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Prepare Your Home for Autumn: Check Your Heating

31st July 2018

With cooler temperatures arriving, it’s time to make sure that your home is ready for autumn and one way to do this is to check your home’s heating system. You need to ensure that your home’s heating system is working and fully functional, which is why you may want to work with an expert to do a thorough check-up and any minor repairs that may be necessary.

As with other systems in the home, your furnace may accumulate quite some dust throughout the year. That’s why it may be necessary to vacuum your furnace’s filter system, motor and blower to ensure that it remains efficient.

You may even need to replace required filters or have a professional do it for you. It can be a great way to effectively remove any particles from your HVAC system’s filters with a vacuum attachment, or you can make use of a professional cleaning service to handle this.

Be sure to do a proper survey of your home’s heating system to ensure that there are no blockages and that the vents are not covered by any furniture or carpets. You should dust all the vents and make an appointment for an annual check-up.

Here are a few tips for preparing your heating system:

  • Check and clean condenser oils
  • Check the clearance around your outdoor unit
  • Identify potential hazards (noises, odours, level units, etc.)
  • Check for signs of electrical damage
  • Clean your furnace vents

It’s always best to have an expert inspect your heating system to ensure that everything works as it should, that there are no blockages, and that any minor repairs are being taken care of in time. This way you know that your home will be ready for autumn and the cold temperatures.

If you want to prepare for autumn, be sure to find a home heating expert in your area. Visit HaMuch to find a professional to check your home’s heating system.

Make Home Safe: Upgrading Locks

31st July 2018
door repairs

Everyone wants to feel safe in their own homes, which is why you should consider upgrading or changing your home locks for added security. As a home owner, you want to feel confident that your loved ones and your belongings are safe and secure, which is why so many people are considering installing additional home security measures.

When you think about locks for your home, you should not only think in terms of security but also the practicality of it. Home locks can also reduce your monthly insurance premium, which is an added benefit for any home owner.

Let’s take a quick look at the various types of locks you can have installed at your home:

Mortice Lock

These locks are generally available in two different sizes. To install these locks, your locksmith will measure the backset for your door to choose the right size lock. These mortice locks are considered to be among the best in the industry and often have double length deadbolts as well as built-in night latches for added security.

Euro Cylinder Lock

These locks are similar to mortice locks that also use cylinders; Euro cylinder locks are often used with PVC doors and they are available in different lengths. Manufacturers have begun adding an anti-snap feature to prevent criminals from snapping the lock with pressure.

Nightlatch

Nightlatches are recommended for doors with smaller backsets. These types of locks will usually be seen with a thumb turn attachment on the inside piece. It is slightly more vulnerable since it can be opened if you have a glass window in the front door. That’s why they are often used in conjunction with a mortice lock.

Apart from installing secure home locks throughout your home, you should also consider other safety measures to ensure you maximise your home security. Make sure you close all your doors and windows before you leave, including ones at the back and upstairs rooms.

There are different types of home locks available and finding the right one will generally depend on the type of door you have as well as the spacing between the edge of your door and the centre of the hole where your lock will be fitted.

A professional locksmith can help you to choose the best locks for your home as well as have them installed professionally and properly. It’s a great way to increase your home’s security and to give you the peace of mind you need in terms of security.

If you are looking to upgrade your home locks, visit HaMuch to find a reliable and qualified security installer in your area and make your home a safer place.

Summer Home Improvement: Create an Open Plan Space

3rd July 2018
wood effect tiles

Creating open plan spaces inside your home is a very popular improvement to make, and it definitely adds value to your home. Whether it’s an open plan ground floor, or a stylish open plan loft conversion, enjoying open spaces is practical, convenient and definitely stylish.

Designing an Open Plan Layout

One of the first steps in creating an open plan ground floor is to design your layout, you can do it yourself or even better hire an architech or interior designer to get professional support. If your open plan space will contain the kitchen or bathroom, for example, you have to keep things in mind such as positioning them close to an external wall for the convenience of expelling waste. From there, you can simply use a little bit of imagination and visualization to design the perfect open plan space for your house.

Don’t forget to allow for things such as opening doors, drawers, or having enough space to move around tables or chairs. Here are a few tips for planning open room:

  • Think about the view you want to have. What would you like to see when you sit on the chair? Perhaps you want to have a view of your outside garden, or you want to see the living room. Keep this in mind when you start planning your open space.

  • Make sure that you have enough circulation space in the room. You need to be able to move around freely, as this is one of the reasons why you want an open plan space.

  • Keep away from the noise. Consider the location of this space in your house, as you preferably wanted to be free of noise. For example, if you want peace and quiet you should not plan your open space right next to your kitchen.

  • Creating a loft area. If you are considering building an open plan loft conversion, determine whether you will have enough space to fit everything you need in there comfortably.

  • Include stairs. You may even want to consider an open plan living room with stairs, creating a large open plan living area on the ground floor of your house. Again, here you should make sure that you have enough space available for this.

Other important aspects you should consider when planning your open space, is the type of floors you want to use, as this will have an impact on the design, the practicality, as well as the climate inside your house. You may want to choose the same floors to suit the rest of your house design, or you can be creative and create a unique open space with a distinct design.

Regardless of the type of open plan space you want to build your home, you should always work with a professional tradesman and interior designer to help design your space professionally and ensure that you use all the right materials. An open plan living area can be a great addition to your home and will definitely add value to your property, and with Hamuch this can become a reality, just check the hourly and daily rates and contact the ones that are local to you and you like most

 

Summer Home Improvement: Built-in BBQ for Your Garden

2nd July 2018

If you enjoy a good barbecue you’ll definitely benefit from installing a built-in bbq in your backyard. Not only is this a great way to add value to your home, but also to make it functional and very enjoyable to use. But you can take it one step further and install a kitchen in your backyard and you won’t need to split our time between your outdoor grill and indoor kitchen anymore, making an outdoor kitchen a great benefit to have.

An outdoor living space expands your home and allows you to cook and clean outdoors, making it ideal to entertain friends and family. You can install an outdoor kitchen island in your backyard and extend its functionality to allow you to prepare your favourite meal.

Installing an Outdoor Kitchen

When you want to install an outdoor built-in bbq kitchen, always start from the ground up. Your builder will  determine what type of foundation you need, and he will take into consideration the different weather conditions throughout the year. Next, you can choose with his help the best location for your outdoor kitchen. This will depend on many factors, such as ensuring the draft doesn’t go back into the home and making sure that the bbq area isn’t too far from the home if you entertain regularly.

Choose your appliances correctly, especially if you have limited space to work with. Make sure it will fit into your design plan and this includes aspects like working table height and the available space on either side of the grill.

Finally, you can easily bring comfort and safety outside with the right combination of designs, appliances, available space and functionality.  You can even add a fire pit or a fireplace to warm up the area outside, making it perfect for colder winter months.

Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen Area

 

As a homeowner, you can benefit from installing an outdoor kitchen as this will allow you to enjoy your outdoor area even more. It’s ideal for people who love to entertain and can even be turned into an area of relaxation and ambience.

Here are a few great benefits to building an outdoor kitchen:

  • Convenience. Having a grill and kitchen outside means you don’t have to spend time indoors when preparing a meal.

  • Versatility. Outdoor kitchens are specifically designed with your backyard in mind. It adds versatility to your outdoor space and adds value to your home.

  • Easy to clean. Spending time outdoors and preparing food in your outdoor bbq kitchen is much easier to maintain and clean than spending time indoors.

  • Adds value to your property. Having a fully functional built-in bbq at home will increase your home’s appeal and its overall value.

These are just a few of the great benefits; an outdoor kitchen is a great way to truly enjoy your home in more than one way. Outdoor kitchens come in a wide variety of styles and this means you can easily find one that suits your needs or even design one yourself. Hire an experienced builder near you to have your built-in bbq or outdoor kitchen built properly with the convenience and pricing transparency of Hamuch.

 

Summer Home Improvement: Air Con Installation

29th June 2018
air con installation interior

Installing an air conditioning system in your home is not only a great way to keep the entire home comfortably cool, but it is also a great way to protect your home. Heat and humidity can easily lead to swelling in wood furniture and flooring, and also cause other health hazards such as moulding. During the summer, damp and mould can easily spread throughout your basement, making a brand-new residential air conditioning system essential.

The best air conditioning system is one that can effortlessly handle the heat load of your home efficiently, at the lowest cost. However, a substandard air conditioning installation can cost you more in the long run, which is why you should work with a reputable air conditioning installer to ensure that you get the best system as well as quality workmanship.

Choosing the Right Air Conditioning System for Your Home

When it comes to finding the perfect home air conditioner, you need to consult a reliable installer to assess your home and recommend the right system for your specific environment. They can tell you about all the different types of cooling options available to your home as well as what will work perfectly with your home’s unique heating system. Experts can then recommend or design an ac installation that will work perfectly in your home to keep you cool and comfortable throughout the year.

Buying an air conditioning system can be a complicated process, which is why you need to know exactly what system you are looking for. There are a few aspects to consider before you choose the right system, as a system that is either too big or too small for your home won’t have the desired effect.

Measuring the size of the system you’ll need

One of the most important aspects is to accurately measure the space that needs to be cooled. If you have a very large house with multiple rooms, you may need more than one new air conditioner to effectively cool every room.

If your unit is too large for your home, it will turn on very quickly and to rapidly cool the room, before it then shuts off. This process will happen very fast and the process will have to be restarted frequently as heat will easily come into the house again. This is not energy efficient so it’s important not to choose a system that is too big for your home as you want to keep your air conditioner installation cost to a minimum.

Different Types of Air Con Systems for Your Home

There are different types of air conditioning systems available for your home, including ducted systems, central air conditioner, a ductless air conditioner and even a portable unit. These are some of the most popular systems and the one you choose will depend on your environment and your specific requirements.

Split air conditioning system is ideal if you want to go just a single room. Similarly, portable units are very easy to move around and they are mobile so you can put them anywhere you need it. Ducted or central systems are very energy efficient and they can consistently maintain a cool temperature throughout your house. They are also very silent in operation.

When it comes to finding the perfect it conditioning system for your home, always work with a reliable installer to help you find the best residential air conditioning system for your home. Hamuch offers pricing upfront to avoid nasty surprises

 

Getting a Smart Thermostat

27th March 2018
Danfoss Smart Thermostat

Purchasing a smart thermostat will help you set the right temperature throughout the day and in accordance to your daily schedules, making your life a whole lot easier; not to mention, smart thermostats save you heaps of time and money.

What is a Smart Thermostat?

If you haven’t heard about a smart thermostat, it’s basically a thermostat with advanced communication and connection features which allows you to set up automatic temperature settings based on your daily needs and individual schedules. Certain thermostats with Wi-Fi connectivity have advanced functions that can be made great use of.

Programmable or Non-programmable Thermostats

Smart thermostats can either be programmable or non-programmable. Programmable Thermostats can help you to set your house temperature automatically based on preset timings. This will help to conserve energy since the device will ensure minimizing the temperature while you are out of home and maximize the temperature while you are home. Non-programmable thermostats on the other hand require the homeowner to put it in the heat or cool mode manually.

Digital Thermostat are the new line of thermostats in the market that do not contain moving parts to measure the temperature. There are built in thermistors and resistance temperature detectors to measure the temperature. The overall built up of digital thermostats is different to old thermostats that require constant setting.

Different Types of Thermostats

The following is a list of several types of thermostats that you can consider purchasing based on your specific requirements:

Nest Thermostat – under non-programmable thermostats, this is considered the best smart wi-fi thermostat presently available in the market. This one is considered extremely intelligent and helps to save energy.

Honeywell Thermostat or Honeywell Wireless Thermostat – this smart wi-fi thermostat is similar to the nest thermostat but is available at cheaper prices. You can purchase the honeywell thermostat in different colours as well. When it comes to non-programmable thermostats, this thermostat is in highest demand as it is easy to set and has a smart look to it. The features of a simultaneous display of set temperature and current temperature, slide switches which make switching from heat to cool or vice versa easy and overall ease of usage make it a favourite among home owners.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat- this thermostat has the features of Nest Thermostat or Honeywell, except it is available in cheaper rates.

Central Heating Thermostat – these thermostats work to keep the house heated. There are a variety of central heating thermostats available in the market.

Warmup Thermostat – this thermostat, similar to central heating thermostats works to keep the house warm.

Smart Heating Controls – smart heating controls include connecting with your phone to make note of its location in order to control your heating. Basically, depending on how far or how close you are from home helps the app determine which temperature to keep your house in for your comfort. Certain apps need to be downloaded in order to keep your phone connected with the thermostat. Over 30% of energy can be saved using some of the smart heating controls.

If you haven’t purchased a smart thermostat yet, it’s time to consider switching to one to make your lives more comfortable. After all, the right home temperature can either ruin your day or make it complete. Last but not the least, keep all your heating systems running smooth by providing regular servicing. Find the best heating engineers near you ASAP with hamuch.com for quick and easy setup and installation of your thermostat and stay free of all the troubles and worries!

Considering Underfloor Heating

27th March 2018

Underfloor heating is the ultimate heating solution. Thousands of homeowners and customers all over the country are choosing to opt for underfloor heating these days due to its economical benefits in addition to the ambient temperature setting for the room. Once upon a time central heating was considered a huge luxury for homes. A misconception today, underfloor heating is looked at as a form of luxurious heat, except that underfloor heating cost is actually one that lowers the heating bills. Setup and installation is now easier than ever. Go to hamuch.com and find heating engineers close to you. Along with their expertise, obtain better prices (they’re all about wholesale deals!) and enjoy the added benefit of longer insurance too.

Things to Consider for Underfloor Heating

  1. Purchasing Underfloor Heating- In order to purchase underfloor heating components, you can head over to underfloor heating stores that should be available nearby. Try looking up the closest underfloor heating store near you or simply visit Hamuch.com to buy and install your preferred system and avoid all the hassle with ease!
  2. Underfloor Heating Cost– Underfloor heating is a great way to save you money in the long term. If you plan to use underfloor heating as your main source of heat, make sure to use it efficiently by ensuring good insulation. Initially, your savings may not seem much but over time, the savings do add up. The cost of the product itself and installation costs will be paid back within a short time and add to your savings. You will also be saving huge amounts of energy in comparison to normal heaters.
  3. Type of underfloor heating- electric underfloor heating and water underfloor heating.
    1. Electric or dry underfloor heating– this method involves electric heating mats that run on electricity and are placed underneath the top layer of the floor. Even though these can be less of a difficulty in installing and can be fit in cheaply, the ultimate costs to run them can be quite high, unless your source of electricity is solar panels.
    2. Wet or water underfloor heating– this form of underfloor heating is widely seen in recently built properties. Even though water underfloor heating may take a little more effort to fit in compared to electric underfloor heating, it is very compatible with modern day boilers and cheaper than electric underfloor heating in the long run.
  4. Installation- Many of us install electric and water heating systems ourselves seeing DIY videos online or simply reading the user manual. This is not only incredibly dangerous but also potentially hazardous to the system itself.  By law, there are certain parts of the fitting that need to be done by Gas Safe plumbers or certified and qualified electricians. Call in a professional if you are not too comfortable setting up things around the house. You definitely don’t want to try unknown settings with your boiler.
  5. Post Installation- After you have setup your underfloor heating, make note that there are underfloor heating thermostats available that allow you to set the floor heating temperatures automatically. Polypipe & Danfoss underfloor heating falls right under smart thermostats that are available in the market for customers who opt for smart thermostat heating.

Once you switch to underfloor heating, you may end up liking the new heating system more than your old one. For quick, regular servicing needs you can also visit hamuch.com to help you find the best specialist for your heating systems with full on transparency rates! Stay warm, stay happy, stay safe.

First time buyers: Top Five Tips to Avoid Homeowner Hassles

27th March 2018
Gas

Buying your first house can be a stressful experience. Once all of the legal dealings are out of the way, and you’ve popped the cork on your ‘welcome to your new home’ bottle of champagne, the reality sets in – everything from the bricks and mortar to the knives and forks are now your responsibility.
We at HaMuch have put together our top five tips to help make your first home run like a dream.

1. Find the essentials

When you first move in, it can be tempting to focus on where the TV will go and what colour the spare bedroom will be, first make sure you find the essentials. Locate your gas and electricity meters, the fuse box, and the stopcock on day one. Once all your boxes are unloaded from the moving van, you should take readings from your meters, as your suppliers will need this information, and it will avoid you getting over charged.
If you can find your fuse box in the dark and can access (and shut off) your stopcock valve quickly, you will be covered for most major emergencies. When you need the services of an electrician or a plumber, they will ask you where these are, so it’s handy to tell them straight away.

A fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper can help to make it your own

2. Put your own stamp on it

One of the best things about owning your own home is that you can decorate it the way you like. A fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper can help to make it your own. If you’re not keen to get out the pasting table or paint brushes, it’s worth finding a good local decorator who can work their magic on your walls and get the look you want.
If you peel back the paper to reveal a cracked or problematic wall, a good plasterer should be able to skim it for you, making it the perfect surface to paint. You can then hang your mirrors, pictures and shelves to your heart’s content.

Find trusted certified tradespeople in your area

3. Make friends with tradespeople

You’ve committed a lot of money to your new home, so it’s easy to become nervous when jobs too complicated for DIY need doing. Find trusted, certified tradespeople in your area, so you won’t need to worry next time your boiler needs servicing or you need a new plug socket.
Make sure your electrician is regulated to meet UK safety standards, your plumber is WIAPS approved and your gas engineer is on the Gas Safe Register. You can check all of this information from HaMuch when finding a tradesperson.

Double-glazing will also save your money long term on your heating bills

4. Check your security

When you first move in, it is worth making sure you’re happy that the doors and windows are secure. Consider changing the locks if the house is not a new build, or replacing the windows if they’re not double-glazed. This will make your home feel safer and give you peace of mind. Double-glazing will also save you money long term on your heating bills.
You may also choose to invest in a burglar alarm or security lights to help keep your home safe when you’re away. Make sure you choose a reputable company to fit these to make sure you get a reliable service.

A good local gardener on the case will help you fool the neighbour into thinking you're Monty Don with minimum effort

5. Consider the extras

If your house or garden is large, or if you’re working full time, think about hiring a cleaner or a gardener to help keep your house looking its best. It can lift your spirits considerably to come home to a spotless house, and having a cleaner to look after this for you can take a load off your mind.
Gardens can start to look drab without regular TLC, and if you’re not green-fingered, this can start to feel like a chore. Getting a good local gardener on the case will help you fool the neighbours into thinking you’re Monty Don with minimum effort.

HaMuch has more than 11,000 trusted local tradespeople who can help with every homeowner hassle.