Brandon K. Farmer blog

Are You Living in Ballinkillin and Need Help With Blocked Drains?

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So you live in Ballinkillin and you got blocked drains and you are considering calling out a local plumber in Ballinkillin or the surrounding area to come and fix your blocked drains. Drain cleaning can sometimes need the services of professional drain cleaning companies in Ballinkillin or sometimes they can be provided by a local plumber near you in Carlow, both of these options can incur a call-out charge or inspection fee along with a repair charge or unblocking charge. There are some simple things you can do to see if your blocked drains need professional drain cleaning, but if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty you can carry out these few simple tasks before making that phone call. But if you would rather contact the nearest drain cleaning company in Ballinkillin then call one of the local companies displayed on this page.

Before you get started on the drain cleaning if you prefer a professional drain cleaning services in Carlow, contact one of the local drain cleaning services displayed on this page.

Remember that pipes below ground are laid in straight lines for as much of their route as possible. Where a change of direction is needed, the bend should be less than a right angle and there should be an inspection chamber there. There may be a manhole cover above it or, in older properties, there may be an interceptor chamber near the boundary before the house drain joins the main sewer.

Drain Cleaning Information Ballinkillin Carlow

Drain Cleaning Video

The first sign of a blocked drain may be the failure of toilets and baths to drain quickly and efficiently, or an overflowing inspection chamber or gully. A gully may be cleared by cleaning. Otherwise you will have to clear the drain with rods. You can hire rods and various heads. Wear rubber gloves for the work.

Tools You May Need For Unblocking Drains in Ballinkillin

Drain rods fitted with a 100mm diameter rubber plunger

Pair of long rubber gloves

Strong garden spade

Hose

Disinfectant

Watering can

So Lets Get Started!

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1. Locate the blockage

You will have to lift the manhole covers; a strong garden spade will raise the edge enough for you to grasp the cover. Inspect the chamber that is nearer to the main drain, septic tank or cesspool than the overflowing chamber or gully.

If it is empty, the blockage is in the drain between this chamber and the higher one or the gully. If the chamber is full, inspect the chamber next nearest to the main drain or septic tank. If the chamber nearest the main drain is full, the blockage is between it and the main drain. If the drain leads to a septic tank and the last chamber is full, have the tank emptied.

2. Clearing the blockage

Drain Cleaning

Drain Unblocking

To clear the blockage in a main drain system, insert the rod fitted with the plunger into a chamber at one end of the blocked section; it does not matter which of the 2. If it is the empty chamber, you can see where the mouth of the pipe is, but if you work from the full chamber, you will have to probe with the plunger until you find the mouth.

3. Adding more Rods

Add more rods as necessary to work the plunger along the pipe to the blockage. Always turn the rods clockwise as you work; if you turn them counter-clockwise, they may unscrew and be left in the drain to cause a greater problem. Keep pushing against the obstruction and then withdrawing the plunger a little way. If this will not shift the blockage, withdraw the rods and exchange the plunger for a corkscrew attachment, which will break up a tightly packed obstruction.

4. Wet Jet

Complete the clearance by directing a strong jet of water down the drain from a hosepipe, or by filling the bath and sink and releasing the water in one gush.

5. Clearing Up

Hose down the rods and gloves thoroughly and drench them with diluted disinfectant poured from a watering can.

Interceptor chambers

If you have to clear a blockage between an interceptor chamber on your property and the main drain, you will have to insert the rods through the rodding eye. At this chamber, the drain drops through a U-trap similar to the one in a gully.

The trap is there to prevent waste from the main drain entering your house drains, but it also prevents you from pushing rods through. Above the mouth of the trap there is a short projection of pipe with a plug in it. When you locate and pull out the plug, you can insert the drain rods through the hole, or rodding eye.

The trap, however, may still be blocked and you will have to scoop out the blockage with an old garden trowel bent to a right angle. When the chamber and trap are clear, hose them down thoroughly to make sure waste can flow out easily.

You can either replace the plug or you can mortar a piece of tile over the eye. If you need to open the rodding eye again, the tile will knock off easily with a crowbar and hammer.

Testing drains

If the drains are not blocked, but a persistent foul smell or unexpectedly wet ground make you suspect that there is a leak somewhere, arrange for the local environmental health department to test the drains.

  Common Causes of Blocked Drains in Ballinkillin

Most bathroom drain clogs result when dirt, skin flakes, and especially hair binds to soap scum on the walls of drain pipes. Over time, this gunk accumulates and reduces water flow. Troubleshooting: Remove and clean the drain stopper. Next, try using the humble drain plunger, keeping in mind to block the over-flow drain in the tub or sink. If that doesn’t work, remove the drain elbow joint and clean it out. Clean drain stoppers routinely to prevent clogs and use a hair strainer drain-cover to trap hair before it goes down the drain.

Clogged toilets are a nasty business. These mainly happen when people try flushing down items that do not dissolve or break apart in water such as: feminine hygiene products cotton-tipped swabs dental floss pre-moistened diaper wipes

Troubleshooting: The plunger is the first line of defense. The most effective plungers shoot jets of water to clear the drain pipe. Many have anti-microbial coatings. Next, use an inexpensive hand-powered drain auger. While not a pleasant experience, a hand auger can reach between 2 to 5 feet down the toilet’s drain pipe to break-up or retrieve things (such as Junior’s action figure) that are blocking the pipe. The best preventative for keeping your toilet free from clogs is to only put in waste and paper that readily dissolve in water. Regular cleaning will also keep water flowing smoothly.

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Kitchen sink drains clog when cooking grease or oil cake onto drain pipe walls. Add detergent soap scum and un-dissolved food particles (such as rice which expands in water), and you’ve got a stubborn, gunky clog. Troubleshooting: Tackle kitchen sink drains like you tackle bathroom sinks. Start by running very hot water down the drain to soften the clog, followed by a dollop of dish detergent and then more hot water. Wait a few minutes, and then use a plunger and repeat the hot water. If you still have no luck, you might want to move onto a chemical drain opener. Again, use caution.

In the future, dispose of large amounts of kitchen grease and oil by letting them solidify. Scrape the mess into a plastic bag, seal it, and throw it out with the garbage. Small amounts of oil (less than one cup) should be thoroughly diluted with hot water and dish detergent before being poured into the sink.

If you are constantly plagued with clogged or slow drains, have a plumber inspect the plumbing to determine if the drain line was properly designed and installed. Both drain pipe venting and slope effect how well drains work.

Venting allows air to enter the pipe as water drains away.Think of what happens when you put a straw into a glass of water. If you cover the open end of the straw with your finger, you prevent air from entering the straw and that creates a vacuum. When you lift straw out of the glass, the water won’t drain from the straw until you lift your finger. When enough air is entering the vent, then water and waste will drain properly. Your toilet, for example, will swirl and empty quickly when it’s flushed. However, if the venting doesn’t let enough air in, then you might hear the sink gurgle when you flush the toilet. Also, remember that venting allows sewer gases to escape and prevents them from building to dangerous levels inside your home. Meanwhile, drain pipe slope determines how well water carries waste to the sewer line. If there’s too much slope, water can run too fast and leave waste material behind. Over time, the buildup forms a blockage. If the pipe slope doesn’t have enough slope, then the water and waste pool in the pipe. Some waste will settle out and, again, form a blockage.

Troubleshooting: First, check that nothing is blocking the vent pipe opening on your roof. Sometimes birds or other animals build nests on top of un-enclosed vent pipes for warmth. Also check under sinks for gulp valves. Gulp valves are typically mounted at the end of a drain line and look like a plastic cap from a can of spray paint. The valve prevents sewer gas from escaping the drain line but lets air into the vent pipe when there’s enough suction. If you fill the sink with water and then drain it out all at once, you should hear air getting sucked into the gulp valve. If not, the valve might need to be replaced. Also, if there is a constant odor of raw sewage in your home, contact a professional plumbing service immediately.

For slope problem, any blockages will first need to be removed with a plumbers’ snake and the pipe flushed out with water. A new pipe set at the proper slope to carry sewage away more effectively should then be installed by a professional plumber.

So after reading the information on this page you should be able to avoid getting blocked drains in Ballinkillin Carlow  and if you do get blocked drains again you should be able to clear them easily.

Ballinbranagh Carlow Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballinbranagh Carlow Ballon Carlow Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballon Carlow

Ballinlough Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballinlough RoscommonAthleague Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Athleague RoscommonBallyforan Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballyforan RoscommonBallyfarnan Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballyfarnan RoscommonBallaghaderreen Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballaghaderreen Roscommon

Ballinkillin Carlow Drain Cleaning Service

Main Street Ballinkillin Carlow Ireland

9134 Myrtle Street Ballinkillin, L EI01

Carlow, Leinster (L)

Are You Living in Ballynakill and Need Help With Blocked Drains?

]

So you live in Ballynakill and you got blocked drains and you are considering calling out a local plumber in Ballynakill or the surrounding area to come and fix your blocked drains. Drain cleaning can sometimes need the services of professional drain cleaning companies in Ballynakill or sometimes they can be provided by a local plumber near you in Carlow, both of these options can incur a call-out charge or inspection fee along with a repair charge or unblocking charge. There are some simple things you can do to see if your blocked drains need professional drain cleaning, but if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty you can carry out these few simple tasks before making that phone call. But if you would rather contact the nearest drain cleaning company in Ballynakill then call one of the local companies displayed on this page.

Before you get started on the drain cleaning if you prefer a professional drain cleaning services in Carlow, contact one of the local drain cleaning services displayed on this page.

Remember that pipes below ground are laid in straight lines for as much of their route as possible. Where a change of direction is needed, the bend should be less than a right angle and there should be an inspection chamber there. There may be a manhole cover above it or, in older properties, there may be an interceptor chamber near the boundary before the house drain joins the main sewer.

Drain Cleaning Information Ballynakill Carlow

Drain Cleaning Video

The first sign of a blocked drain may be the failure of toilets and baths to drain quickly and efficiently, or an overflowing inspection chamber or gully. A gully may be cleared by cleaning. Otherwise you will have to clear the drain with rods. You can hire rods and various heads. Wear rubber gloves for the work.

Tools You May Need For Unblocking Drains in Ballynakill

Drain rods fitted with a 100mm diameter rubber plunger

Pair of long rubber gloves

Strong garden spade

Hose

Disinfectant

Watering can

So Lets Get Started!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

1. Locate the blockage

You will have to lift the manhole covers; a strong garden spade will raise the edge enough for you to grasp the cover. Inspect the chamber that is nearer to the main drain, septic tank or cesspool than the overflowing chamber or gully.

If it is empty, the blockage is in the drain between this chamber and the higher one or the gully. If the chamber is full, inspect the chamber next nearest to the main drain or septic tank. If the chamber nearest the main drain is full, the blockage is between it and the main drain. If the drain leads to a septic tank and the last chamber is full, have the tank emptied.

2. Clearing the blockage

Drain Cleaning

Drain Unblocking

To clear the blockage in a main drain system, insert the rod fitted with the plunger into a chamber at one end of the blocked section; it does not matter which of the 2. If it is the empty chamber, you can see where the mouth of the pipe is, but if you work from the full chamber, you will have to probe with the plunger until you find the mouth.

3. Adding more Rods

Add more rods as necessary to work the plunger along the pipe to the blockage. Always turn the rods clockwise as you work; if you turn them counter-clockwise, they may unscrew and be left in the drain to cause a greater problem. Keep pushing against the obstruction and then withdrawing the plunger a little way. If this will not shift the blockage, withdraw the rods and exchange the plunger for a corkscrew attachment, which will break up a tightly packed obstruction.

4. Wet Jet

Complete the clearance by directing a strong jet of water down the drain from a hosepipe, or by filling the bath and sink and releasing the water in one gush.

5. Clearing Up

Hose down the rods and gloves thoroughly and drench them with diluted disinfectant poured from a watering can.

Interceptor chambers

If you have to clear a blockage between an interceptor chamber on your property and the main drain, you will have to insert the rods through the rodding eye. At this chamber, the drain drops through a U-trap similar to the one in a gully.

The trap is there to prevent waste from the main drain entering your house drains, but it also prevents you from pushing rods through. Above the mouth of the trap there is a short projection of pipe with a plug in it. When you locate and pull out the plug, you can insert the drain rods through the hole, or rodding eye.

The trap, however, may still be blocked and you will have to scoop out the blockage with an old garden trowel bent to a right angle. When the chamber and trap are clear, hose them down thoroughly to make sure waste can flow out easily.

You can either replace the plug or you can mortar a piece of tile over the eye. If you need to open the rodding eye again, the tile will knock off easily with a crowbar and hammer.

Testing drains

If the drains are not blocked, but a persistent foul smell or unexpectedly wet ground make you suspect that there is a leak somewhere, arrange for the local environmental health department to test the drains.

  Common Causes of Blocked Drains in Ballynakill

Most bathroom drain clogs result when dirt, skin flakes, and especially hair binds to soap scum on the walls of drain pipes. Over time, this gunk accumulates and reduces water flow. Troubleshooting: Remove and clean the drain stopper. Next, try using the humble drain plunger, keeping in mind to block the over-flow drain in the tub or sink. If that doesn’t work, remove the drain elbow joint and clean it out. Clean drain stoppers routinely to prevent clogs and use a hair strainer drain-cover to trap hair before it goes down the drain.

Clogged toilets are a nasty business. These mainly happen when people try flushing down items that do not dissolve or break apart in water such as: feminine hygiene products cotton-tipped swabs dental floss pre-moistened diaper wipes

Troubleshooting: The plunger is the first line of defense. The most effective plungers shoot jets of water to clear the drain pipe. Many have anti-microbial coatings. Next, use an inexpensive hand-powered drain auger. While not a pleasant experience, a hand auger can reach between 2 to 5 feet down the toilet’s drain pipe to break-up or retrieve things (such as Junior’s action figure) that are blocking the pipe. The best preventative for keeping your toilet free from clogs is to only put in waste and paper that readily dissolve in water. Regular cleaning will also keep water flowing smoothly.

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Kitchen sink drains clog when cooking grease or oil cake onto drain pipe walls. Add detergent soap scum and un-dissolved food particles (such as rice which expands in water), and you’ve got a stubborn, gunky clog. Troubleshooting: Tackle kitchen sink drains like you tackle bathroom sinks. Start by running very hot water down the drain to soften the clog, followed by a dollop of dish detergent and then more hot water. Wait a few minutes, and then use a plunger and repeat the hot water. If you still have no luck, you might want to move onto a chemical drain opener. Again, use caution.

In the future, dispose of large amounts of kitchen grease and oil by letting them solidify. Scrape the mess into a plastic bag, seal it, and throw it out with the garbage. Small amounts of oil (less than one cup) should be thoroughly diluted with hot water and dish detergent before being poured into the sink.

If you are constantly plagued with clogged or slow drains, have a plumber inspect the plumbing to determine if the drain line was properly designed and installed. Both drain pipe venting and slope effect how well drains work.

Venting allows air to enter the pipe as water drains away.Think of what happens when you put a straw into a glass of water. If you cover the open end of the straw with your finger, you prevent air from entering the straw and that creates a vacuum. When you lift straw out of the glass, the water won’t drain from the straw until you lift your finger. When enough air is entering the vent, then water and waste will drain properly. Your toilet, for example, will swirl and empty quickly when it’s flushed. However, if the venting doesn’t let enough air in, then you might hear the sink gurgle when you flush the toilet. Also, remember that venting allows sewer gases to escape and prevents them from building to dangerous levels inside your home. Meanwhile, drain pipe slope determines how well water carries waste to the sewer line. If there’s too much slope, water can run too fast and leave waste material behind. Over time, the buildup forms a blockage. If the pipe slope doesn’t have enough slope, then the water and waste pool in the pipe. Some waste will settle out and, again, form a blockage.

Troubleshooting: First, check that nothing is blocking the vent pipe opening on your roof. Sometimes birds or other animals build nests on top of un-enclosed vent pipes for warmth. Also check under sinks for gulp valves. Gulp valves are typically mounted at the end of a drain line and look like a plastic cap from a can of spray paint. The valve prevents sewer gas from escaping the drain line but lets air into the vent pipe when there’s enough suction. If you fill the sink with water and then drain it out all at once, you should hear air getting sucked into the gulp valve. If not, the valve might need to be replaced. Also, if there is a constant odor of raw sewage in your home, contact a professional plumbing service immediately.

For slope problem, any blockages will first need to be removed with a plumbers’ snake and the pipe flushed out with water. A new pipe set at the proper slope to carry sewage away more effectively should then be installed by a professional plumber.

So after reading the information on this page you should be able to avoid getting blocked drains in Ballynakill Carlow  and if you do get blocked drains again you should be able to clear them easily.

Ballymurphy Carlow Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballymurphy Carlow Ballyryan Carlow Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballyryan Carlow

Ballinlough Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballinlough RoscommonBallyforan Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballyforan RoscommonAthleague Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Athleague RoscommonBallaghaderreen Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballaghaderreen RoscommonBallyfarnan Roscommon Blocked Drains 24/7 Drain Cleaning Service Ballyfarnan Roscommon

Ballynakill Carlow Drain Cleaning Service

Main Street Ballynakill Carlow Ireland

8997 Park Avenue Ballynakill, L EI01

Carlow, Leinster (L)

What Are The Causes of Rotator Cuff Injury?

Injuries to muscle-tendon units are called strains and are classified by the amount of damage to the muscle or tendon fibers. Grade I strains involve stretching of the fibers without any tears. Grade II injuries involve partial muscle or tendon tearing, and grade III injuries are defined as a complete tear of a muscle or tendon.

The muscles and tendons in the rotator cuff group may be damaged in a variety of ways. Damage can occur from an acute injury (for example from a fall or accident), from chronic overuse (like throwing a ball or lifting), or from gradual degeneration of the muscle and tendon that can occur with aging.

Acute rotator cuff tear This injury can develop from sudden powerful raising of the arm against resistance or in an attempt to cushion a fall (for example, heavy lifting or a fall on the shoulder). The injury requires a significant amount of force if the person is younger than 30 years of age. Chronic tear Found among people in occupations or sports requiring excessive overhead activity (examples, painters, baseball pitchers, tennis players) The chronic injuries may be a result of a previous acute injury that has caused a structural problem within the shoulder and affected the rotator cuff anatomy or function (for example, bone spurs that impinge upon a muscle or tendon, causing inflammation). Repetitive trauma to the muscle by everyday movement of the shoulder Tendinitis Degeneration (wearing out) of the muscles and tendons with age This usually occurs where the tendon attaches to bone. The area has poor blood supply and a mild injury may take a long time to heal and potentially lead to a secondary tear.

What Are Rotator Cuff Injury Symptoms and Signs?

Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury are due to the inflammation that accompanies the strain. This inflammation causes swelling, leading to the clinical picture of pain and decreased range of motion. Because the muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff are hidden well below skin level, it may be hard to feel the swelling that accompanies the injury, but that swelling within the small space that makes up the shoulder joint prevents the normal range of motion of the shoulder and causes the pain that occurs with movement.

Acute rotator cuff tear Symptoms can be a sudden tearing sensation followed by severe pain shooting from the upper shoulder area (both in front and in back) down the arm toward the elbow. There is decreased range of motion of the shoulder because of pain and muscle spasm. Acute pain from bleeding and muscle spasm: This may resolve in a few days. Large tears may cause the inability abduct the arm (raise it away from the side of the body) due to significant pain and loss of muscle power. Chronic rotator cuff tear Pain usually is worse at night and may interfere with sleep. Gradual weakness and decreased shoulder motion develop as the pain worsens. Decrease in the ability to abduct the arm (move it out to the side). This allows the arm to be used for most activities but the affected person is unable to use the injured arm for activities that entail lifting the arm as high as or higher than the shoulder level to the front or side. Rotator cuff tendinitis More common in women 35-50 years of age Deep ache in the shoulder also felt on the outside upper arm over the deltoid muscle Point tenderness may be appreciated over the area that is injured Pain comes on gradually and becomes worse with lifting the arm to the side (abduction) or turning it inward (internal rotation) May lead to a chronic tear: When a rotator cuff tendon becomes inflamed (tend=tendon +itis=inflammation), it runs the risk of losing its blood supply, causing some tendon fibers to die. This increases the risk that the tendon can fray and partially or completely tear.

What Is the Treatment for a Rotator Cuff Injury?

Chronic Tear

Pain control usually is the goal of treatment. This can be accomplished with rest and acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).

Physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises may be helpful in maintaining shoulder function and strength.

Steroid injections (betamethasone, methylprednisolone) into the shoulder joint may be helpful.

Patients who continue to have pain and loss of shoulder function may benefit from a referral to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss surgical repair of the rotator cuff injury.

Acute Tear

Apply ice to decrease swelling.

Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and naproxen may help reduce pain and swelling.

A sling may help support the arm rest the rotator cuff muscles. Long-term use of a sling is not advised, since it may cause significant stiffening of the shoulder joint, or a frozen shoulder, with complete loss of motion.

Usually, acute rotator cuff injuries require more than one visit to the health-care provider and may also require referral to an orthopedic specialist for advice and care. Surgery may be considered within a few weeks, especially in younger, active patients, to return the shoulder to full function.

Indications for surgical treatment include the following:

Usually for patients younger than 60 years of age

Complete rotator cuff tears

Failure of conservative therapy (physical therapy, rest, and anti-inflammatory medications) after six to eight weeks

Employment or sporting activity that requires constant shoulder use

Tendinitis

Beginning care

Rest the shoulder in a sling for a short period of time. Prolonged use of the sling can cause stiffness, weakness, and loss of motion of the shoulder joint.

Take anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

More severe cases

Use the techniques described for beginning care.

Steroid injections into the shoulder joint may be considered.

After a few days, ice may be alternated with heat and massage therapy and range-of-motion exercises initiated.

Perform Codman exercises. These are passive range-of-motion exercises (often initially done with a physical therapist). These exercises are done to increase slowly the amount of motion of the shoulder while putting a low amount of stress on the rotator cuff itself. The exercises are performed as the person leans toward the injured side with the arm hanging freely and slowly moving the arm in a circle. Initially, the circles are small. With improvement and decrease in pain, the circles enlarge (also called pendulum exercises).

Holding a broom with both hands and moving it in a large arc while relaxing the affected shoulder can passively stretch the soft tissues.

What Causes Hip Problems and Pain and The Normal Treatments

The hip joint is designed to withstand repeated motion and a fair amount of wear and tear. This ball-and-socket joint the body’s largest fits together in a way that allows for fluid movement.

Whenever you use the hip (for example, by going for a run), a cushion of cartilage helps prevent friction as the hip bone moves in its socket.

Despite its durability, the hip joint isn’t indestructible. With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Muscles and tendons in the hip can get overused. The hip bone itself can be fractured during a fall or other injury. Any of these conditions can lead to hip pain.

If your hips are sore, here is a rundown of what might be causing your discomfort and how to get hip pain relief.

Causes of Hip Pain

Symptoms of Hip Pain

Depending on the condition that’s causing your hip pain, you might feel the discomfort in your:

Thigh

Inside of the hip joint

Groin

Outside of the hip joint

Buttocks

Sometimes pain from other areas of the body, such as the back or groin (from a hernia), can radiate to the hip.

You might notice that your pain gets worse with activity, especially if it’s caused by arthritis. Along with the pain, you might have reduced range of motion. Some people develop a limp from persistent hip pain.

Hip Pain Relief

If your hip pain is caused by a muscle or tendon strain, osteoarthritis, or tendinitis, you can usually relieve it with an over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as Motrin or Aleve.

Rheumatoid arthritis treatments also include prescription anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids, or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate and sulfasalazine.

Another way to relieve hip pain is by holding ice to the area for about 15 minutes a few times a day. Try to rest the affected joint as much as possible until you feel better.

If you have arthritis  exercising the hip joint with low-impact exercises, stretching, and resistance training can reduce pain and improve joint mobility. For example,  swimming is a good non-impact exercise for arthritis. Physical therapy can also help increase your range of motion.

When osteoarthritis becomes so severe that the pain is intense or the hip joint becomes deformed, a total hip replacement (arthroplasty) may be a consideration. People who fracture their hip sometimes need surgery to fix the fracture or replace the hip.

Call your health care provider if your pain doesn’t go away, or if you notice swelling, redness, or warmth around the joint. Also call if you have hip pain at night or when you are resting.

Get medical help right away if:

The hip pain came on suddenly.

A fall or other injury triggered the hip pain.

Your joint looks deformed or is bleeding.

You heard a popping noise in the joint when you injured it.

The pain is intense.

You can’t put any weight on your hip.

You can’t move your leg or hip.

Tips For People Buying A Boiler Stove

The Heating Effect And The Living Area.

In order to have a positive experience from your Stove, it is very important that the size is right for your living area and heating needs. If the stove is too big, you will constantly be using it on low effect and end up with soot on the glass and in your chimney. If the wood stove is too small, it will be overloaded and its lifetime will be reduced.

The dealer needs information about living area and type of insulation in your home in order to give you good advice, including the type of insulation, the number of windows, ceiling height and so on.

Ventilation

In order to function properly, the fireplace needs air. The chimney pulls air through the fireplace, but if your house is very sealed and insulated, or if mechanical ventilation is fighting the natural draught in the chimney, you can experience problems with the function of the fireplace. The recommended solution is to connect so-called outside air to the fireplace.

If you live in a house with new and tight insulation or have mechanical ventilation, it is important that you consider this when you plan the installation of your stove.

Window Glass and Insulation

Old and draughty houses with poor insulation needs considerably more heating than houses with proper insulation and triple glazed windows. The scope of the heat loss in your home, is something that you know the best, but if you reside in a low energy house or a newer house, it is important to choose a stove that works well on low effect.

Chimney

Most problems with fireplaces stem from the chimney being incorrectly dimensioned or not working properly. In order for a fireplace to work optimally, a chimney with an internal diameter that is bigger than the flue outlet on the fireplace should be attached. In the installation and user guides you find information about the necessary draught for the different products to function optimally.

A rule of thumb is that one meter of chimney creates four Pascal of draft. Few fireplaces can function on less than 12 Pascal. Sharp elbows on the flue outlet reduces the draft. If you are unsure about how your chimney works, the stove retailer may be able to offer advice to you. You can also get help to rehabilitate your old chimney or alternatively, to install a steel chimney. Steel chimneys are reasonably priced and a satisfactory alternative to the traditional brick chimney.

Where Should the Stove be Installed

Different stoves have different features. Some are designed to be placed close to flammable material, while others require a fireproof wall in order to be placed close to the wall. A drawing that shows where the fireplace should be placed in relation to the chimney outlet, fireproof wall and furniture will be of great help when you seek advice with the experts. Perhaps also you could set up an exterior fireproof wall. These are quick to set up and only five centimeters thick.

Weight and Load Bearing Capacity of The Floor

Most wood stoves and fireplaces can be installed without having to strengthen the floor, but to be on the safe side, you should make an estimation of weight. The fireplaces are often placed against a wall and the weight restricting area is somewhat reduced. Ask for help at a professional dealer if this seems complicated.

Installation

Unless you are a qualified stove installer you should not attempt to complete an stove installation yourself. It is advisable to get the services of a professional to complete the installation for you. Usually you will have to pay for two people for four or five hours. This then includes preparation, transport etc. The installation job at a customer’s residence can take as little as two hours or it can take a whole day. This depends on how big the project is and the type of fireplace or wood stove is being installed.

 Plumbers – Local Plumbers – 24 Hour Emergency Call Out Plumbers – Looking for any of these?

So when you go to the web looking for any of the above, how do you know that you are contacting a real qualified plumbing professional? If you are working off a personal recommendation from a trusted friend who has employed their recommended plumber in the past then you need not be so concerned about whether the plumber you are using is professional and reliable. However in the absence of the personal recommendation we will outline for you some precautionary steps you can follow which will give you a better chance of ending up with a fully qualified and professional plumber who will deal with your plumbing issue safely and professionally.

So to get the ball rolling lets start at the beginning:

The basics, listed below is a quick reference list of the important things which should be established at the outset.

Is the plumber registered

Is he certified

Have they a website and are there examples of their work available to see online

Can they direct you to testimonials from previous customers

Can they offer you any customer reviews

Will they give you a written customer guarantee

Now, Let’s examine these in more detail.

A Professional Plumbers is a Registered Plumber

Unfortunately today there are two many “cowboy plumbers” operating in Ireland and are looking to make some easy money. These cowboy plumbers generally have no qualifications, they don’t operate to any professional standards of safety and rarely leave a satisfied customer once the botch job is completed.

When you’re looking online for a plumber, look to see if he has any certification stamps or logos on his website. If he does have a recognoised logo of the relevant regulatory body in Ireland, visit that bodies website and check to see if that plumber is a registered member. Here in Ireland, you should look for the RGI logo. You can even search the RGI website database to check if your plumber is registered and qualified for the job you need. It is  strongly recommend that you take great care to ensure that the plumber you choose is both registered and insured for the job.

Plumbing Certification

The following are the primary certifications required in order to be recognised as a “qualified plumber” in Ireland.

A Level 2 Diploma in Maintaining and Installing Domestic Heating Systems (NVQ)

A Level 2/3 Diploma in Domestic Heating and Plumbing (NVQ)

If you ask the plumber what his or her qualification in plumbing is they should be able to tell you and include either of the above. Plumbers who are qualified a long time before either of the above qualifications were available, should quote you the training course or apprenticeship they undertook to get qualified.

The following is an overall view of the kind of work that fully qualified plumbers are trained to do.

Installing water supplies, drainage systems and heating systems

Finding faults with equipment or systems and repairing them

Servicing oil-fired and gas central heating systems, such as boilers and radiators

Installing and fixing common domestic appliances such as cookers, showers, washing machines and gas fires

Servicing ventilation units as well as air-conditioning units

Attending call-out during times of emergency, for instance fixing leaks whilst it’s cold outside

Fitting flashings, joints and weather-proof substances to roofs, walls and chimneys.

 Ask The Plumber if he can Show you Previous Examples of His Work

A professional plumber will be proud of his past work. After all, it’s great for customers to get a sense of the plumber’s abilities and it’s great for the plumber to be able to show off his previous work.

  Recommendations

Try searching the plumber’s website for recommendations from previous customers. Better yet, try searching for their company on Google. Their Google business page will have reviews from customers that the plumber can’t delete and alter in any way. Now you’ll be able to trust the word of previous customers when searching for a reliable and professional plumber.

Customer Guarantees

Guaranteed Work

Accidents can and do happen. You get a brand new shower installed or a boiler replaced, and two weeks later it stops working. In a perfect world, everything would work as it should at all time. On the rare occasion that it doesn’t, a good plumber should provide a guarantee to their customers that the work carried out is under warranty for a minimum of 12 months. Nearly all professional plumbers stand over their work and many of them will give you a written 12 month warranty on their work, if they are not prepared to give you any guarantee, then keep looking for a better plumber.

What is Sciatica and What Causes it?

The sciatic nerve is located at both sides of the lower spine and travels from the pelvic region to the buttocks. The nerve then passes on the back of each upper leg before it goes into the knee and then branches to the feet. Pressure or irritation of the sciatic nerve may cause pain in the buttocks and thigh. The pain may be mild or cause extreme discomfort. Some people suffering from this condition may also feel numbness, stiffness and tingling sensation.

The pain may get worse if you have been standing or sitting in the same position for a long time. The pain is actually a symptom of an inflamed sciatic nerve which can be caused by a number of problems, including but not limited to pinched nerves, a slipped disc, or bad posture. The sciatic nerve in Rathgar Dublin 6 may heal itself over a few weeks time but can take as long as several months.

The most common cause of sciatica and Sciatic nerve pain is the lumbar disc directly pressing on sciatica nerve. Anything that causes irritation and inflammation on the nerve is likely to bring about sciatica. The irritation of the sciatica nerve is referred to as radiculopathy. Irritation of this nerve could be caused by tumours, irritation by the bone adjacent to it, pinched nerve, internal bleeding, injury and infections. The sciatica can also be irritated during pregnancy due to the physiological changes women go through when pregnant.

Another cause of sciatica and the related Sciatic nerve pain is trauma. The trauma could have been brought about by vehicle accidents, or falling during sports. This is an external factor that influences the lumbar causing sciatica. The impact from the accident or the fall could have an impact on the spinal cord and related nerves, which may, in effect, bring about sciatica. Another common cause is the Piriformis syndrome, named after the Piriformis muscle. The pain occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated by this muscle.

Treating Sciatica

Hydrotherapy, relaxing in a hot whirlpool tub or jacuzzi can promote circulation and relax the muscle tissue; this in turn reduces inflammation, reducing the effects of sciatica. The heat can also reduce muscle spasms and the motion of the water will gently massage your back.

Posture and Support is very important for the treatment of sciatica and its local area, sitting for significant amounts of time on an uneven or hard surface can easily aggravate your sciatic nerve. Make sure to use proper posture as well as support when sitting in one position for lengthy periods of time. If you spend a lot of time sitting behind a desk, use a chair that tilts and adjusts your weight. You may want to invest in an ergonomic chair that can reduce stress and ease pressure in the lower back area. In addition, sleeping on a firm, cushioned mattress can help relieve sciatic pain.

Acupuncture, acupuncture can help reduce muscles spasms and inflammation by increasing blood flow to the lower back area. It also helps relax the muscles and increases flexibility.

Exercise and Physical Therapy, exercise and/or physical therapy have been proven to eliminate the pain and symptoms of sciatica. Low impact exercises like walking and water aerobics are great options for self-treatment. Physical therapy will take it a step further. It can include a variety of techniques like massage and electro-therapies. These treatments are meant to reduce muscle spasms, pain and inflammation. Physical therapy also includes education and training to teach you proper movements and postures that can help you avoid future problems with your sciatic nerve.

Stretching, stretching promotes good support for the upper and lower back. Stretching exercises for sciatica are able to relieve tightness and relax the muscles in these areas. Proper stretching techniques are also an effective preventative measure.

Ice and Heat, at the first signs of a sciatic nerve problem, applying an ice pack can reduce the inflammation that is causing the pain. Applying heat will help increase the blood flow to the sore area, promote flexibility and reduce inflammation. Alternating between the two will provide positive results by reducing both pain and inflammation.

To be sure you have sciatica, it is best to visit your general practitioner full a full diagnosis. In most cases, your doctor will recommend a specialist for further testing. Once diagnosed, the specialist will probably recommend some focused exercises and stretching, the use of ice and/or heat to the affected area, and physical therapy.

In addition to these standard treatments, doctors will often recommend additional treatments, such as chiropractic care and/or medical injections. Because everyone is different and their bodies react differently to these treatments, every case is unique and will be treated as such.

Knee Pain The Causes and the Various Treatments

Knee pain is the most common ailment of the body. Ironically the knee is the most complicated joint, it bears virtually all the body weight while performing straightening, bending, twisting and rotating functions. All these functions increase the risk of knee injury. Whereas the more acute knee injuries like torn ligament and cartilages are more prevalent in sports involving jumping, running and turning.

However these injuries are caused when the knees are overworked. These pains gradually develop over days or weeks and gradually worsen over time. When muscles and tendons are overstretched microscopic tears occur and the prevalent pain is usually as a result of inflammation. Knee injuries cause knee pain especially for athletes. There are four major ligaments of the knee, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Also, the meniscus is commonly injured, resulting in knee pain. Other causes of knee pain include Osgood-Schlatter Disease and Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.

The ACL extends from the front of the tibia and inserts on the back of the femur. This structure prevents excessive posterior movement of the femur on the tibia. The ACL is often torn when an athlete changes direction rapidly, slows down from running, or lands wrong from a jump. These types of injuries are common for athletes who ski, play basketball, or play football. The knee pain is associated with a torn ACL is rated as moderate to severe and is typically described as sharp at first, and then throbbing or achy as the knee begins to swell. Most people report increased pain with bending or straightening of the knee.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament

PCL injuries are much less common compared to ACL injuries. The PCL is often injured when an athlete receives a blow to the front of the lower leg, just below the knee or makes a simple misstep on the playing field. The PCL prevents the tibia from sliding backwards and works with the ACL to prevent pivoting of the knee. The symptoms of a PCL tear include knee pain, decreased motion, and swelling.

Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

Most injuries to the MCL are the result of a direct blow to the outside of the knee. Athletes who play soccer or football are at increased risk for this type of knee injury. The MCL spans the distance from the top of the tibia to the end of the femur on the inside of the knee. This structure prevents widening of the inside of the joint. A torn MCL causes swelling over the ligament, bruising, and feeling that the knee will give out or buckle.

Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury

The LCL connects the end of the femur to the top of the fibula, the smaller shin bone. It is located on the outer aspect of the knee. The LCL helps to prevent unnecessary side-to-side movement of the knee joint. The LCL is usually torn from traumatic falls, motor vehicle accidents, or during sporting activities. Symptoms of a torn LCL depend on the severity of the tear and include pain, swelling, difficulty bending the knee, and instability of the joint.

Torn Meniscus

The meniscus is the rubbery, tough cartilage that sits between the femur and the tibia. This structure works as a shock absorber. Athletes are at risk for tears in this cartilage with cutting, pivoting, twisting, decelerating, or being tackled. There are two menisci of the knee and they lie between the femur and tibia, one on the inside and one on the outside of the joint. The symptoms of a meniscus tear include knee pain in Rathgar Dublin 6, swelling, popping sound within the knee, and limited motion of the joint.

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is an overuse injury common among growing adolescents. This syndrome is caused by inflammation of the tendon below the patella. Athletes who participate in gymnastics, basketball, running, and soccer are at increased risk for this disease. The symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease include swelling, knee pain, and tenderness below the knee cap.

Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain

Young, active adolescents often complain of pain in the front and center region of the knee. This is called Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain, and it is not associated with any injury or damage to the knee structures. The cause of this syndrome is not clear, but experts believe that the complex anatomy of the knee joint contributes to the problem. The knee is extremely sensitive to problems of alignment and overuse. For teens, a number of factors are thought to be involved. These include poor flexibility, imbalance of the thigh muscles, problems with alignment, improper sports training techniques, improper use of equipment, and overdoing sports activities.

Symptoms of Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain

Symptoms include pain that begins gradually and is worse at night, popping sounds of the knee when climbing stairs or walking after prolonged sitting, pain during activities that repeatedly bend the knee, pain that causes the knee to buckle, and pain related to change in activity level or playing surface.

When to Seek Treatment for Knee Pain

Whatever the reason, if the injury doesn’t go away within a few days, especially knee pain, you need to visit your physician as soon as possible. Ignoring injury for too long can cause permanent damage to your body. Stressing the ligaments, tendons, cartridge, and muscle in your joints can cause rips and tears that, if not repaired, can cause even more damage, such as an ACL rupture.

If you’re fortunate enough not to tear something, you might wind up damaging your back instead. While walking with knee pain, you adjust yourself for alleviation. These adjustments usually cause stress on the vertebrae in your spine, leading to slipped disks and pinched nerves. In a nutshell, you should go to the doctor if you have any of these symptoms: horrible or relentless pain, wounds, swelling, or drainage. If your knee pain has been around for three to seven days, it’s definitely time to see what’s causing it. Of course, if you’re unable to walk or have some other serious problem relating to the pain, you should go to the doctor, urgent care, or emergency room as soon as possible. When you go, be sure to have all of your information together to help speed up the process, such as any family history with joint pains, the medication you’re on, etc.sports injury.

Treatments for knee pain depend on the cause. If you’ve fractured your kneecap, treatment is one of two options: immobilization or surgery. Overly stretched ligaments can usually heal on their own with ice, compression, and maybe some anti-inflammatory medication. As long as you avoid any activity that would cause them more damage or knee pain. A torn ligament, however, requires surgery. Any damage to any tendons, characterized by an out of place kneecap, the inability to stretch your knee, or a physical difference in both your knees will require immediate surgery to repair. A clicking, grinding, or locked knee requires arthroscopic repair, which is a minimally invasive minor surgery. A dislocation must be quickly popped back into place and tested to make sure no arteries were severed or pinched during the process. If no injury has occurred, you may have a form of arthritis, which is usually only relieved, not cured, by medication.

A banged knee isn’t the end of the world, but the older we get, the more we have to watch our body and understand the signs it’s telling us. Of course, as with anything related to your health, if you’re worried about it, it’s best to consult a doctor.

Tennis Elbow Some of the Causes

Tennis Elbow, also referred to as Lateral Epicondylitis, or pain in the lateral elbow, is a common diagnosis that spans in severity from inflammation of the elbow tendons to an actual extremely painful tear within the tendon. Tennis elbow is caused by repetitive use that places strain on the two elbow tendons which extend to the wrist, individuals with tennis elbow tend to suffer pain during wrist extension and other wrist movements.

Certain activities which include lifting a glass of fluid or a tea pot, can cause the elbow pain associated with tennis elbow.  The lateral epicondylitis region of the elbow has two tendons, the ECRL and the ECRB. These two tendons go down the arm and attach to two bones in the hand and the wrist. The ECRL and the ECRB manoeuvre to pull the wrist and hand upward for extension.

When a person has tennis elbow, there is a limited blood supply where the two tendons attach at the elbow. This makes it particularly difficult for the body to heal or recover from the tendonitis once it begins. It also gives us a significant insight into the explanation of the chronic nature of tennis elbow.

Most commonly with tennis players, tennis elbow can be triggered by improper technique, a cracked racket, or a racket that is too stiff. New tennis rackets, new strings, increased tension of strings, or a new tennis pro that is teaching different than you are used to or new techniques learned, can all result in tennis elbow.

A tennis racket is often the main cause of tennis elbow in tennis players, hence where the name originated. Tennis rackets that have a high power level or are particularly stiff can cause tennis elbow. This is generally found in a double player type of tennis racket. If you are a tennis player you are at a much higher risk of suffering from tennis elbow than the general public and, it is definitely worth consulting a certified racket technician (CRT) to find out what type of tennis racket you should use to prevent tennis elbow.

If you are a sufferer, you absolutely should be seeking medical treatment to manage the pain and repair. If you are seeking medical treatment for tennis elbow you have a many different options. You may think orthopaedic surgery is a quick fix but it is actually only recommended as a last resort. Of course for the best course of action you should always seek medical advice from your doctor. The treatment of tennis elbow includes stretching exercises, medication and in worse situations, surgery. Generally initial treatment entails stretches that focus on the pronator muscle/tendon, and the ECRL and ECRB. Your doctor or physical therapist can give you more specifics on the exercises which are often recommended to be done 3 or more times each day for tennis elbow treatment.

Another course of treatment for tennis elbow in Rathgar is the use of a tennis elbow band. It is recommended that you wear the band 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for about 6 weeks, removing the band during showering. The band helps reduce inflammation causing the symptoms by changing the origin site of the ECRL and ECRB tendons. Easing your tennis elbow suffering.

People suffering with tennis elbow are recommended to anti-inflammatory medication and this has proven to be extremely helpful but of course consult with your orthopaedic or healthcare provider before taking any medication. Another course of treatment is a cortisone injection. This injection may be given to the inflamed area. Cortisone is a strong anti-inflammatory medication that works to reduce inflammation and will help greatly with tennis elbow.

It is important to be aware though that since cortisone offers immediate relief, People are generally tempted to revert back to the activity that caused the initial inflammation associated with the tennis elbow. This will make your symptoms return quickly and is not a good idea! Always seek advice from your doctor or physiotherapist on how to manage your condition after treatment. Also it is important to take into consideration that the cortisone is injected close to the skin, it sometimes causes vitiligo, a skin whitening condition. If you experience vitiligo, your skin will typically return to its normal colour within a year.

Certain experimental treatments are sometimes used to treat tennis elbow in Rathgar Dublin 6. These include things like PRP injections or platelet rich plasma, and prolotherapy. If nothing seems to help fix your tennis elbow, then your orthopaedic surgeon may recommend an MRI scan. An MRI will reveal whether you have interstitial tearing within the tendons or if a tendon has torn away from the bone. In these cases, your orthopaedic doctor may recommend surgery. Tennis elbow is a common cause and as you have read is treatable.

 An Overview of Lower Back Pain Causes and Treatment

Solutions for lower back pain,If you are suffering from lower back pain you can obtain the services of a lower back pain therapist locally. Some information about lower back pain first, there are a lots of muscles, tendons, joints and nerves in a person’s lower back region. All these structures might develop problems and can require treatment. The most common problem that people arrive into the therapist’s practices is the one of the lower back pain. Most of the people who eventually seek treatment for lower back pain have had the problem for a long time and are desperate to get relief from the pain and discomfort.

What is more important is that the lower back pain can radiate to extremities and it can cause spasms in the muscles, problems when walking, pain in the back and, in the worst cases, it can even lead to weakness or numbness in the legs and pain in the muscles. I’m sure everyone knows that all types of pain can be extremely devastating, and this is why the majority of people search proper management for pain. There are therapists in every town and city in Ireland and there are probably therapists who have a practice or deliver their services in your local area.

Why Does Lower Back Pain Occur? And Where Can You Get Help in your Locality

There are lots of things that can cause pain (injuries, kidney problems and many other similar situations). In order to dismiss damage to the spine, you have to go to your doctor and local GP in Rathgar Dublin 6. This way you can be sure you receive the proper treatment for your symptoms.

The pain can also come from strained back muscles or from various other causes, like spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, fractures, tumors or bulging discs. All these elements will require treatment.

Since the pain can have various causes, the doctors will have to do a physical exam and get patients to tell him everything about the kind of pain they are suffering from, its severity, the moment the pain started and the activity they were doing when the pain occurred. There are lots of types of treatments available in your locality that can do wonders in the case of the lower back pain. Whether we are talking about exercises, medication, steroids, stretches or surgery, the patient has to be aware of the possibilities. There are cases when the situation resolves itself on its own, but there are also cases when the treatment needs to be practiced for weeks or years. This depends on the degree of pain that a person feels.

What Exercises are Best for Lower Back Pain Relief?

The exercises that help with lower back pain relief can involve stretching exercises. Just a couple of repetitions can start a good treatment session. In time, you can do around 15-20 repetitions in order to improve your mood and relieve your pain and symptoms.

One of the most popular exercises is named the “feline or ‘cat stretch.’ How can you do it? Get on your knees and hands, raise the head and pull the muscles of the stomach towards the ground. This will make you arch your back and stretch it as hard as you can. After this, you can drop the head, tuck in the chin and raise the back. These stretches will help your back and make it stronger.

So just remember that if you are suffering from lower back pain and you are seeking relief from that pain you will find a local therapist in your vicinity who will give you treatment or recommend treatment to you.

What is pain Therapy and How Does It Work?

OK so you have taken up some new sport or exercise regime and you are working out regularly but you are now experiencing some bodily aches and pains and you want to prevent the pain from reoccurring, so you can enjoy your new found lifestyle, what can you do to stop all the soreness?

What’s Causing My Sore Muscles? It’s normal to have sore muscles after you work out, play sports, or even do housework, especially if:

You did something you’re not used to, like running a marathon when you normally jog just a few miles. You suddenly kicked up your exercise intensity level or increased the length of your workout. You did unusual exercises that lengthen instead of shorten your muscle, like walking downhill or extending your arm during a bicep curl.

These changes to your exercise routine can lead to tiny injuries in your muscle fibers and connective tissue. About a day later, you’ll start to feel sore.

This is called delayed onset, muscle soreness, it normally peaks within about 48 hours, and then it will gradually dissipate away. The good news is that when you do the same activity again, your muscles will start to get used to it. “You will actually have no soreness or less soreness because now you’ve strengthened the muscle or connective tissue.

What’s Causing My Joint Pain?

When your joints feel sore and achy, that’s usually a sign of osteoarthritis. This inflammatory condition becomes more common as you get older. The cartilage that normally cushions the joints wears away, leaving the joints inflamed and painful.

Joint pain can also be caused by overuse or injury, for example, tennis elbow or a knee injury caused by problem with a ligament or meniscus. Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect bones in your body. A meniscus is a rubbery disc that cushions your knee.

Treating Sore Muscles and Joint Pain

Some physical therapists suggest you ice the sore area right after the activity to cut inflammation. Then use heat later to increase blood flow to the area. Heat also can help relieve joint pain. If the pain persists visit your GP and let him decide whether you should take any medication to relieve the soreness or pain.

Sometimes soothing sore muscles requires more than an ice pack or over-the-counter pain reliever. Muscle pain that comes on quickly and feels intense is a sign that you’ve injured yourself. Call your doctor if your pain is severe or lasts for more than a few days.

How Do I Prevent Sore Muscles and Joint Pain?

Experts used to recommend stretching before a workout to prevent sore muscles. But research shows that stretching ahead of time doesn’t do much to prevent soreness or injury. Most experts believe that it’s better to get in a good warm-up before you exercise. Stretch later, when your muscles are already warm.

A couple of natural substances are touted for preventing sore muscles, including antioxidants like vitamin C. But check with your doctor before taking high doses of any vitamin. Serious exercisers might find relief from post-workout soreness by taking in some protein. A study of marines found that protein supplements helped sore muscles after intense exercise.

Ease Into Exercise and Check With Your Doctor

One of the best ways to prevent sore muscles is by easing your way into your exercise routine. Start off with lighter exercise and gradually build up. If you have a medical condition or you’re unsure about your health, check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. He can help you find an exercise routine that’s safe and effective for you.

When you have joint pain, you may be tempted to curl up in bed. One of the best things you can do for your joints, though, is to exercise. Your joints need to move to get nutrition, weight-bearing exercises can help strengthen the muscles that support the joint. Just watch that you don’t exercise to the point of pain.

It also can help to work with a physical therapist, who can show you how to exercise safely and how to keep good posture so that you don’t get injured or worsen joint pain.

More detailed information on Lower Back Pain  – Tennis Elbow – Knee Pain –  Sciatica – Hip Pain – Rotator Cuff Pain

Looking for An Event Management Company Read This First

  What is event management and what does it entail?

“Event management is… connections. It’s connecting people and messages; be it to think or act differently, to share, to teach or to motivate. It’s everything from 2 people meeting in a café to chat about a sales opportunity, through to the Olympic Games with its motivation on a global level and messages around aspiring to success. It’s the greatest industry in the world to work in.”

​Wikipedia defines event management as “the application of project management to the creation and development of large scale events such as festivals, conferences, ceremonies, formal parties, concerts, or conventions. It involves studying the brand, identifying the target audience, devising the event concept, planning the logistics, and coordinating the technical aspects before actually launching the event”.

Designing and producing an event is easy, isn’t it? It’s a bit like organising a party. Just find a venue, come up with a theme, get in some food and drink, book a band, and send the invites out on time!

Unfortunately, like many things that seem simple creating a successful event requires hard work and a diverse range of skills and experiences.

The event industry also goes way beyond planning parties. In the UK alone spending on events last year was £42 billion and will grow to £50 billion by 2020. There are 25,000 event businesses in the UK. Employing over 530,000 people.

The events industry is much broader than you think. Take a look at the range of events below:

Parties, Awards, Launches, First Nights and VIP events – from Leicester to Times square

Product launches – from a celebrity perfume to a new washing powder

Sports events – from the Olympics to your local charity football match

Meetings, Roadshows and Conferences – from IBM to TED

Weddings – from yours or your friends to a Royal wedding

Festivals and Concerts – from ‘T’ in the Park to ‘P’ in the Dark

Charity events – from Sports Relief to The Moonwalk

What does event management involve?

Event management might be easy to define and is a major and growing industry. But what does designing and producing an event actually involve?

Understanding objectives – what is the purpose of the event? What experience do we want people to have? Without clear objectives for an event it is impossible to plan.

Establishing timelines – determining what has to happen and when. Any large event will involve complex project management. This often means the co-ordination of a variety of other people’s activity.

Selecting a venue – finding a venue seems simple. But the importance of the venue should not be underestimated. Selecting the correct venue involves research, negotiation, contracts and building working relationships.

Sourcing and managing suppliers – for every event there will be a range of suppliers. From caterers to lighting, diverse suppliers need selecting, prices negotiated and contracts agreed. Perhaps more important to the success of the event is the management of a variety of people. Ensuring they fulfil their role on time.

Managing Budgets – almost as important as clear objectives is the budget for the event. Delivering a great event is easy with unlimited funds. But great management is required to produce an event within a constraining budget.

Marketing and Communications  – it’s never a case of if you build it they will come. Delivering an audience requires marketing of what the event will deliver. Today this involves a range of channels from direct mail to social media.

Managing risk – events are complex. With many elements contributing to an event, there are many possible points of failure. Understanding what can go wrong and how likely this is, is vital. Even more important is having a plan for when things go wrong.

Thinking sustainably – making decisions in the event planning process that consider the social and environmental impact.

 Watch This Video To Learn The 10 Mistakes Most Event Planners Make

Volunteer – if you’re passionate about a career in events then volunteer. Real world of experience of what’s involved in putting together is invaluable. Volunteering will give credibility with a potential employer. It also allows you to see whether working in events if for you.

University Degree – over 70 universities in the UK offer a degree course in event management.

Take a course –  there are plenty of dedicated event management training courses available. If you have already taken a degree or want to change careers these are a quicker route to a career in events. We have developed a range of accredited to give you a head start in events.

We’ll give the final word to our own Claire Derrick, Director of Education for Event Academy has this definition of what event management is:

“Event management is the process by which events are conceived, planned, created and assessed. Events are brought to life by the project management of a series of well thought out plans and tasks.

Events are experiential by their nature. So management of them means that you must immerse yourself in the event, and not just tick actions off a list. Good event management requires flexibility, strength of character and an ability to connect with people from all walks of life.”

Is a career in events for you? Take a look at the  we have that can set you on the road to an exciting career.

Questions for The Prospective Wedding Planner

So you just had an amazing engagement party and its time to get to work on the wedding plans if you have not already started. Normally you’ll probably begin browsing magazines and wedding websites…and soon feel buried by a blizzard of checklists and a daunting array of decisions. That’s when you and your fiancé might want to think about hiring a professional wedding planner.

Good idea. Depending on your budget and needs, you can contract:

a full-service planner to arrange every detail someone to assist you only in choosing your wedding location and vendors a day-of coordinator (which really means 30 days before your wedding)

If you’re looking for access to private wedding venues, inspired design and décor ideas, and a wedding day that your friends and family will talk about for years to come, then a professional wedding planner may be your answer. A professional wedding planner should understand and aim to ensure that every couple experiences a dream wedding day—and that every wedding should feel like a party! NOTE: Many locations have in-house coordinators, but make sure you’re clear on exactly what level of service they provide. Venue coordinators usually just handle day-of issues and offer a list of their preferred vendors, so having your own planner may still be a great help.

Even though hiring a planner is an added cost, they often end up saving you money in the long run. And no doubt about it—the right wedding planner can definitely save you time and stress (priceless!).

Before interviewing potential wedding planners, you and your fiancé should have an idea of:

How much money you have in your budget

How many people you would like to invite

Your preferred wedding date

Your vision for your wedding (NOTE: If you aren’t sure yet don’t worry—getting help with this is one of the reasons why you’re hiring a wedding planner!)

So after each interview you have with  each prospective wedding planner, ask yourselves theses questions:

Did we feel heard?

Does the planner understand our vision?

Did we get a strong sense he/she will work with our budget?

Was there a good connection and did our personalities mesh well?

Listen to your gut. If an interview doesn’t feel right, then maybe that person just isn’t a good fit for you. Your

wedding planner is the vendor you’ll be spending the most time with, so it’s important to pick someone who’s compatible with you and your fiancé.

  Now here are the important questions you should ask at the interview

Getting to Know a Planner

Do you have our wedding date open? If so, do you anticipate any issues with the date such as weather, travel for our guests, difficulty booking a venue, etc.?

What made you want to be a wedding planner?

Describe the most challenging wedding you planned and how you handled the problems that came up.

How would you rate your problem-solving skills?

How would you rate your communication skills

Are you a certified wedding planner? If so, where did you get certified? What is your educational background?

Are you a member of any wedding association(s)? If so, does your association require you to satisfy yearly education requirements?

How long have you been in business? Do you have a business license?

How many full-scale weddings have you planned? When was your last one?

How many wedding clients do you take on in a year? How many do you expect to have during the month of our wedding?

Is wedding planning your full-time job? If it’s part-time, what is your other job? Working With the Venue

Have you ever worked at the venue we’ve chosen?

If our event is outdoors, what contingency plan would you have for bad weather? (Describe an event where you had weather issues and how you resolved them.)

Their attitude to the hiring other vendors

Are we required to book only the vendors you recommend or do we have the freedom to hire someone even if you haven’t worked with them before?

Do you take a commission or discount from any of the vendors you would refer us to?

Will you be present at all of the vendor meetings and will you assist us in reviewing all of the vendor contracts and making sure everything is in order?

Will you invoice us for all the vendor fees or will we need to pay each one of them ourselves?

For the vendors who will be on site the day of our wedding, can I provide you with checks for final payment that you will distribute to them?

If issues arise with the vendors before, during or after our wedding, will you handle them or are we responsible for this?

Scope of Work

What kind planning do you offer? Logistical only (i.e. organizational—handling things like the timeline and floor plan) or Design and Logistical (i.e. bringing a client’s vision to life as well as taking care of all the organizational aspects of the wedding)?

If you just do logistical planning, can you refer us to a vendor who can assist us with event design? (NOTE: Floral designers often do full event design, as do vendors who specialize in design.)

Will you handle every aspect of the planning or can we do some things on our own? In other words, what parts of the planning will we be responsible for?

Will you be the person on site the day of our wedding or will it be another planner? How many assistants will you have?

In case of an emergency that prevents you from being at our wedding, who will be the backup planner? What are their qualifications?

What time will you arrive and depart on the day of our wedding? Will you stay on site after our wedding to make sure everything has been broken down and all vendors have left the location?

Will you provide us with a timeline of the wedding and a floor plan of the wedding venue?

Do you offer different package options or is everything customized based on what we’re looking for?

How many meetings and phone calls are included in our package?

Is the wedding day rehearsal included in your services?

Do any of your packages include planning the rehearsal dinner and/or post-wedding brunch? If not, would you

provide that service and what would be the extra cost to include it in our contract?

Do any of your packages include honeymoon planning? If not, would you provide that service and what would be the extra cost to include it in our contract?

Do any of your packages include assistance with finding my wedding dress and wedding party attire? If not, would you provide that service and what would be the extra cost to include it in our contract?

Getting Down to Business

Once we book with you, how quickly can we expect to receive the contract?

After we give you our budget, will you provide us with a breakdown of how the money is going to be allocated?

As changes are made to our plans, will you update us with a revised estimate and updated contract?

How do you charge for your services? Hourly, percentage of the wedding cost, or flat rate?

Can you provide a detailed list of all the items included in your fee?

What is your payment policy?

Do you accept credit cards?

How much of a deposit is required to book your services? When is the final payment due?

Are there any fees that won’t be included in your proposal that we should be aware of?

What is your refund or cancellation policy?

Can you provide a list of references? NOTE: Any experienced coordinator should be able to give you plenty of references.

Can you provide us with a portfolio and/or video of weddings you have done?

The Important List To Get Through While Planning a Wedding

  Planning a wedding involves endless details, deadlines, family drama, and far too often enough stress to make you want to just elope. Use our planning checklist, read our budgeting tips, and look into a wedding planner to help you pull it all together.

​Lets Start With….

Engagement Party Planning Basics

Whether you’re the hosts or guests of honor, read our engagement party primer for everything you need to know.

What It’s For

People will want to congratulate you on your engagement, and let’s be real: A party’s a lot more fun than a phone call! It’s also a great time to introduce key people from your lives who are going to be seeing a lot of each other (and possibly helping plan your wedding together) over the next year or so. “It’s really the first time before the wedding when you have different groups of friends and generations really getting to know each other in a much more intimate way,” says celebrity wedding planner Jung Lee of Fete NY.

Who Hosts?

Traditionally, the bride’s parents host the first official celebration. Then, the groom’s parents can throw their own party, or maybe both sets of parents will come together to cohost an event. But these days, more couples are throwing the engagement party themselves (but just keep in mind that if you’re doing the inviting, it’s your responsibility to foot the bill too). Friends can also host (and may even volunteer to), but before you ask, be conscious of the financial implications.

When to Have It

The engagement party should fall within a few months of the proposal, right in the sweet spot between carefree, just-engaged life and the start of serious wedding planning. You’ll want to give guests about a month’s notice, so about 9 to 11 months before the wedding is the ideal time frame.

Whose Turf to Have It On

Say you live in New York, but most of your family and friends live in Chicago: You may decide to have your party in your hometown (and enlist someone local to help you plan), host it in your current locale or even throw two parties. Just beware of tiring out your guests and bridal party with too many invitations before the wedding day is even close. Also, when picking the party location, consider where you plan to have your wedding—you may not want to ask guests to travel twice. “More of my clients are having multiple engagement celebrations because their friends and family are spread all around the country, but everybody wants to honor them,” Lee says.

Where to Have It

Depending on how many people you want to invite, you can make an engagement party work almost anywhere—it’s really up to the hosts. To choose the venue, think about the atmosphere you want: If you like the idea of having everyone in the same room, you might want to rent out a private room at a restaurant, country club or a bar. For something more low-key, a house, backyard or beach club might be a better choice.

Whom to Invite

It used to be that you weren’t supposed to invite anyone to the engagement party whom you weren’t inviting to your wedding, case closed. But now that so many couples live and/or host their nuptials far away from their families and friends, and the formality of engagement parties is evolving, expectations have changed and engagement parties now often include people who aren’t invited to the wedding. If your friends want to plan an informal bar party and just email the invites a few weeks before, it’s totally fine to include people you aren’t sure will end up making the wedding guest list (coworkers, newer friends, college roommates). And if your parents’ good friends want to host a cocktail party at their home in your honor, let your parents invite mutual friends and business associates you might not have room for at your wedding.

​

If, on the other hand, either you two or your parents are hosting, the old rule sticks. When the wedding hosts send the engagement party invitation, it’s considered part of the official wedding parties and guests assume they’re invited to the wedding too. To avoid a sticky situation later, start working on your wedding guest list now. Then trim the engagement party list down to your wedding party, immediate family and closest friends.

How to Invite

Feel free to keep the invitations simple. You can even make them yourselves or send out an email. If you’ve chosen your invitation designer already, see if they’ll give you a special rate. Don’t worry if you haven’t settled on a color palette or don’t have a wedding date in mind yet—your engagement party invitations don’t have to match the rest of your stationery. Also, make sure you have your wedding registry done before the engagement party invitations are sent out in case guests want to bring you a gift.

What to Serve

There’s no need to plan a five-course meal with a four-hour open bar. Anything from passed appetizers or tasting menu stations to a family-style buffet or casual cookout will work. Or get creative and serve up dishes that share something about you. “I had a bride and groom known for having Sunday Mexican dinners, so of course they brought it back with margaritas, mini fish tacos and great guacamole—it just made sense and was a genuine touch,” Lee says. As for dessert, serve it if you’d like, but it doesn’t have to be cake. Consider gourmet ice cream sandwiches, assorted baked goods or seasonal treats like candy apples or cotton candy.

How to Set the Scene

While of course it’s fine for the décor and details to reflect your wedding colors and theme, like your invites, don’t feel like you have to rush to choose them just so your engagement party can match. The real trick here is that you don’t want to upstage the wedding. So if you’re envisioning a casual beach wedding with simple décor, a fancy cocktail party at a swanky hotel with over-the-top centerpieces might make that beach bash feel like a bit of a letdown. Consider choosing a style and theme that are completely different from your wedding day to mix things up. So if you’re planning a formal ballroom wedding, go for a laid-back beach theme for your engagement party, with vibrant tropical colors and an outdoor setting. Just a few small arrangements from your local florist can perk up any space (and it’s a great way to try out a potential florist for the wedding). Even if you want to keep the engagement party low-key, a theme and coordinating color palette are an easy way to tie things together.

What to Wear

Your wardrobe will depend on the setting of the party. Aside from the obvious (don’t wear a long, beaded evening gown to a casual backyard bash), keep it simple enough that you don’t outdo your wedding day look, but special enough that you’ll stand out. A sundress will work for an outdoor affair, or for a fancier fete, a cocktail dress is a safe bet. And what should your freshly minted francé wear? While he doesn’t have to wear a suit and tie (and certainly not a tux)—unless the venue calls for it—he should get as dressed up as you do. And if you have a specific dress code for your guests, make a note of it on the invitation.

Heating control systems: Boiler Controls and Thermostats

Find out how to save money with heating controls, and discover the best heating controls for a cosy home. Having your heating at the right temperature will not only keep you cosy, but can also cut your energy bills. Use our expert tips to stay warm and save money.

Effective heating controls are a vital part of an efficient boiler-powered central-heating system. Clever use of controls can help you minimise energy consumption by ensuring each room is at the right temperature for comfort, while avoiding overheating. Which will keep your home cosy and cut your energy bills.

Keep reading and follow our quick and easy tips to help keep your energy bills, and your heating, under control.

Will your boiler let you down this winter? Our unique research reveals the most reliable boilers – go to best boilers. Save money with the best heating controls

Out-of-date central heating system components and controls can lead to wasted energy, costing you money. They can also create potential heating problems.

hot water cylinder supplied by gravity-fed water: stored water is slow to reheat

no cylinder thermostat: stored water can become too hot and risk scalding

no cylinder insulation: heat is wasted through the surface of the cylinder

no room thermostat: rooms are too hot or too cold

lack of thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs): excessive room temperatures and poor heating system balancing

no boiler interlock: this means the boiler stays hot and cycles unnecessarily during programmed heating periods.

You might not notice these issues in your home, but they’ll be wasting your money in the long run.

To find out how much an inefficient boiler could be costing you, and to work out if you need a new boiler, take a look at our guide on boiler energy efficiency.

Get the best heating controls to save you money

The type of heating controls you need will depend on the type of heating system you have and whether your hot water comes direct from your boiler or via a hot water cylinder.

When you have a new boiler or heating component installed, you should discuss which controls you need for your home with your heating engineer

There are five main types of heating control:

  timer – turns your boiler on or off at set times

room thermostat – measures how warm your room is and adjusts the boiler operation accordingly

programmer – lets you set different times and temperatures for different days of the week

thermostatic radiator valves (TVRs) – allow you to adjust the temperature of individual radiators and turn them off completely

smart thermostats – allow you to control the temperature in your home when you are not there

Controls to use with heat-only boilers

Your system should include:

programmable room thermostat

separate timing capability for hot water hot water

cylinder thermostat

thermostatic radiator valves on all rooms except the one with the room thermostat

motorised valves – to control the flow of water from the boiler to heating and hot water circuits

automatic bypass valve – used to maintain a minimum water flow rate through the boiler when thermostatic radiator valves (TVRs) are operating

boiler interlock – a wiring arrangement to prevent the boiler firing when there is no demand for heat.

  There is a lot more information on heat-only boilers in our guide to the different types of boilers, including combi boilers.

Controls to use with combi boilers

Your system should include:

programmable room thermostat

thermostatic radiator valves on all rooms except the one with the room thermostat

automatic bypass valve – used to maintain a minimum water flow rate through the boiler when thermostatic radiator valves (TVRs) are operating

boiler interlock – a wiring arrangement to prevent the boiler firing when there is no demand for heat.

Using heating controls effectively

Effective heating controls let you take charge of when, where and at what temperature your heating is operating.

Simple changes that will make efficient use of your heating controls can make a big difference:

turning down your thermostat by just 1°C can save you £80 to £90, according to the Energy Saving Trust

zone your heating to the rooms you use the most, and cut your bills by reducing heating to the rooms you use the least programme your heating to only work when the house is occupied set your thermostatic radiator valves (TVRs) to a low temperature.

Lower heating costs: easy ways to save money

Small changes to your daily routine can keep you and your property warm without turning up the thermostat.

Try making these simple changes and you could reduce your heating costs, save money and cut your home’s carbon footprint.

curtains – use the natural light and warmth of the sun to keep your home warm during the day. Then close your curtains in the evening to keep that free heat inside, and to protect your room from draughty windows. Hang curtains behind your front door and draw them in cold weather

ventilation – letting air into your home will keep your house fresh, but try to open windows to air rooms when the sun is on them. Then keep windows and doors closed when the heating is on

room by room – turn the radiator down in rooms that aren’t used regularly, but regularly check for signs of damp or condensation

close doors – keep warm air in your main rooms by closing the door

add a layer – make a warm jumper, not your central heating, your first resort when the temperature drops

Lower heating costs: low-cost changes

You can also make some low-cost changes to prevent your hard-earned cash leaving your house as escaping heat.

Draught-proof doors

Invest in some low-cost measures to insulate doors around your home and reduce your heating costs.

add a self-adhesive foam or rubber seal around the door cavity

add a threshold strip to the bottom of the door with a brush to cover any gaps

draught-proof your letterbox with a seal around or under the flap, and a brush inside

stop cold air coming in through keyholes with a cover

Heat-reflective foil

Fit this behind radiators on outside walls with the shiny side facing into the room. This reflects heat from the surface of the radiator into the room and away from the wall.

Seal draughty gaps

Fill any gaps between skirting boards and the floor. This can be done with wood molding or flexible silicon sealant.

Loft hatch insulation

Insulate the loft hatch with a strip of foam or rubber seal.

Insulate your hot water cylinder

Unlagged cylinders lose heat from their surface. Put a cylinder jacket over an uninsulated cylinder to prevent this heat loss.

Central heating and thermostat controls

These are positioned away from your boiler and usually allow you to turn it on or off to regulate the temperature in your home. Older versions are connected by wires running to your boiler, while newer systems tend to send signals to the boiler wirelessly.

Room thermostat controls

A room thermostat switches the heating system on and off as necessary. It works by sensing the air temperature. It switches on the heating when the air temperature falls below the thermostat setting, and switches it off when the required temperature is reached.

Expert heating tips:

setting the thermostat to 20°C is usually adequate

recommended night-time temperature is 16-19°C

it is advisable for babies to sleep in a room no warmer than 18°C

the temperature shouldn’t drop below 16°C for elderly people and those with impaired mobility.

Unless you have a smart thermostat that allows you to control individual radiators in your home, there’s usually only one room thermostat per heating system. It controls the temperature of the whole house based on the temperature of the room it’s in. It is best located in a living room or bathroom, which you’ll probably want to be the warmest room in the house.

Room thermostats need a free flow of air to sense the temperature, so make sure yours isn’t covered by curtains or blocked by furniture. Nearby electric fires, a television, walls or table lamps may stop the thermostat from working properly.

Programmable room thermostat

A programmable room thermostat lets you choose what times you want the heating to be on, and what temperature it should reach while it’s on.

A seven-day timer makes it possible to set a different heating pattern for weekdays and weekends. Some timers allow different patterns for each day of the week – this can be useful if you work part-time or on shifts.

If your heating system is a boiler with radiators, there will usually be only one programmable room thermostat to control the whole house. The time on the programmer must be correct. Some types have to be adjusted when the clocks change to and from Irish Summer Time.

You may be able to temporarily adjust the heating program. Common options are:

‘party’ which turns the heating on for a few hours ‘override’ lets you temporarily change the pre-programmed temperature during one of the programmed periods ‘holiday’ turns the heating off for a set number of days.

Programmable room thermostats need a free flow of air to sense the temperature, so they must not be covered by curtains or blocked by furniture. Nearby electric fires, televisions, wall or table lamps may prevent the thermostat from working properly.

Thermostatic radiator control valves (TRVs)

These detect the local air temperature and regulate the flow of hot water through the radiator, depending on how hot the room is. They do not control the boiler. They should be set to give you the temperature you want in each individual room.

It’s not a good idea to have a TRV on the radiator in the same room as the main thermostat. This is because if you alter the TRV, the thermostat will adjust itself to be in line with this local radiator.

TVRs usually have a fat valve at one end, marked with * and numbers from one to five. The * setting is to protect against frost. They need a free flow of air around them and should not be covered by curtains or blocked by furniture.

Built-in boiler controls

Built-in boiler controls are useful if your boiler is easy to access, but not if your boiler is in a loft or garage.

Boiler on/off switch

The simplest boiler control is the on/off switch. Turning it on puts the boiler in standby mode until it needs to provide heat for your hot water or radiators. Standby uses a small amount of electricity – usually less than 10 watts per hour.

Some on/off switches have an option to turn on just the hot water, so you can turn the heating off permanently during summer.

Temperature controls

Some boilers have separate controls for the temperature of the heating and hot water.

This allows you to set the temperature of the water that leaves the boiler to supply the heating. If you lower the temperature, your boiler will operate as efficiently as possible. If you increase the temperature, you will heat your radiators more quickly in cold weather.

Expert heating tips:

set your boiler temperature to 82°C in winter (between medium and hot) and adjust down if radiators feel too hot, or up if not warm enough

set your boiler temperature to 65°C in summer (between medium and low) and adjust down if your water feels too hot.

If you have children, being able to control the hot water temperature is essential as you can prevent scalding hot water from reaching the taps. It can also provide a boost in cold weather if your hot water is not quite hot enough.

Mechanical boiler timers

A simple mechanical timer usually gives you three options for running a central heating system:

the boiler is off the boiler is providing heat the boiler turns on and off at set times.

Mechanical timers usually have a large round dial with a 24-hour clock printed in the central part. You turn the dial until it is set to the correct time and then leave it to switch on and off.

The outer portion of the dial consists of tabs, representing a 15-minute period, that are pushed in to select when you want the boiler to turn on.

Mechanical timers are simple to set, but your boiler always turns on and off at the same time each day. This may not suit you if you have different weekday and weekend routines.

Advanced boiler and heating controls

These features give you full control of your heating and make it adapt automatically to changing weather conditions.

Intelligent heating controllers

These combine several of the basic controls, and can learn how long it takes for a house to heat up in different weather conditions. They also often allow for different temperatures to be set between day and night.

Weather compensators

These measure the temperature, either internally or externally, and delay switching on the central heating on milder days.

Full zone control

Most homes have a single heating zone – the only controls in the rooms are by thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs – see above).

When a new central-heating system is installed, it’s possible to fit a full zone control that has different pipe loops and separate thermostats for two (or more) areas. This can save significant amounts of fuel in larger houses.

Smart thermostats Smart thermostats can be controlled with a tablet or mobile phone. So you can adjust your heating when you are out of your home, or from the comfort of your own sofa. To find out everything you need to know about smart thermostats, including which ones are the best, see our smart thermostat guide.

Hot water controls

Cylinder thermostat

A cylinder thermostat switches on and off the heat supply from the boiler to the hot-water cylinder.

It works by sensing the temperature of the water inside the cylinder. It switches on the water heating when the temperature falls below the thermostat setting, and switches it off once the set temperature has been reached.

This thermostat is strapped to the outside of a hot water cylinder near the bottom. It should be set to between 60°C and 65°C – this is high enough to kill off harmful bacteria in the water, but not so high that it increases the risk of scalding.

If you have a boiler control thermostat, it should always be set to a higher temperature than that of the cylinder thermostat so it can produce water that is hot enough to heat the water in the cylinder.

Source: Which 

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Grants for Domestic Solar Panels Available in Ireland

Currently, the Better Energy Homes scheme is available for homeowners to apply for €1200 grant aid towards a solar thermal system.

There are a number of important things to keep in mind regarding solar thermal under the Better Energy Homes Scheme :

The contractor must be registered with SEAI : See registered contractor search page – Select “county” and “solar heating” options

· The solar collector must be registered with SEAI : See Greener Homes Scheme phase lll : solar collector registered list Please note: even if the collector are listed on the ‘solar collector’ list does not mean that a specific product will meet the sizing requirement of the grant. Please speak with the registered solar water heating installer to discuss your option in meeting the Better Energy Homes grant requirements.

· The solar thermal installation must contribute a required amount of renewable energy per square metre of floor area in order to be eligible for the grant. Full technical details of this requirement are outlined in Section 7.8 of the Better Energy Homes code of practice and technical specification document. It is the responsibility of the contractor to discuss both the specification and the appropriate sizing (including hot water storage) of the solar water heating system with the customer prior to final system selection. Download the ‘Solar Installers Note’ here

Note: Please be advised that not all products registered on the Greener Homes list are eligible for grant support. Please check with your supplier before submitting an application.

What type of work can I get a grant for?

Grants are available to eligible applicants for undertaking the following works, in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Contractor’s Code of Practice and Standards & Specification Guidelines.

  Grants are available for the following works which must be completed by a registered SEAI contractor.

Energy Efficient Works Insulation Attic €300 Wall –  Cavity €300 Wall –  Internal Dry Lining Apartment (any) OR Mid-terrace House €1,200 Semi-detached OR End of Terrace €1,800 Detached House €2,400 Wall –  External Apartment (any) OR Mid-terrace House €2,250 Semi-detached OR End of Terrace €3,400 Detached House €4,500 Heating System Heating Controls with Boiler (Oil or Gas) Upgrade €700 Heating Controls Upgrade only €600 Solar Heating €1,200 Bonus For 3rd measure €300 For 4th measure €100 Building Energy Rating (BER) €50

The following should be noted: Cash grants are a set value based on 30% of average cost of works. If expenditure is below this set value, only the actual expenditure will be reimbursed. A Building Energy Rating (BER) must be undertaken on the home after grant aided works have been completed. A homeowner is entitled to BER funding of €50 once per home and cannot be counted toward a bonus. A SEAI registered contractor must be used to install grant aided measures.

Source: SEAI

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Domestic Solar Panels Information

Explanations For Solar Heat and Solar Electricity

FIRSTLY THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOLAR HEAT AND SOLAR ELECTRICITY

SOLAR HEAT

The sun is a source of free heat which can be used in our buildings for heating and hot water. When we use solar heat to its full potential in our buildings, we significantly reduce our overall reliance on fossil fuels. The lower the energy requirement of the building in the first place, the more substantial the contribution from solar heat will be. For other demands such as hot water, which does not vary much seasonally, then solar can make a considerable contribution to the overall hot water demand.

SOLAR ELECTRICITY

The sun is a source of free energy which can be used to produce electricity as well as heat. The production of solar electricity relies on active solar technology. The most commonly encountered system for solar electricity production is solar photo-voltaic. Other systems, such as concentrating solar thermal plants, whose primary output is heat, can also be used by producing steam to generate electricity using a turbine.

Currently, the Better Energy Homes scheme is available for homeowners to apply for €1200 grant aid towards a solar thermal system.

There are a number of important things to keep in mind regarding solar thermal under the Better Energy Homes Scheme :

The contractor must be registered with SEAI

Solar panel refers to a panel designed to absorb the sun’s rays as a source of energy for generating electricity or heating

A photo-voltaic (PV) module is a packaged, connect assembly of typically 6×10 photo-voltaic solar cells. Photo-voltaic modules constitute the photo-voltaic array of a photo-voltaic system that generates and supplies solar electricity in commercial and residential applications. Each module is rated by its DC output power under standard test conditions (STC), and typically ranges from 100 to 365 watts

The efficiency of a module determines the area of a module given the same rated output – an 8% efficient 230 watt module will have twice the area of a 16% efficient 230 watt module. There are a few commercially available solar modules that exceed 22% efficiency and reportedly also exceeding 24%

A single solar module can produce only a limited amount of power; most installations contain multiple modules. A photo-voltaic system typically includes an array of photo-voltaic modules, an inverter, a battery pack for storage, interconnection wiring, and optionally a solar tracking mechanism.

Grant aid from SEAI – Grant of €1,200 from SEAI to assist with the your Kingspan solar panel installation.

Vat refund scheme – Homeowners can now claim the VAT back on the installation as well as claiming the grant!

Reduced water heating costs – If you have an efficient solar panel in your house, your water heating bills will be reduced by 70%. Consider this calculation – If you have €5,000 in a savings account, it is probably earning you €120 per year in interest. This is also subject to DIRT tax. Install a solar system and it will save you 6 times this amount in fuel savings. Also, the fuel savings cannot be taxed! How do the most modern solar panels work?

Solar tubes closeSolar panels operate on the principal, that black surfaces attract heat from the sun. Just like the roof of a black car on a sunny day. The heat is generated in the solar panel, and must be transferred to the hot water cylinder, where it can be used. It is transferred from the panel, to the cylinder with the use of a small pump and insulated pipework.

The pumps used are low noise and low energy consumption. Most best quality pipes arrive already insulated from the factory. When the heat reaches the hot water cylinder, it is sent through a heat exchanger inside the cylinder. This causes the water inside to heat up, without costing you any money.

What type of solar panels should I choose?

There are two types of solar collectors available. Evacuated tube and flat plate panels.

Evacuated tube solar panels offer higher inefficiencies as they have little or no heat loss. Evacuated tubes have benefits over flat plate panels that are desirable for the Irish climate. There is a never ending debate over which is better, which works best, which last longer, which looks better and so on…Simply put, evacuated tube solar panels out preform flat panels in cloudy or cooler climates. That’s the bit most people forget to add onto that statement. It’s important to understand it too. Flat plate panels have high thermal losses (they lose heat to the outside air). Evacuated tubes are like thermos flasks and don’t lose any heat. Also, because the tube is round, it always has the maximum possible area facing the sun. Evacuated tube panels are, on average 20% more efficient than flat plate panels in Ireland. Here is the proof.

Flat plate panels on the other hand, expose their full face area for a short period of time when the sun is directly overhead. This is because they are, as their name suggests, flat. So when the sun is overhead, they work well, but by 4pm in the afternoon when the sun is facing the side of the flat surface, it produce less energy. When comparing panels, make sure not to only compare “peak output” and to compare the output over the entire day. The two types of solar panels may take in the exact same amount of energy, but the flat panel will lose some of it’s energy to the air, before it’s able to transfer it to the water. On a sunny day, this doesn’t matter, as the panel will lose heat, but it will be replaced immediately by the sun. On an average Irish day, it really does matter as the air temperature might be 10c so the panel at 70 c will lose lots of heat to the outside air.

The south polar base station heats it water by solar panels. They use Kingspan Thermomax evacuated tubes, as flat plates don’t work well in cooler, less sunny climates. NASA installed Kingspan Thermomax panels a few years ago. The Pentagon, UCD, Siemens and St. James Hospital to name but a few, all have Kingspan Thermomax panels installed on their premises. Those clients do their research and purchase the panels that will give them the best performance, without compromise.

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