Why You Should Choose a Thermostatic Shower

The shower is now seen – rightly – as not just a place for convenient hygiene, but of relaxing luxury, too. With the advent of additional jets and enclosed shower cabins, with radios and other flashy features, it is perhaps not surprising this is the case.

The thing is, some people still stick to the traditional mixer taps and valves, which have a number of significant drawbacks. Now, sometimes this decision is forced, as the type of shower you can have in your home often comes down to what type of system you have. For example, certain power showers require minimum pressure levels to ensure optimal performance. This is fair enough.

The nub of the issue however is that thermostatic showers are far easier to use and offer better performance. The main thing – and it might seem petty – is that it will give you an uninterrupted flow of water at a constant temperature. This alleviates that common, early-morning frustration of twiddling endlessly with your taps, alternating between scalding lava and arctic sea temperatures! This also leads to less water wastage, as more of it goes on you and not just gurgles uselessly down the plug hole.

Leading on from this point is the issue of safety. Cold water is not likely to give you anything more than an unpleasant jolt, and perhaps hypothermia if you inexplicably don’t get yourself out of the way within an hour or so! Overly hot water however is a safety issue, and thermostatic showers deal with this. This is because top class thermostatic valves have special features built in. Foremost among these are anti-scalding valves that do not allow water exceeding 38 degrees Celsius from transiting the valve. This gives you peace of mind, as you know your family is protected from extremely hot water.

The good thing about these thermostatic showers is that they provide utility with no detriment to style, longevity and looks. These valves, rails and other accessories come in a variety of designs and finishes, including chrome, which fit seamlessly with traditional or contemporary bathroom suites.

As they are of such a quality, you will find that manufacturers and stockists are prepared to back their thermostatic showers with guarantees of significant length. It’s not unknown for warranties of up to 10 years to be offered, so if you go in for one of these showers be sure to research your options.

In summary, a thermostatic shower mixer will set you back on the initial outlay, but this will be paid back through increased usability, peace of mind through safety and money saved through reducing waste water. It makes sense.

What are the Benefits of Having a Smeg Flueless Fire in the Home?

One hundred years ago, the fire used to be an essential part of the home. Grand fireplaces were the fashion, billowing out warmth.

In this contemporary age, they have been re-vamped into wall-mounted appliances with stylish aesthetics and excellent functionality. At the forefront of this revolution are Smeg with their fluless gas fires.

Originally from Italy, Smeg is renowned for their premium domestic appliances. Today, they are one of the world’s leading manufacturers, stealing centre stage in every home and responding to everyday demands.

Smeg ensures their core values of ‘technology with style’ are embodied through their fires. This sets them apart in producing elegant and efficient appliances, and their flueless fires are no exception to this.

The real benefit of these fires is their compatibility: due to their unique catalytic converter systems (which safely converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide), a chimney or flue is not required, so can be wall-mounted to blend in or make a bold statement in any room of the household.

Smeg have also designed these with complete safety in mind, as these wall-build fires come with a built in oxygen depletion sensor and flame failure device allow for peace of mind.

As well as catering for the contemporary home, Smeg have also considered a contemporary issue: the environment. As the company has made environmental sustainability one of its priorities, all Smeg flueless fires have been designed with environmental considerations in mind, and therefore have an impressive 100% efficiency rating as the fire convert the used gas into heat.

Their three ranges (Linea, Classic and Retro Style) are effortlessly stylish with interchangeable fascias, and are fully adjustable depending on the level of comfort you desire. View an extensive range of Smeg flueless fires at Superior Fires.

Overall, there are many benefits of these fires. Smeg has successfully harmonised design, technology and efficiency, making them a timeless addition to any household.

Why is Stainless Steel Such a Popular Domestic Material?

2013 marks a celebratory a century of design and innovation following the discovery of stainless steel in 1913. Stainless steel has become an increasingly popular material not only in architecture, technical equipment, health and environmental products but also consumer goods. When it comes to home appliances and furniture the material has a lot to offer.

With so many benefits such as being aesthetically pleasing in design, easy to maintain and a long life span, stainless steel products are definitely worth the investment.
Stainless steel is a low carbon metal with a high chromium content which makes it corrosion resistant, an ideal domestic material. There are many unique qualities of stainless steel that make it a leading contender in the choice of suitable materials for the home where water is present, particularly in taps and radiators.

Stainless steel also has self healing properties. A chromium rich oxide film forms across the surface of stainless steel, if it should become mechanically or chemically damaged as long as there is enough oxygen present it will self heal. Stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion and staining, making it an ideal material for many applications.

Stainless Steel Kitchen Taps

Kitchen taps are one of the main focal points in any modern or traditional kitchen and can really add a little wow factor to any kitchen. Stainless steel taps have many benefits including superior hard wearing properties as they do not readily corrode, rust or stain and do not show up dirt and residue like polished chrome does, making stainless steel a highly regarded material for taps.

The ‘brushed’ finish does an excellent job of not showing water marks and fingerprint smears, much better than the more common polished chrome taps prevalent in most kitchens.

Not only perfect in form stainless steel kitchen taps have become innovative in design. With so many modern and traditional designs to choose from offering the latest convenient features including ceramic disc technology for quarter turn operation and swivel spouts, also easy to clean and maintain, with unrivalled reliability.

Stainless Steel Radiators

Stainless steel radiators have become a very popular bathroom trend due to the large variety of designs available. Stainless steel towel radiators come in an array of designs, sizes including flat panel, curved, arch shaped, ladder design in a range of sizes, are easily maintained and will last for many years.

Radiators used in bathrooms are always surrounded by moisture and water, which is why stainless steel radiators anti rust properties make them a great long term investment for your bathroom. Moreover, stainless steel radiators offer better heat conduction than other radiators, making them a better emitter of heat and will hold heat for a longer period of time, keeping your bathroom warmer for longer.

At Tap Warehouse you’ll find an extensive collection of stainless steel radiators and taps from leading UK suppliers such as Radox, Just Taps, Vellamo and SBH designs to suit both modern and traditional style bathrooms and kitchens. You will also get the very best prices with big discounts off the RRP. Visit www.tapwarehouse.com and add a new focal point to your bathroom.

Wood’s No Good: The Benefits of UPVC Doors

If you are a wooden door compulsive and you have never thought about choosing a UPVC door for your home, perhaps it is time you did. Alternatively if you have pondered the plus point of plastic-based doors but decided against them, maybe you should think again.

This is because there are numerous benefits to a UPVC door, and possibly a few that you are unaware of. Let’s see shall we, by looking at the major advantages of UPVC doors.

• Secure

It is well established that UPVC doors provide more security than traditional wooden doors. The majority of these doors have a galvanized steel core, so they are incredibly hard to break down. UPVC doors are also designed to make it almost impossible to prise open with a crowbar.

• Cost-effective

UPVC doors are cost-effective because they have the capacity to save considerable amounts of energy. These doors are efficiently designed so that they prevent heat loss and also stop cold air from entering the home. This means you don’t have to use as much energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

• Offer noise reduction

As well as keeping out cold, UPVC doors keep out noise and this is a great benefit in built up towns and cities. With these doors you can therefore create a calm and quiet retreat wherever you live.

• Require little maintenance

While wooden doors need regular painting, varnishing and other maintenance to keep them looking presentable, UPVC doors just about look after themselves. The most you need to do is oil the locking mechanism of your door, and that’s about it! This makes UPVC doors perfect for busy people who don’t have the time to constantly touch up a wooden door.

• Smart appearance

Because UPVC doors require almost no maintenance they always look smart. And if you don’t like the clean white look of many of these doors there are numerous other colours to choose from. You can also buy your favourite of the many PCV Door Handles on the market, so that your door looks exactly how you want it to.

If you would like to save energy and therefore money, and get a door that requires next to no maintenance, the answer is simple: a UPVC door. Plus you can benefit from noise reduction and excellent security for your home.