Robbers broke into the school through the roof before stealing the valuable metal. This caused the boiler to break, flooding the building. A spokeswoman from Glasgow City Council said staff members found the school damaged when they arrived for work Monday morning.
The local authority has closed the school for two days at least as the electrics and ceilings are checked for damage. The spokeswoman added, “These people don’t realise the damage they cause. It is the children and school staff who are affected.”
Due to the high value of copper, metal thefts at schools are, sadly, not uncommon. Only earlier this month, thieves made off with 40 metres of copper piping during a late night theft from an Airdrie secondary school.
Last November, after an estimated £177,000 of damage alone in Edinburgh to schools and churches, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on how to tackle the growing problem. Strathclyde Police are also looking into the Chirnsyde Primary incident.
]]>Alex Neil, Cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment, has confirmed £500,000 has been made available for the initiative, which aims to help households update old equipment to more energy efficient, modern alternatives.
Mr Neil claimed the programme was a key part of the Scottish government’s strategy for cutting domestic carbon emissions and eradicating fuel poverty.
He was quoted as saying, “Almost 12,000 households have applied for vouchers under the scheme since June 2011 and each household could make savings of up to £300 per year on their fuel bills.”
“The scheme is operating on a first-come, first-served basis, so any individuals thinking of replacing their old heating oil-fired boiler should contact the Home Energy Scotland Helpline as soon as possible to make an application,” Mr Neil finished.
Only last month Consumer Focus were warning that the government’s Warm Front scheme, which can also offer householders help upgrading their central heating systems, is facing a £30 million underspend this winter.
Find out about Boiler Cover & Insurance – All you need to know!
]]>The condensate pipe is a plastic pipe (black, white or grey), coming from the bottom of the boiler. If this pipe is less than 32mm in diameter and runs outside of the property or through a non-heated area then it should be fully insulated with waterproof lagging.
Only attempt to thaw a condense pipe that is at ground level and which is easily accessible to you. Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to thaw a condense pipe which is at height, without the assistance of a professionally trained engineer.
A hot water bottle or heat wrap (like the ones that can be used to ease muscle discomfort) would be a suitable and safe way of thawing the condense pipe. Hold the hot water bottle or warmed heat wrap around the condensate pipe to thaw it.
Once thawed, insulate the pipe with waterproof lagging. If it is not at ground level contact the installer to implement a permanent solution to prevent the condense freezing.
]]>In the last five years in England and Wales, since April 2007, the number of households that have this type of boiler has increased significantly, as it became a legal requirement that all gas boilers must be condensing.
The freezing of pipes is stopping the waste liquid, condensate, from draining away, leading to a “backing up” of the liquid, which will cause the boiler to fail and cut out. National property claims manager at Direct Line home insurance, Martin Egan, said, “With the Arctic weather hitting the UK, we are predicting an increase in boiler failures due to condensing drain away pipes freezing.”
He continued, “The problem can be resolved by effective insulation of the pipe, which homeowners can do themselves and save having to call an engineer out. If the plastic pipe from the boiler is in an outside area and is not insulated, it is likely to be frozen and, if isn’t already, it is likely to as the cold weather persists.”
]]>Prosecutor Jill Derby told the court how, “The home-owner found broken windows and the kitchen door lock damaged. A boiler, washing machine, cooker and cooker hood had been stolen.” Forensics officers also found pliers on the scene and DNA on the tool matching Deakin’s.
Defending Mr Deakin, Rory Macmillan said, “Blood found on broken glass got there because the defendant was interested in renting the property and had looked through the window, cutting his neck. On a seperate occasion, Deakin saw two men he knew standing outside the property.”
On this occasion MacMillan added, “They told him they had broken in and were going to steal a combi-boiler but they couldn’t get it off the wall. He stupidly agreed to enter with the young males and help them to remove the boiler. Then he left them to it.”
Deakin also admitted breaching a conditional discharge by stealing copper wiring belonging to BT and he further pleaded guilty to stealing Paco Rabanne aftershave worth £37 from Boots in Grantham on December 23.
As a result, magistrates have handed Deakin a 12-month community order including ‘Thinking Skills’ programme. He has also been ordered to pay £500 compensation to the homeowner and £170 costs.
]]>Boiler cover is a type of insurance designed to avoid expensive repair bills, whilst offering householders 24/7 emergency assistance if their gas boiler breaks down.
How much does it cost?
That depends on the offer. An example would be the basic emergency boiler cover from the AA costing £16.48 a month. It covers 4 boiler breakdowns a year (plus unlimited cover for labour, parts and material), up to £250 towards the cost of a new boiler and an annual service. Extras can be added, such as central heating and electrics cover.
Is it covered under my home insurance?
Boiler repairs can form part of a home insurance policy but usually as an “extra”. Esure’s home emergency cover costs £53.99 a year, as a bolt-on to either buildings or contents insurance. It’s wise to check your policy before buying, just to ensure you don’t double up.
Do I need boiler cover if I am renting?
No, your landlord or lettings agent are responsible. It is just worth checking what kind of cover is in place and requesting the emergency phone number should you need it at any time.
What are the pitfalls if any?
Don’t be persuaded to buy any cover you don’t need. In October 2011 HomeServe was forced to suspend sales following allegations of mis-sold policies, such as those to council tenants who are not responsible for the maintenance.
]]>Mr Bentley also admitted that employees have “a tough gig”, adding, “We are facing a crisis of trust.” In the email, which was meant to boost morale, Mr Bentley said he was “relieved” that he did not have a swimming pool at his £1.8 million Twickenham home after the chief executive of E.ON was criticised for installing one at his £2.5 million property.
“All our call centres are under extreme pressure from angry customers struggling to pay their bills, and the vicious spiral of call-waiting times that have shot up in services and energy, is causing even more customer anger.”
After attacking the media for “running a campaign against the energy companies”, Mr Bentley admitted that British Gas must take action over the deals the company offers. “We’ve got to start doing things differently so that customers, and our colleagues, can see a marked difference,” he added.
Mr Bentley finished, “We have a number of initiatives planned over the forthcoming months; better deals, simpler tariffs, bills that are easier to understand and more transparency, all of which are designed to rebuild that customer trust.”
]]>A legal battle ensued following a series of problems and the firm eventually agreed to pay the three brothers £5,000 to have a new boiler installed. Ryan is convinced other residents in the development have suffered from the same problems and has had more than 20 e-mails to back this up.
The brothers were also paying bills of around £800 a quarter to heat their newly built home, as the faulty system struggled to keep the modern house heated and broke down on numerous occasions. Problems also continued after Crest Nicholson first agreed to replace the boiler.
The Mills brothers took Crest Nicholson to the small claims court and were initially offered an out of court settlement of £2000 on the condition they did not speak to anyone about the case. This action however convinced them to take the case to court where they were eventually awarded £5000.
A spokesperson for Crest Nicholson said, “The case of Mr Mills is a one-off situation, which does not apply to any other properties at Port Marine, Harbourside or any other Crest Nicholson development.
]]>In 2010, as flurries of November snow meant an early Christmas for thousands of children up and down the country, npower received 62 per cent more calls from homeowners caught short and in need of boiler repairs. This figure rose by a further 71 per cent as sub-zero temperatures plummeted as low as minus ten degrees in the subsequent weeks.
It is thought that the increase was most likely due to problems with condensing boilers, which became the standard UK boiler system in 2005. Although condensing boilers are generally 10-20 per cent more energy efficient than non-condensing boilers, the systems are prone to freezing up in winter as their pipes typically run outside of the house, leaving them exposed to the elements.
December 2010 temperatures broke 100 year records, so as forecasters predict sharp frosts and heavy snowfall, npower is encouraging homeowners to complete some quick and easy checks to help prevent a boiler breakdown so they can enjoy the festive weather.
These checkes include; insulating, re-routing, replacing or thawing the condensate pipe, keeping your heating on constant and keeping your boiler maintained. Just by following these simple tips, homeowners can stop worrying about their heating system and get outside and enjoy the snow (when it comes!)
]]>Although newer central heating systems are extremely efficient and are not susceptible to faults, that doesn’t mean they are invulnerable. Three of the more common problems are listed below. If it becomes apparent the problem is unfixable, call a central heating engineer immediately.
The first, and most common, complaint is that central heating systems won’t turn on. The most likely cause is the pilot light has stopped working. In this instance, you need to check the instructions and relight it.
If you have a leaking pipe, you need to address it immediately. The most likely pipe to be leaking is the overflow pipe – which goes through the wall or roof allowing water to escape when the tank gets full.
Cool radiator issues could have numerous origins. If the rest of your central heating system is working, make sure the thermostatic valve is fitted and open enough for water to pass into the radiator.
Find out more about free no obligation boiler engineer quotes now.
]]>