yes. We offer three types of cover. These can be found at https://dtsplumbing.co.uk/boiler-service-plans/ and range from £10 – £25 a month.

8 – Who will be coming to my house?

When booking your appointment, wherever possible we will tell you which engineer will be attending. The engineer will send a text message on their way to your appointment to let you know they are on their way. When they arrive, they will also have DTS Plumbing and Heating ID. All of our engineers are DBS checked to give our customers peace of mind that those entering their house are safe and trustworthy.

9 – Do you offer free quotes?

Yes. However, we do not offer free call outs for boiler breakdowns or boiler diagnostics.

10. Will you need to turn my water off when you attend?

It depends on the job. For most boiler related appointments, we shouldn’t have to turn off the water at the mains. For plumbing appointments, we will try our best to isolate the water from each appliance. However, as a last resort we may need to turn the water off.

Thanks for reading,

The DTS Plumbing and Heating Team!

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Its here – the annual gas safety week. Gas Safety Week is a week long campaign that helps people to be more gas safe aware in their homes. The campaign runs from 16th to 22nd September and this years main focus will be vulnerable people. 

This blog contains our tips on how the vulnerable and their dependants can keep gas safe, as well as advice from the Gas Safe Register.

A Recent Study

According to a recent study by Gas Safe Register, 1 in 5 households have unsafe gas appliances! This may include appliances such as boilers, fires and gas cookers. This research involved over 2000 people who have elderly or disabled relatives or loved ones, that they see regularly to care for or check in on. The majority of these people said that the main reason for checking in on their loved ones was for their safety. Scarily, 92% of these people didn’t know what the crucial signs of an unsafe gas appliance was!

What to Look For

• Does yours or your loved ones cooker have a lazy yellow flame when lit? This is a sign that the cooker is not working as it should be and may pose a serious risk to those in its vicinity for a long period.
• More frequent amounts of condensation inside the windows is also a sign that a gas appliance may not be working as it should. This may mean that gases from the boiler flue are spilling back into the house, which can be extremely dangerous in a confined space.
• Make sure there is a carbon monoxide alarm in yours and your loved ones property. These relative inexpensive devices will sound if carbon monoxide is detected. This could potentially save lives, as carbon monoxide is a odourless gas that may not be picked up without one!

Our Tips

• Make sure you know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. There are 6 main symptoms, many of which can present themselves as a flu or a hangover. These are:
  • Headache, Nausea, Dizziness, Breathlessness, Collapse, Loss of Consciousness
• Make sure you have your boiler serviced every year and ensure your loved ones remember to put it in their diary. Many of us lead very busy lives and may forget, however a simple boiler service will pick up on gas leaks and put your mind at ease. 
• Always use a gas safe engineer. The engineers are put through training to ensure that their work is carried out safely. It is common for people without Gas Safe registration to attempt to work on gas appliances. If this should happen politely decline and call someone who can carry out the work safely and is certified to do so. Examples of this may include: 
  • Building work meaning that a boiler may have to be relocated. Make sure that the building company have a gas safe engineer with them to carry out this work.
  • Kitchen fitting meaning that a new gas hob or cooker have been installed. Always ask to see the accompanying gas fitters card, most gas engineers will be more than happy to show it off!

Thank you for reading our blog. I hope this has given you some insight into gas safety and the dangers of not being gas safe aware in the home!

Shannon

http://www.facebook.com/dtsplumbingandheating

At some stage or another, sadly, we’ve all been on the receiving end of poor customer service, whether that be being put on hold for what seems like hours, assistants chatting to each other whilst they’re serving or tradesmen not turning up.

To us, along with the quality of our workmanship, customer service is paramount and we like to think that we do it quite well, our reviews certainly reflect this.

The areas of customer service that are key for us are ……

Know your customers

Since we started up 5 years ago we have been lucky enough to have gained many loyal customers and feel that we have learned a great deal about their requirements and preferences.  We use a software system where we can make note of any special requests or information, to which all our staff have access and can act upon.  Having said that, there’s nothing l quite like the personal approach, anyone who has rung the office and spoken to Shannon will know she likes a chat; as do our engineers when they call, usually accompanied by a cuppa and a biscuit!

Timely responses

There’s nothing worse than calling a business, leaving a message then waiting days for them to ring you back.  We try and respond to all our messages on the same day, whether that be by phone, email or via a social media platform.

Proactive v Reactive

There will always be times where we have to be reactive, if you have a leak or if your boiler stops working, but we do try to be proactive wherever we can.  We will always remind you it’s time for your boiler service, appliance check or gas safety certificate, but when we do visit if we spot anything our engineer thinks may cause a problem further down the line, we would let you know in advance.

Communication

This is a key thing for us.  There are many ways in which you can get in touch with us; via our website, by email, phone or text message, we also use Instagram and Facebook messaging.  As well as our Facebook page, where we post hints, tips and information daily, we also have a group where members can ask plumbing and heating related questions to save having to call us out for easily solved problems, such as bleeding radiators or topping up boiler pressure.

Feedback

We welcome your comments and feedback and there are several ways in which you can do this.  Our engineers will leave you a Checkatrade and/or Which Trusted Traders form to complete, you can also review us online or on Google.

We hope that you agree that our customer service is one of the areas where we strive as a small business. Our Which customers definitely do, with 100% of them agreeing that they would recommend us!

Thanks for reading,

Paula

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Most people know, if your radiators are cold at the top and warm at the bottom they usually just need bleeding. A simple process where you turn the valve slowly and let any air out of the radiator so the water can get to the top. But what if you have a build up of magnetite in your system?

What does it mean if your radiator is hot at the top but warm at the bottom?

This could be a sign of magnetite building up in your radiators which could lead to costly problems, particularly if it reaches the inside of the boiler! Magnetite is sediment that collects in the heating system over time, which can potentially damage pipework, boiler and heating components and radiators.

Signs of Magnetite Build Up

Other signs of magnetite building up in the central heating system may be;

• Radiators not getting as hot as they used to
• Increased gas bills
• Boiler making kettle sounds
• Rust on your radiators
• Black inky substances coming out of the radiator when they are bled

Solutions

To solve this problem, there are a few solutions. Please note, all of these should be completed by a qualified professional. 

• Firstly, a magnetic filter can be added to your central heating system. This attracts the magnetic sediment and stops it from reaching your boiler. This is vital as if the boiler components are damaged, this is likely to be the most costly to repair!
• A central heating chemical flush can be completed. This is where chemicals are added to the central heating system to loosen any build up and are then flushed through all of the radiators and emptied out. If they are particularly bad, thick black sludge will come out!
• A magnetic flush can be completed. This is when two extra strength magnets are attached to the central heating system to extract of the magnetic sludge built up in the system. The picture below highlights what can often be taken from central heating system when completing a magnetic flush.

These are just some of the options that are available, for solutions tailored to your own heating system, feel free to give us a call and we will be happy to talk through it with you. 

What to do if you think you have a build up of magnetite in your system?

Here are a few tips if you think your system may be getting clogged up with black sludge!

• When you next book an appointment with a plumber, ask them to do a water test of your central heating water. The colour will show the water quality in the system.
• Book an appointment with a plumber for them to give you a quote to rectify any issues you may have. If the problem is caught early it easier to solve!
• Turn on the heating and turn off all of the radiators aside from the problem radiator. Check to see if this radiator gets hot. Slowly turn all of the other radiators back on. If the radiator stays hot, the issue was air and the problem is solved! If not, there may be a blockage in the system!

Thanks,

The DTS Plumbing Team

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