How the plumbing and heating industry is evolving

All industries in the UK are continually evolving. Technology is accelerating and growing at an incredible rate. And as it gets better, we can come up with more solutions to ease the common problems we experience.

We’re in the middle of a technology revolution which is making our lives more convenient. And, as an added bonus, it’s making our bills cheaper! Here are some of the best innovations and what they can do for you.

Smart showers

Smart homes are becoming more popular. Companies like Samsung make it their business to boost innovation in heating across home appliances. But an interesting one is the smart shower.

These come with fun features like voice control, digitally accurate and reliable temperature settings, and safety features for all members of the family. Some even have Bluetooth speakers built into the showerhead so the water doesn’t drown out your favourite tunes.

Heat pump innovation

Traditional methods of heating aren’t perfect. They release carbon which contributes to climate change. Heat pumps aren’t a new invention, but they’re definitely becoming stronger and more effective.

They’re the most energy-efficient model for heating and cooling, but not always the most practical. Sometimes, extreme temperatures can render heat pumps ineffective. New generations of heat pumps are now equipped with the ability to handle extremes in temperature, drawing heat from dual sources like the air and ground to heat homes. If the UK wants to reach the Net Zero 2050 target, households need to reduce their emissions by 95%. Installing heat pumps could bring the UK closer to this goal.

Condensate insulation

Frozen condensate in pipes is both a very simple problem to solve with the right equipment, yet incredibly common in the winter. You could unfreeze the pipe using your kettle. But the simpler solution is to insulate the pipes to prevent freezing in the first place.

In the past, pipe insulation has been messy, often using zip ties to attach bulky insulation to pipes, giving it an unprofessional finish.

There are better tools and pre-insulated pipes out there that solve condensate-related issues. These pipes come with UV- and weather-resistant insulation pre-attached, in handy kits with all the parts you need for a quick condensate pipe installation or upgrade. They also provide all the extras you need to make sure it’s a high-quality job.

The size of an idea isn’t what matters; it’s the impact which is important. These three innovations are just a few examples of the developments keeping the plumbing and heating industry on its toes and heading in the right direction. It’s exciting to see what comes next!

Condensate Pro has the perfect condensate pipe insulation for you. You can invest in our products or tools on our website. See how our condensate kits and tools can save you time and money, and give you the space to focus on what matters most - delivering the best customer experience.

How to save time during boiler installation

The time needed to install a new boiler depends on many factors. What type of boiler are you installing? Do you need to convert any of the old system? You’ll need to consider the location of the new boiler and whether the heating system meets current Gas Safe regulations.

There are several things that can impact the time needed to install a new boiler. But there are a number of ways to keep this time to a minimum, saving both you and your clients valuable time and money.

Invest in quality tools

Without the right tools, a job can take a lifetime. As a professionals tradesperson, it’s likely you’ll have all the right tools. But a quick job often depends on the quality of these tools. Some professionals are inclined to buy cheaper tools to save money and widen their profit margins, but this can have the opposite of the desired effect.

Cheap tools can make simple jobs more difficult. Things like pipe cutting, insulation cutting, or pipe bending can take much longer than they should. It makes the whole installation process drag. This ends up costing you time and can eat into your profits and customer satisfaction.

Then there’s the cost of more frequent tool replacements. It won’t only affect your profits, but high hourly costs will also deter customers, leading to less work for you and your business.

Include advanced training for staff

You and your staff will benefit greatly from consistent and advanced training. The more experience you and your staff have, the greater your understanding of the boiler installation process. You’ll have better knowledge of the latest advancements in the industry, new tricks to speed up the process, and the best products on the market. This gives you an edge in installation.

Use time-saving products

Time-saving products shouldn’t just save you time on installation. They should also be high-quality and provide a professional finish. And they should solve some common issues you face during the installation process.

For example, fitting condensate pipes during poor weather means you’ll be cold, wet, and it will be difficult to use sand and cement to get the job done. But if you had something ready-to-use and insulated out of the box with no need for sand and cement, you could improve installation times and overall quality.

It’s factors like this that determine whether a product will aid your installation process. You should ask yourself:

Does it make my life easier?
Does it enhance the result?
Will it improve customer satisfaction?

If the answer is yes, you’ll likely benefit from time savings, increased profits, and more business as word spreads about your brilliant service.

At Condensate Pro, we’ve come up with a range of products and tools to make condensate pipe installation and insulation quick and simple. There is no fiddling about in poor conditions. Everything you need comes ready-to-use, made from top-quality materials so you can get the job done quickly to a professional standard. See our range of condensate insulation products and tools on our website.