ABOUT SDB
Yes, we are. Visit the Gas Safe Register, type in our Gas Safe number 563340 and you will see our engineers listed.
We typically cover all areas within a 30 mile radius of Stoke on Trent, travelling across Staffordshire and Cheshire. Our engineers do work on projects further afield, depending on the nature of the job and what’s involved.
We certainly do. In fact, all the services that we provide domestically, we also provide commercially.
BOILERS
If your boiler isn’t functioning the way it should, don’t panic. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s broken. There are a few things you can try beforehand.
- First check the gas itself is working. Test other gas appliances to see if they work properly. If you have an older boiler, check to see if the pilot light is on.
- Next have a look at the pressure gauge. If it reads 1.0 bar or less, the pressure may need topping up. Your instruction manual will show you how to repressurise your boiler.
- Do you have a room thermostat? If so, check what temperature it’s set to. If it’s 21º or below, turn it up. Your boiler might kick in again to achieve a higher room temperature.
- If you’ve had a power cut your boiler’s timer might be wrong. Check to see that the time doesn’t need resetting.
- If you’ve checked all these things without resolution, you could try resetting the boiler itself. Again, consult your manual on how to do this.
If you’ve checked all these things and your boiler still isn’t working, call us on 01782 914020 or complete our online form
A new boiler should last for at least 15 years. But if you service and maintain it regularly it can often last much longer.
If you have an older boiler, you should consider replacing it with a more energy efficient model to reduce your energy bills. Replacing your boiler with an A-rated appliance can save you money and also help the environment.
Boiler replacement is certainly something you should consider if your current boiler is frequently breaking down. Most boilers will require replacement parts from time to time. But if you find that your boiler has a persistent fault, maybe it’s time you replaced it for a more reliable model.
Consider replacing your boiler if the cost of engineer callouts plus the cost of repairs is making your appliance uneconomical.
What about your boilers performance? Is your home warm enough? Do you have hot water when you need it? Are your radiators taking longer to warm up than normal? If your boiler isn’t performing as well as it used to, replacing it may be a good idea.
Perhaps there are more members in your family since your current boiler was installed. Some boilers are only suited to a certain amount of people. If your heating and hot water demands have changed, maybe your boiler also needs to change.
We now live in a world where appliances can be controlled by smartphones and even voices. Boilers are no exception.
If you want to be able to tell your boiler to come on at a particular time or control it when you’re not even at your property, it needs to support smart technology. Older boilers don’t. Therefore, you may need to trade in your boiler for a newer model if you want to control it remotely.
A big indicator is your pilot light. It should burn blue. If it’s yellow or orange you need an engineer. Your boiler will need a service at the very least but you may find that it needs replacing.
Another giveaway sign is an increase in noise level. If your boiler or radiators suddenly start making more noise, there could be a problem. Sometimes powerflushing your system will resolve this. But if you hear a humming or banging sound, you could have a bigger issue.
Other more serious things to look out for are leaks and strange smells coming from your boiler. Call an engineer immediately if you experience either of these.
An open vent boiler is the term for a regular or conventional (heat only) boiler. If you have an open vent boiler, your system will consist of several elements. The boiler itself, a hot water storage cylinder, a cold water storage tank in the loft to feed the hot water cylinder and a tank that maintains the water level of the central heating system. If you have a property with multiple bathrooms, regular boilers are great option. This is because they can provide a lot of hot water at once. They are also a good solution in areas where water pressure is low.
As the name suggests, a combination or ‘combi’ boiler serves two purposes. Firstly, it provides central heating. Secondly, it heats water directly from the mains when you turn on your tap. Therefore, it will save you space, because you don’t need a cold water tank in your loft or a hot water storage cylinder. Combi boilers are also energy efficient, as they heat only the water you need.
Unlike a combination boiler, which provides both heating and hot water in one unit, a system boiler works in conjunction with a separate cylinder for storing the hot water. Cold water enters a system boiler directly from the mains supply. It is heated via a heat exchanger, then pumped into the cylinder and stored until needed. This allows for a constant supply of hot water, making a system boiler ideal if you have more than one bathroom or shower. Furthermore, you don’t need a header tank in your loft like you do with a conventional boiler.
SERVICING AND REPAIR
If we have installed your boiler, we charge £54 for your first boiler service. This price will remain for every subsequent service.
For new customers, we charge £66 for the first boiler service and £54 thereafter, if you decide to stay with us.
Please note: prices DO NOT include the replacement of any parts identified as defective or unsuitable (e.g. thermocouples, ignition probes or combustion seals).
During a boiler service one of our Gas Safe Engineers will not only make sure your boiler complies with safety standards and regulations, but also:
- Inspect the boiler as per manufacturer guidelines (servicing requirements vary between makes and models);
- Remove the boiler casing, check the internal components, and also the effectiveness of the seals and gaskets;
- Look for signs of distress;
- Repair or replace any damaged parts;
- Clean away any dirt or debris in the system;
- Conduct a ‘gas tightness’ test to make sure there are no gas leaks; and
- Check that the flues are free from obstruction and properly sealed.
If any parts need to be repaired or replaced, there would normally be an additional charge.
The frequency of boiler servicing depends on installation conditions and usage. But energy companies recommend servicing your boiler annually to keep it working properly and safely.
The life expectancy of a boiler is said to be in the region of 15 years. However, having your boiler serviced every year could mean it lasting much longer. And it will certainly mean that a qualified engineer can check for any visual signs that a problem may arise and hopefully prevent it from doing so.
Many manufacturers will only guarantee the boiler if it has been serviced annually.
Not having your appliances serviced annually means you run the risk of costly emergency call-outs and expensive repair bills.
Of course, even if you do have your appliances serviced regularly, there’s no guarantee that they won’t break down. But, servicing means the chances of a breakdown are, at least, drastically reduced.
Plus, our Gas Engineers will tell you if they see any warning signs.
If your radiators are only getting warm at the top or you discover black sludgy water in your system, it may be time for a power flush. One of our engineers will tell you if a power flush is necessary.
Power flushing sends water through your central heating system at high speed to remove harmful sludge and debris. It is a straightforward process that usually takes around 90 minutes to complete. It will, of course, take longer if your central heating system is badly contaminated.
We will power flush your system in both directions to remove the build-up of troublesome debris. Then we add chemicals to neutralise the pH value to make sure your system isn’t too acidic. Finally, we use inhibitor fluid to prevent any future corrosion and build-up of harmful substances.
Although a power flush will not necessarily remove all the dirt and debris in your system, it will restore the efficiency of your boiler and radiators.
PLUMBING AND HEATING
In simple terms, an unvented cylinder is a tank that stores hot water, which supplies taps and showers when needed. It takes water directly from the mains. So not only can it supply a huge amount of hot water on demand at mains pressure, there is also no need for a cold water tank. On the downside, some unvented systems are not compatible with certain power showers and mixers.
So if your mains pressure is low then you should consider an unvented cylinder.
It largely depends on the size of your HMO. The more tenants you have, the more likely you are to need one to meet their needs. Unvented Cylinders supply a huge amount of hot water on demand at mains pressure – without the need for a cold water tank. So your tenants can all shower at the same time without a loss of pressure.
Another plus point is that unvented cylinders can be locate anywhere. Some landlords choose to locate them under the stairs or in a cellar so that tenants are not given the opportunity to tamper with them.
A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) allows you to adjust the amount of water that flows into your radiator and, therefore, lets you control the temperature of the room. A TRV will give you more flexibility and enable varying temperatures in your rooms.
For example, you will probably want your lounge or bedroom to reach a higher temperature than your hallway. A TRV will certainly help you achieve this. Hence, having a TRV on several radiators throughout your property makes for a much more energy efficient and economic heating system.
A thermostatic radiator valve is a self-regulating device, which consists of two main parts – the valve head and the valve body. A capsule in the valve head expands or contracts as the temperature in your room changes. And this causes a pin in the valve body to pull in or push out – opening or closing the valve.
If your room becomes too warm, the pin pulls in and the valve closes. Consequently, the flow of hot water into the radiator slows. Similarly, if your room becomes too cold, the pin pushes out, and hot water flows back into the radiator.
If you’re considering a smart thermostat, it wouldn’t be a good idea to have a thermostatic radiator valve in the same room as your smart thermostat as the two would conflict with each other. Furthermore, it’s never a good idea to install a TRV in your bathroom because of the great variations in temperature produced when you have a bath or shower. The TRV is likely to shut off completely.
SMART THERMOSTATS
Sure. Smart Thermostats are intuitive little devices have the ability to sense movement, learn your heating requirements and easily track your energy usage. Hence, having a smart thermostat will allow you to control every aspect of your heating – remotely.
Manufacturers claim that installing a smart thermostat will reduce your bills by 10-25%. This is because they are better at scheduling and largely more accurate.
Smart Thermostats ‘know’ when you’re in your property and when you’re not. So they adjust the room temperature accordingly.
Clever stuff.
SDB installs all the big-name brands of smart thermostat – Hive, Nest and Honeywell. You can find out more about them and the benefits of having one installed in our smart thermostats section.
BATHROOM INSTALLATION
Yes, of course. Maybe you’ve seen your dream bathroom suite in a sale and you’ve already bought it at a great price. No problem. We’ll still happily fit it for you. And don’t forget, we can also design your new bathroom to meet your exact requirements. We’ll remove the existing one for you as well if need be.
Our bespoke design service means we can arrange things just where you need them. We can maximise your bathroom space and – of course – make sure your heating and hot water system meet the needs of your family or your business.
So even if you already have a new bathroom suite, SDB can make sure your tiling, lighting, flooring and radiators complement it nicely.
Yes, we can. SDB is best known for plumbing and heating. But we do much more than that. Our team consists of plasterers, tilers, electricians, and we also have an underfloor heating expert should you want to add a touch of luxury. That means we can do your job quicker and you won’t need to search for different trades.
Yes, we do. In fact, everything we do on a domestic level, we also do on a commercial level. We have installed beautiful washrooms/shower rooms in many commercial buildings including hotels and restaurants.
UNDERFLOOR HEATING
It can be expensive to install initially but it can reduce your energy bills in the long run as it tends to be much more energy efficient than radiators. To help you decide whether underfloor heating is right for you, take a look at our list of pros and cons in our underfloor heating section.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
There is a very good chance that having solar panels installed at your property will massively reduce or even eliminate your electricity bills.
The initial installation can be quite expensive but (as with air source heat pumps) you may be eligible for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). This offers financial support and encourages homeowners and business owners to install renewable energy technologies.
Take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of solar panels (and air source heat pumps) in our renewable energy section.
Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems provide fresh filtered air to a property. They extract air from ‘polluted’ rooms such as toilets, bathrooms and kitchens which may have putrid or pungent air. Then – via a heat exchanger – supply fresh air to your other rooms.
They can be used in both domestic and commercial buildings and are a good way to make your building more energy efficient.
GAS SAFETY CERTIFICATES
If you’re a homeowner, you are not legally obliged to have a Gas Safety Certificate. However, regular appliance checks or services are imperative for safety.
If you’re a landlord, it is a legal requirement to have a gas safety check at any property that you intend to let. All gas appliances and installations need to be tested by a Gas Safe engineer as part of the check. You must also provide your tenant(s) with a Gas Safety Certificate within 28 days of the check being completed.
Gas Safety Certificates are valid for 12 months.
As with our boiler servicing, we operate a loyalty scheme. Therefore, prices are different for existing customers and new customers.
Prices for existing customers
One appliance + gas meter = £48
Two appliances + gas meter = £57
Three appliances + gas meter = £66
Any additional appliances = £12
Prices for new customers
One appliance + gas meter = £57.60
Two appliances + gas meter = £68.40
Three appliances + gas meter = £79.20
Any additional appliances = £14.40
Please note: prices DO NOT include the replacement of any parts identified as defective or unsuitable (e.g. thermocouples, ignition probes or combustion seals).
No. These are two separate things. SDB can do both of them for you and we provide a discount if you have both done at the same time.
To see what’s included as part of these services, take a look at our Gas Safety Certificates section.
LEGIONELLA TESTING
We certainly do. Both domestically and commercially. Our checks highlight the sources of the potential risk and how to reduce the risk. We’ll also tell you the steps that can be taken to prevent future problems arising. Finally, we’ll provide an estimate to remedy anything identified on the report.
The law is clear that landlords who rent out a property have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their tenant(s) by keeping the property safe and free from health hazards.
If a tenant contracted Legionnaires’ disease from the water system in your property, you may be liable. So, it’s important to assess and control the risks.
Prices vary domestically and commercially, based on the size of your property. For an accurate quote, please call us by pressing the button below or complete our online form and select ‘Legionella Risk Assessment’ from the dropdown list.
Some rental properties – particularly student properties – can be left unoccupied for longer periods of time. This presents more of an opportunity for the build-up of Legionella bacteria due to stagnant water.
Residue such as rust and sludge can find its way into the water system and contribute toward the growth of bacteria.
Domestic reports are slightly different to commercial reports.
Domestically, we will:
- Carry out a documented inspection of the property to identify the type of system installed.
- Establish the sources of potential risk.
- Advise on how to reduce the risk.
- List the steps that can be taken to prevent future problems arising.
- Advise on any changes that need to be made or work that needs to be carried out and give an approximate cost
Commercially, we will do all of the above, PLUS:
- Advise you on appointing a responsible person within your organisation.
- Provide you with a testing record sheet (to be signed and dated on independent testing).
- Provide you with a copy of the Approved Code of Practice L8 (Legionnaires’ disease) document.
There are 6 simple things you can do:
- Circulate your water regularly, thus preventing storage and stagnation.
- Set the temperature of your hot water system to make sure water is stored at 60ºC.
- Make sure you have a tight-fitting lid on your cold water tank (if you have one) so that no debris can find its way inside.
- Remove any pipework that isn’t in use.
- Clean taps and shower heads regularly to prevent the build-up of limescale (Legionellosis has been linked to limescale build-up).
- Flush the system if your property has been unoccupied for any length of time.
WHY CHOOSE SDB?
SDB Plumbing & Heating is built on trust, honesty and an exceptional knowledge of the industry. We listen to what you want – so we know that our heating solutions are right for you and within your budget. Moreover, we’re committed to the highest standards of workmanship and customer service.
And rest assured we are Gas Safe Registered (No. 563340)
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
These are the plumbing and heating services that SDB provides both domestically and commercially across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
OUR PARTNERS
The people and organisations who we work with closely, in order to provide a reliable and trustworthy plumbing and heating service, to homes and businesses across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
STOKE ON TRENT
01782 914020
LEEK
01538 809011
CONGLETON
01260 606003
STOKE ON TRENT
01782 914020
LEEK
01538 809011
CONGLETON
01260 606003