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Gas safe food bank donation

March 8, 2023 in Company News

Gas Safe Engineers Donate Food to Local Charity Refresh

At Gas Safe, we believe in giving back to the community and the team is proud to have come together to make a donation to a local food bank.

Refresh is dedicated to helping people in need, providing a range of services, including a food bank, free meals for the homeless, and a community cafe.

To support Refresh’s mission, our engineers donated food to their food bank, ensuring that those in need have access to essential supplies. The charity provides a vital service to those who need it most and relies on the support of the community to do this.

About Refresh

Refresh is a local charity based in East St., South Bristol that strives to bring spiritual and social transformation to the area and to positively impact the lives of the people of Bedminster and South Bristol. They offer a variety of different support strategies, including a community cafe, food bank, and free meals for the homeless.

Their community cafe provides a catering service in the heart of Bedminster with delicious menus at great prices. The cafe also houses the Refresh food bank, which is open every Wednesday from 10am-1pm and offers food and toiletry items to those in need. In addition, the food bank also provides shower facilities for those who require them.

If you would like to support them, Refresh accepts food donations of any tinned foods, pasta sauces, cereals, jams, teabags, coffee, sugar, milk, juice, toilet paper, and toiletries. These items can be dropped off at Refresh cafe, located at 81 East St., Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EX.

The charity also offers free meals for the homeless every week, with everyone welcome to come and enjoy a hot meal at the community cafe. Additionally, they provide discounted meals for those on low incomes for just £1.50.

Your Local Plumbing and Heating Engineers

At Gas Safe, we have always been passionate about supporting charitable causes. Our team has raised thousands of pounds over the years through various activities, including team days and sporting challenges.

If you’re looking for a trusted and reliable company, why not choose one that’s local? At Gas Safe, we are dedicated to providing high-quality service to our customers while giving back to the community.

To find out more about our services, give one of our friendly team members a call today on 0117 964 0078 or fill out a contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

February 22, 2023 in Hints & Tips, New Boiler

Boiler Buying Guide – What Type of Boiler is Best?

Are you in the market for a new boiler?

If so, you may be wondering what type of boiler is best. This can be a difficult question to answer since there are many different types of boilers on the market, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the different types of boilers and their key features, so you can choose the right one for your home whilst also ensuring you get the best possible price.

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Energy rating sticker for boiler

February 1, 2023 in Combi Boiler, Hints & Tips, New Boiler

Boiler Efficiency Ratings Explained

Do you know what boiler efficiency ratings are and how they’re calculated? Boiler efficiency ratings are an important part of making sure your heating system is running safely, efficiently and cost-effectively.

Typically, heating and hot water account for over half of what you spend each year on energy bills, so an inefficient boiler will increase both your carbon footprint and your energy bills.

It’s important to understand the different levels of efficiency available as well as how they are calculated in order to make informed decisions when purchasing a new boiler or carrying out energy efficiency upgrades.

In our latest blog post, we explain the energy efficiency ratings of boilers and what they mean, as well as the government schemes in place to make boilers more efficient and how much money a new boiler could save you.

What Does Boiler Energy Efficiency Mean?

Boiler efficiency rating is measured by calculating the amount of energy that is used to heat water and keep your home warm in comparison to the amount that is lost or wasted. For example, a boiler that is 75% efficient means that 25% of the energy is lost.

In the UK, boiler efficiency is measured through an ErP rating, this measure replaced the old rating method known as SEDBUK (Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK) in 2015 though many manufacturers still provide the SEDBUK efficiency rating in their product information.

ErP stands for Energy Related Products and is a directive legislated by the European Union. Using ErP, boilers are given a rating on an A scale, ranging from A-G. The higher the letter grade, the more efficient the boiler is considered to be. Whilst higher ratings such as A++ are available, these can only be achieved using renewable technologies.

Front panel of vaillant boiler

How Efficient Should My Boiler Be?

In 2018, the Government announced the Boiler Plus standards which state that the new minimum performance standard for domestic gas boilers in homes will be set at 92% ErP. However, this doesn’t apply to boilers in existing properties.

Ideally, your boiler should be A rated. As well as being more reliable and adding value to your home, the key benefit of a more efficient boiler is the lower running costs, this is because modern boilers are condensing and so recover more heat from the exhaust flue.

If you currently have the lowest rated boiler (G), upgrading to an A rated boiler can save you as much as £840 per year when used with programmable room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs); easily covering the cost of a new boiler in just a few years.

For more information, take a look at our blog post on how upgrading your boiler can save you £100s on your energy bills.

What Rating is My Boiler?

If you’re wondering how efficient your current boiler is, you should check for a sticker on the boiler which will show the efficiency rating. If you can’t find the sticker, we recommend searching online for the model and make of your unit where the efficiency rating should be available.

Without the sticker or model number, finding the rating on your own can be difficult. We recommend calling a gas safe registered engineer to come and check your boiler who will be able to find the make and model to determine how efficient the unit is.

If you find your boiler is not A-rated, we would highly recommend getting a quote on a new boiler to see how much you could save in the long term by upgrading. A boiler installation is typically not a messy job and can be completed in as little as 1 day if it’s just the unit being upgraded.

If you are living in a rental property, the landlord may be able to provide you with the boiler’s energy efficiency information from previous servicing. However, it’s important to note that as long as the boiler is working safely and being serviced, they do not have any legal obligation to upgrade your boiler but it may save them money over time on repairs.

Get a Free Quote On An A-Rated Boiler

At Gas Safe, we’ve helped to upgrade 100s of boilers in the South West and beyond, saving households on their energy bills.

A boiler can be a significant investment which is why we offer 0% boiler finance options which allow you to pay a fixed monthly fee with no deposit required.

To find out more about upgrading your boiler with Gas Safe, give us a call today on 0117 964 0078, fill out a contact form below or get a free instant boiler quote here.

December 15, 2022 in Hints & Tips, New Boiler

Save £100s This Winter with a New Boiler

With winter upon us, many households across the UK will now be regularly using their central heating to keep warm. But with energy prices still soaring, homeowners will be looking for ways they can save on their heating costs.

There are many ways to keep warm in winter without increasing energy usage including wrapping up warm, upgrading windows and installing equipment such as programmable room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves.

However, what many do not know is that their old boiler could be costing them hundreds in inefficiencies and a greater risk of breakdown, being the single biggest contributor to their energy costs.

In our latest blog post, we explain how upgrading your inefficient boiler to a new A-rated model could save you up to £840 on your annual energy bill.

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Adhelms FC Girls Team Sponsorship

November 17, 2022 in Company News

Gas Safe Continues Sponsorship of St Aldhelm’s FC

At Gas Safe, one of our core values is giving back. We love making a positive difference in the local community which is why our team has raised £1,000s over the years for charitable activities; including a 400km bike ride from Bristol to France!

Football is a significant part of our heritage in the UK and with the Lionesses storming to victory in the Women’s Euros 2022, young women in the UK and around the world have been inspired to pick up the sport.

That’s why we are proud to continue our sponsorship of the St Aldhelm’s FC U13 girl’s squad. The 15 strong squad is off to a flying start to their 22/23 campaign in the Bristol’s Girls League with a whopping 8-1 victory in their most recent fixture.

The new kits arrived recently and are looking great – take a look for yourself!

Your Local Plumbing and Heating Engineers

As a family owned and managed business, we are proud of our growth in Bristol and the South West. Over the past 15 year, our experienced team of 35 accredited engineers have installed over 3,000 gas boilers!

If you are looking for a trusted and reliable company, why not choose one that’s local? We offer a range of services from new boiler installations through to new bathrooms.

To find out more, give one of our friendly team a call today on 0117 964 0078 or fill out a contact form and we will get back to you.

Boiler Thermostat being turned up for winter

October 26, 2022 in Hints & Tips, New Boiler

Ensure Your Boiler Is Ready for Winter

As winter approaches and the temperature begins to drop, many homeowners across the UK will be considering switching their boilers back on, perhaps for the first time since last winter.

At a time when energy bills have increased significantly along with the overall cost of living, the last thing homeowners need is a problem with their boiler just as the colder months begin, potentially leaving them without heating and hot water.

Carrying out a few checks before winter can help ensure that your boiler works as expected, reduces the risk of an unexpected breakdown and ensures you have time to repair or replace the boiler if required.

Our latest blog post takes you through our recommended checks to carry out on your boiler before you begin to use it regularly again.

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February 11, 2020 in Company News

Gas Safe Apprentice Nominated for Apprentice of the Year

At Gas Safe, we strongly believe in the importance of training up the next generation of plumbing and heating engineers, that’s why we commit to taking on apprentices; supporting them with learning and development through their training and offering them a job once qualified.

We were delighted when one of our apprentices, Max Tucker was nominated for the On Site Bristol apprentice of the year award, an annual event recognising apprentices in Bristol working as tradesmen.

Find out more about the evening, the award and On Site Bristol in our blog post.

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December 16, 2019 in Hints & Tips

Tips for Keeping Warm This Winter Without Increasing Energy Bills

As soon as the temperatures start to drop, your first thought might be to turn the central heating on or turn it up a few degrees.

All too often, that precious heat is wasted due to inefficiencies around the home meaning that you’re faced with an eye watering heating bill at the end of month.

To help you this winter, we’ve pulled together our top tips to keep your home warm throughout the chilly season, without increasing your energy bills, ranging from practical tips to home efficiency renovations.

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October 10, 2019 in Company News

Gas Safe 400km Cycle Challenge Helps Raise Over £34,000 for Charity

On 19th September 2019, Richard and Adam of Gas Safe Bristol joined a team of 20 riders embarking on a 400km bike ride between two of Europe’s most iconic landmarks – the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and the Eiffel Tower in France.

4 days of battling with unpredictable weather, punctures, saddle rash and angry wasps sure took its toll, but was worth the pain with the two Gas Safe riders raising £2,000+ towards a huge £34,000+ total donation to a charity close to their hearts.

Find out more about the ride, the route and the very deserving cause the money went to.

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