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No matter how much you paid for your plumbing system, the pipes are the lifeblood that keeps it running. Therefore, if your pipes are not functioning properly, your system will not provide your home with optimal functionality. Rather than waiting until a disaster requires that you take action, the following is a short list of signs that it is time to replace your old pipes.   Water Quality Image via Flickr by Muhammad Ali One of the top ways to know it’s time to replace your pipes is by the fact that you have poor...

HVAC systems can often be one of the most neglected elements of a home or office, even though they are a vital component to most buildings. Most people do not fully understand how to maintain an HVAC unit, which can cause careless mistakes in maintaining their functionality. Nevertheless, a well maintained HVAC is imperative not only to the health of everyone who lives in or enters the building, but also to the longevity of your system. The following is an overview of four signs that your HVAC system is in need of maintenance. Increase...

There is no denying that the UK population is growing at an alarming rate. The upper dependents, or those of state pension age (65+) constituted for 18.2 per cent of the population in mid-2017, a rise by more than two per cent from only a decade before. The baby boomer generation — those born between 1945 and 1964 — are nearing, or have already reached, retirement age. Furthermore, thanks to technologic developments within the health care system, baby boys born between 2015 and to 2017 are predicted to live to 79, while females are...

Traidcraft is tackling the shopping frenzy of Black Friday by joining the ongoing climate change event instead of the shopping craze. The Gateshead-based company will be spreading the call for shoppers to become more carbon conscious instead of discount detecting, with a series of events on Friday 29th November. The fair trade, organic and vegan food and drinks retailer will be running a refreshment station at Newcastle Cathedral, as well as handing out jute bags of toiletries to the local homeless. Traidcraft will also be addressing...

The UK is well known for its moderate temperatures and mild, if slightly cold weather. However, after two extreme heatwaves during 2018 and 2018, as well as the Beast from the East storm in 2018, the weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Scientists predict that 2019 will be the coldest winter in decades, with temperatures falling to dangerously low levels. It is becoming increasingly hard to ignore the realities of climate change – and it’s not just cold weather that we can expect. Snow, heatwaves, and flash flooding...

Although this can be one of the most neglected areas of the house, having a well-maintained HVAC system can prove to be invaluable to the well being of your home as well as everyone who resides there. However, given that many people are misinformed about how HVAC systems work and how often they need to be serviced, many make the mistake of waiting until it’s too late to call a service repairman. The following is a list of five reasons why you should always have regular maintenance done on your HVAC system.   Less Costly...

Chefs have a duty of care to ensure no cross-contact or cross-contamination occurs when serving food to customers. Failure to do so can lead to illness and, in extreme cases, death. In this article, we will be exploring the issues of cross-contact and cross-contamination, as well as looking at methods of risk-reduction concerning both. Cross-contamination – what are the risks involved? To point out the obvious, customers’ health can be in danger if cross-contamination takes place. It occurs when bacteria or other potentially...

Following a roaring success on Dragon’s Den and an investment from Jenny Campbell, ParkingPerx has gone from strength to strength. Founder Chris Reed has pushed for more investment, further high-quality partnerships, the creation of new jobs, and substantial international interest. On top of Jenny Campbell’s investment, the start-up has received £250k from Mercia Technologies. This has given ProxiSmart, the umbrella company for ParkingPerx, impressive momentum and will facilitate the creation of six new jobs over the next...

For many of the population living in warmer countries, life without air conditioning would be a struggle. Even after looking at the discomforts brought by warmer summers and heatwaves in Europe, we also appreciate the comforts and convenience of smart climate control in the UK. What are the differences? Both ‘air conditioning’ and ‘climate control’ deal with the temperatures of an area, but they both do so differently. Put simply, where air conditioning deals with cooling the air, climate control does so with smart technology....

Choosing a faucet has always been a problem for many people. You will be stuck with the different options in the market. At times, it is difficult to find the perfect item to blend with your industrial rustic, vintage, or contemporary décor. In this article, we will break down some of the common finishes for faucets. We will share some of the pros and cons, and the best uses for each.  Brushed nickel Image via Flickr by Stephen Poff Brushed nickel has a shiny look, which has made many people confuse it with stainless...