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As across the UK temperatures officially hit single digits, homes will be turning to their trusty thermostats to give them some much-needed warmth this autumn. However, with your boiler sitting docile all summer, you may find yourself without heat when you need it. With an average of 5,100 searches each month, in autumn, searches for “boiler repair” begin to creep up. They peak in December as households find broken boilers when they need it the most. Searches have climbed 257% this month alone. With this in mind, 窪蹋勛圖厙 has partnered with David Doran, a plumbing expert at Blackstone Plumbing & Heating Ltd to find out what heating checks you need to make and how to avoid a winter breakdown. What checks should you carry out before turning your heating on? Check your boiler pressure Your boiler pressure gives you an idea of how efficiently your heating system is running by telling you the pressure of the water circulating through your system. If the pressure is too high, then this could cause leaks to develop. If it’s too low, the system won’t work as well, leading to ineffective heating, and you’ll find your home will be colder than expected. David explains, “Low pressure can result in ineffective heating, while high pressure can potentially damage your system.” He recommends keeping the pressure gauge between 1 and 2 bars, which provides the ideal balance for optimal performance. If you notice a slight increase in boiler pressure while it’s running, don’t worry—this is completely normal. Just ensure the pressure stays below the 3-bar mark during use. Check your thermostat Make sure your thermostat is working properly and accurately reading the temperature. If the readings are inaccurate, the thermostat might cause your boiler to work overtime, wasting energy trying to reach a room temperature that’s already been achieved. Conversely, it could shut the boiler off too early, known as short cycling, leaving you in the cold. David suggests, “ Consider replacing old thermostats with programmable or smart thermostats to improve efficiency. If your thermostat runs on batteries, check if they need replacing. ” Test out your heating system before you need it It’s important to test your boiler before you need it, to avoid being one of the thousands of Brits searching for “boiler repair” in December. Run your heating system for a short period (e.g., 15-30 minutes) to ensure all radiators heat up evenly and there are no unusual noises from the boiler or pipes (e.g., banging, clanging, or gurgling sounds). Should you notice anything untoward, such as cold spots, it’s worth reaching out to your local heating specialist . On 窪蹋勛圖厙, you can either browse nearby listings or post an enquiry . Ensure your boiler is regularly serviced Annual servicing of your boiler is important to ensure that your system is operating safely. According to insights from HomeServe , more than half (58%) of UK households haven't checked that their boiler is working as it should and 56% of the population haven't had an annual boiler service. David says that it’s important to “ have your boiler serviced once a year. Faulty boilers can lead to dangerous situations like gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly. ” A service includes checks for leaks, blockages, and the correct operation of safety devices. David adds, “R egular servicing keeps your boiler running efficiently. Over time, boilers can accumulate dirt, dust, and limescale, reducing efficiency. A well-maintained boiler burns fuel more effectively, helping you save on energy bills. ” Alongside this, it’s important to remember that many boiler manufacturers require annual servicing as part of their warranty terms. Skipping a service could void your warranty, leaving you without coverage if something goes wrong. Additionally, some home insurance policies may also stipulate that your boiler must be serviced regularly. A local plumber should be able to service your boiler and give you the advice and support you need. Tips on how to get the most out of your heating during cold weather According to Pepper Money’s Specialist Lending Study , 73% of people say that even a £100 increase in monthly bills would seriously affect their household finances. With winter on the way, maximising the efficiency of your heating during cold weather can keep your home warm and comfortable while also saving on energy bills. David Doran and 窪蹋勛圖厙 provide tips on how to make the most of your heating in the cold weather: Only set your heating to when you need it: A programmable thermostat allows you to create a heating schedule that fits your routine, reducing wasted energy when you’re not home or during sleeping hours. Smart thermostats can learn your habits and adjust heating automatically, optimising efficiency. Aim for a comfortable temperature: Aim for a comfortable temperature between 18-21°C (64-70°F). Setting your thermostat at 18-20°C can significantly reduce energy consumption compared to higher temperatures. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you can save around 1-3% on your heating bill. Only heat the rooms you need: Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) only heat the rooms you’re using. Keep unused rooms at a lower temperature or turn the radiators off entirely in those spaces. Don’t block the heat with furniture: Avoid placing large furniture or curtains in front of radiators. This blocks heat circulation and makes your heating work harder to warm the room. Clear airflow helps the heat distribute more effectively throughout your home.
Research by driving experts at 窪蹋勛圖厙 has revealed that Leeds and Belfast are officially the best cities to be a learner driver. With driving lessons averaging at £33 per hour in Leeds, this city makes an affordable choice for most learner drivers at 13% less than the national average of £38. Belfast is 3% above the average of £38, but learner drivers benefit from short wait times of 10 weeks. Demand for driving lessons is at an all-time high as the backlog from the pandemic continues. Until driving test capacity increases, the backlog is expected to only get worse, with high-demand areas having seemingly no end in sight. In 2024, there are an estimated 3,712,728 learner drivers in the UK competing for driving test slots, but the Driving Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can only accommodate 2,042,976 of them. This means that demand for driving tests is expected to exceed capacity by 82%. This pressure only continues as data from the DVLA shows that , from January to March 2024 (Quarter 4), 666,000 car theory tests were conducted in Great Britain, an increase of 12% from January to March 2023 (Quarter 4). Equally, from January to March 2024 (Quarter 4), 561,000 car practical tests were conducted in Great Britain, an increase of 25% from January to March 2023 (Quarter 4). The delays in booking tests and the ongoing backlog are causing major frustrations for both drivers and instructors. Learners are having to take more lessons to make up for the additional waiting time and instructors are unable to take on more drivers due to the backlog. According to a survey from car insurance provider Marmalade , 77% of learners have cited that the extra cost of more lessons has been their biggest frustration. DVSA says that learners will need an average of 45 lessons to pass a test , working out around £1,710 per student. However, with wait times for tests now at an all-time high at an average of 21 weeks across the country , driving instructors and their students are in a crisis. Learners across the country are facing a postcode lottery when it comes to waiting for a driving test slot, and most centres are seeing over double the wait times of pre-pandemic levels, which saw an average of only 6 weeks. Leeds and Belfast revealed as the best cities for learner drivers in the UK Taking into account the average cost of driving lessons in each city, the average wait times and driving test search demand, 窪蹋勛圖厙 has created a list of the best cities to be a learner driver in 2024. It’s revealed that Leeds and Belfast are officially the best cities to be a learner driver. With driving lessons averaging at £33 per hour in Leeds, this city makes an affordable choice for most learner drivers at 13% less than the national average. While driving test wait times are still relatively high at 20 weeks, this is one week less than the national average, and search demand in the city is slightly less than the national average, seeing 1,700 searches each month. Belfast averages £39 for driving lessons, which is 3% more than average, however drivers benefit from short test wait times at only 10 weeks. Belfast also has a smaller search demand of 1,400 searches each month for “driving lessons Belfast”. London is ranked as the worst place for learner drivers. The average driving lesson costs are second highest in the country at £41 per hour, 8% over the national average. London has the second highest wait times at 23 weeks, which is mirrored in its monthly search demand, which is the highest in the UK with over 2,800 searches for “driving lessons London” each month.
New research by driving experts at 窪蹋勛圖厙 has revealed the UK’s top 10 speed camera hotspots and which regions are catching drivers out this summer. Looking at police records from every county across the UK between the periods of July 2023 and August 2023, the experts at 窪蹋勛圖厙 have revealed that Surrey takes the top spot for the most speeding violations in the UK with 22,811 between July and August 2023. In 2023, 203,801 people were found guilty of a speed limit offence - this is a decrease of 8% when compared to the previous year, but an increase of 85% since 2011. Across the UK, there are now around 7000 cameras on the road networks, catching drivers out across the country - from speeding violations to using a phone whilst driving, or parking illegally. Below, the driving experts at 窪蹋勛圖厙 have identified the top ten speed camera capitals in Britain: Top 10 UK regions with the highest number of speeding offences The UK’s number one speeding hotspot in the UK is Surrey with 22,811 speeding violations between July-August 2023 . Within Surrey, the speed camera hotspot that has been catching the most drivers on the road is the M25/M3 Junction. The location coming in second for the most speeding violations is West Mercia. West Mercia saw 21,266 speeding violations in the period of July-August 2023, with the M5 J8 SB speed camera catching the most speeding violations. The location coming in third highest for speeding violations is Nottinghamshire, with 16,400 violations being caught. The M1 North Bound between Junction 26 and 27, Notts has been identified as the location that catches the most speeding violations in Nottinghamshire between July-August 2023.
Wimbledon kicks off on July 1st and is expecting around 54.3 million people to be watching the matches this year. With that many eyes on the revered courts, it is understandable why Brits will be attempting to replicate their own Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home this summer. In the run-up to the biggest tennis event of the year, search demand for “how to make your lawn green” has increased by 85% over the last 14 days. With this in mind, gardening experts at 窪蹋勛圖厙 have spoken to gardener and landscaper Simon Akeroyd to find out how to achieve a Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home this season. The most popular lawns in the world Wimbledon is a quintessentially British event known for its lush green courts that have been meticulously groomed for 15 months before the championships. The Wimbledon Centre Court is one of the most famous lawns in the world thanks to its nine tonnes of grass seeds being planted every year with precision, and daily maintenance that helps create the Perennial Ryegrass courts we see today. The most popular lawn in the world when looking at search demand is The Old Trafford Cricket Ground, with a monthly search demand of 8,000. Kensington Palace Gardens comes in second for the most popular lawn in the world, with a monthly search demand of 3,300. Taking third place is the Wimbledon Centre Court, which sees a monthly search demand in the UK of 2,200.
Research by 窪蹋勛圖厙 has found that Londoners are paying the highest rates to visit a hairdresser in the UK. The average price in the city is 42% above the UK national average of £130. Data reveals that the average cost across the UK to get a wash, cut and blow dry in 2024 is £48, whilst the average cost of the same treatment plus a colour service now sits at £130. Rising energy and business costs in 2024 have seen hairdressers' costs increase by over 20%. As salons try to recoup these costs, it’s been reported that over 64% will increase their prices over the next 3 months. In the third quarter of 2023 alone, Brits spent around £1.7 billion in the industry which had a value of £4.3 billion by the end of the year. With this in mind, looking at the most popular hairdressing services across the UK, hairdressing experts at 窪蹋勛圖厙 have identified the UK regions that are paying the most to visit a hairdresser in 2024. The Cost of Hairdressing Services by UK Region As Brits head off on their summer holidays, search demand for hairdressing services is on the rise. Besides December, the summer months between June and August see the biggest spike in searches for “haircuts near me” across the UK. Searches go from an average of 4,600 searches to 6,181 per month through the summer months. Searches for “hair colouring near me” also see an annual spike between June and August, jumping to 1,000 per month compared to 800, on average, at any other time of year. The team at 窪蹋勛圖厙 have looked into the most commonly asked-for hair services, taking into account the costs of a wash, cut and blow dry service, as well as the costs of a colour service. By combining the average costs of both of these services, they have revealed the highest and lowest-paying cities for both the combined service and the stand-alone services. Data reveals that the UK's average cost to wash, cut and blow dry in 2024 is £48, whilst the average cost of the same treatment plus a colour service now sits at £130. London was revealed to be the highest paying region for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service. The average price in London is £184 which is 42% higher than the UK national average cost of £130. Coming in second was Glasgow, paying an average of £159 for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service, which is 22% above the national average. Coming in third highest is Brighton, paying £155 which is 19% above the national average for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service. The joint lowest-paying regions are Manchester and Nottingham, costing an average of £101, which is 22% below the national average.
Each March search demand for “Spring Cleaning” peaks in the UK as Brits look to start the new spring season with a deep clean or clear-out of their home. Searches for “How to spring clean” have risen 49% over the last week as the first day of spring approaches compared to the same period last year. 嚜 While there is nothing more satisfying than having an annual spring clean once the warmer season hits - it’s often hard to know where to start and the sheer amount of clutter you may be clearing out can be overwhelming. TikTok is a great place to find tips and tricks you may not have thought of and with over 18,700 posts with the hashtags “#Springclean” and seeing over 322.5 million views, there are plenty of tips to be found. With this in mind, the experts at 窪蹋勛圖厙 have trawled through Tiktok’s most popular tips to compile a list of their top hacks on how best to spring clean your home in 2024. As we reach the end of the winter months, getting organised and transforming your space into a freshly cleaned and less cluttered environment boosts your mood and gets you ready for the next season. 1. Start Small Before the deep spring cleaning can commence, it is a great time to clear out any clutter. Clearing out the clutter can be incredibly overwhelming - especially when you accumulated a lot over a long period. A key tip is to start small. Starting small allows you to make small steps towards a big, long-term goal, and a little progress every day will have a far bigger impact over time. If you start small you will feel a sense of achievement quickly. This will motivate you to continue. A great principle to stick to was created by online creator Becoming Minimalist , called the 12-12-12 Challenge. The idea is that you locate only a select number of items at a time dedicated to the clearing out of your home. First, you need to locate 12 items that you are going to donate, then 12 to throw away or recycle, and 12 to return to their proper home in your house. Repeat as often as you like, and you’ll start to see the clutter disappear. 2. The 20/20 Rule The need to hold onto too many items, otherwise known as the “just in case” items, can really impact your spring cleaning and make the venture that much more difficult. When struggling to make decluttering decisions so you can easily deep clean your home, the 20/20 rule comes into play. The 20/20 rule is designed to help you get rid of those items that are cluttering up your home, that you’ve held onto “just in case” but have instead remained unused, taking up space in your home. When coming across these times you need to ask two questions - can this be replaced for under £20 or less? Can I replace this item in 20 minutes or less? If the answer is yes to both of these questions - it’s time to get rid. If the answer is yes to one of these, then take more time to consider if it’s easily replaceable and if you have the space to keep it in the meantime. 3. Learn How to Spot Clutter Learn how to spot clutter when it comes to spring cleaning your home to ensure a quicker and more efficient cleaning process. This can apply to any item that you might not actually need. Anything you are keeping ‘just because’ or through obligation, it may be time to show it the door. Clutter can grow exponentially through bad habits or even guilt, and result in a build-up of dust and dirt in difficult-to-reach places due to excessive amounts of clutter. If you take the time to identify the usefulness of said clutter regularly and discard things that way, you can easily release any of it from your home before it creates an irritating build-up and makes your spring cleaning journey more difficult. 4. Create a Spring Cleaning Checklist Lists are always a great place to start when it comes to spring cleaning your home. This way, you can plan and map out as much as you want to get done within certain time frames. When we step into a dirty or cluttered room, our brains are immediately overstimulated which makes it difficult to focus. It’s easy it is to get distracted while clearing out and cleaning when you start doing 5 things at once. A key tip is to make a list of every room in your house. When you enter the room make a list of everything that needs to be both cleaned and decluttered. Take on one room at a time and tick off each section of the room as you clean. With a checklist handy, you can focus on one thing at a time, taking you through a more structured approach to your spring clean. It not only keeps you as organised as possible but gives a great sense of achievement as you tick off each item on your list. 5. Let Go of Stuff That Doesn’t Fit Your Current Lifestyle Take an inventory of everything that you own, from the spare chair you have cluttering up your hallway to the winter jacket that you haven’t worn in 5 years. Assess each of them individually and ask yourself if they align with your current lifestyle. Does it bring you joy and does it serve a purpose? If it’s not seasonal and you haven’t used it in the last 6 months, it may be time to consider getting rid of it. This also applies to keeping things just because they were expensive - sorry to break it to you, but that money has been and gone. If you don’t use it anymore, consider donating it or if you want to make back that expense consider selling it on a re-sale site. 6. Start With What You Can See When it comes to knowing where to start, it’s recommended to begin cleaning and clearing out the parts of your home that most need it. Start decluttering the stuff that you can see (the stuff that's taking up visible space all over the house rather than items stuffed in a wardrobe or a cabinet) and do a deep clean on, around, and underneath those items. The rooms that are generally used the most are usually the ones to accumulate the most dust, clutter and dirt and therefore are likely to need more immediate attention. The kitchen and living rooms are great places to start your spring cleaning venture. As hubs of the home, if the rooms are messy, cluttered or dirty, they can feel stressful and frustrating. 7. Tackle the Entryway/Space by the Front Door There is nothing more stressful than staring straight at a bunch of dust, general clutter or dirt as soon as you walk through the front door. The hallway or entryway is usually the place that has to handle the most dirt, dust, and clutter, due to the level of footfall every single day. Clear and wipe down any surfaces, put away any out-of-season coats or shoes, and give the space a real deep clean. From mud on the floor from shoes to dust bunnies that have accumulated over time, giving your entryway a real deep clean will make the rest of your home feel easier to tackle. If you are looking at throwing away a significant amount of clutter, be it from your entryway or the house in general, hiring a skip is a great way to remove large amounts of clutter that allows you to really clean every spot thoroughly. 8. Get Organised Cleaning your house in preparation for spring is far easier when your home is organised. Although moving items from one place to another seems slightly redundant, utilising storage spaces is a great way to organise and sort things out that don’t necessarily need to be in your house, but you want to keep. Ideal for anything from furniture to boxes of books and children's toys, storage units are available in various sizes depending on what you need to store away. This way, your home can only have things in it that are needed, making it easier to keep on top of your regular cleaning activities. By staying on top of your organisation, cleaning your home will feel less stressful and can be done quickly and easily. This way, you can have a clear and organised home that’s the peaceful and calming space it should be. Checking Off Your Spring Cleaning Checklist Spring cleaning your home doesn't have to be the daunting task you are putting off on your to-do list. By following this expert-approved checklist, you can avoid any unnecessary stress and stay on top of your home environment by organising and cleaning quickly and easily - ready to help you start the new spring/summer season afresh.
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