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The OLEV Grant, also known as Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) can reduce the cost of your home charger by up to £350. If you're eligible, you'll be able to claim it when you buy an EV charger.

If you are thinking of buying an electric vehicle, then one of the first things you’d have to put into consideration is charging. When it comes to charging of your electric vehicle, doing it at home is one of the most convenient things that comes with it. Not only do you get to avoid the fuel stations, but you’d also get to drive a car in a much cheaper way. Fitting an EV charger or wallbox at your residential space gives you the option to add miles to your battery in a lot faster manner than making use of a three pin plug. In fact, there are also some chargers that offers a lot more than just being a fast way to charge your vehicle.

So which home ev charger should you use? There are a wide range of options available in the market today, however you can get the perfect match for your vehicle by answering these few questions:

• Can you park two cars side by side? If yes, then a tethered charger might just be your most suitable option. A tethered cable is one that’s always connected to your home’s charger. One of the major benefits of using this is that you can get home and plug the charger straight it without having to fetch the cable or carry it around.
• Is size and design crucial? If yes, then you can consider wallbox chargers or untethered wallboxes which are smaller in size and minimalist in design.
• What if your WiFi isn’t accessible? If your WiFi signal is poor in the spot where the charger is to installed but your mobile phone signal is good, then Ohme is a good option to consider.

Like every other systems in your home, solar hot water systems will require periodic inspections as well as a regular maintenance in order to keep it running as efficiently as it should. Not only that, the various components will also require either repair or replacement from time to time. It’ll also be proactive to take the necessary precautions so as to prevent worrying issues like corrosion, scaling or freezing.

Is it a task you can handle on your own? Well, there are some inspections and maintenance activities you should be able to handle on your own, however, you’ll also require a qualified technician to carry out the more technical or complicated tasks. You should also take note that it may actually be more cost effective to have some systems replaced, shut off or removed completely than having it repaired. Here are some of the essential inspections that should be carried out on solar system components. They include:

✓ Collector soiling. Periodic cleaning of your collectors is important especially in dry and dusty climates.

✓ Plumbing, ductwork and wire connections. Check the pipe connections for fluid leaks. Examine duct connections and seals. Also make sure that all wire connections are tight.

✓ Roof penetrations. Flashing and sealant around the roof penetration should be checked to see that it’s in a good shape.

✓ Collector shading. Check for shading of the collectors on annual basis as this may greatly affect their performance.

✓ Support structures. Examine all bolts and nuts which connects the support structures to the collectors for tightness.

✓ Heat transfer fluids. Anti freeze solutions in liquid solar heating collectors will have to be replaced periodically. And this right here is a task that’s best handled by a licensed technician.

Most domestic solar thermal panels do not need planning permission and are covered by permitted development rights. There are restrictions on the size and location of these systems. If you live in a conservation area or listed building, or want to install a very large solar thermal system, check with your local authority to see if you will need planning permission.

For most homeowners, rewiring a house is always a sore subject they’d prefer to avoid especially when they think of the expenses they’d have to incur or the mess and complexity that the project involves. However, this is a subject we’d all have to face sooner or later as an old wiring poses a lot of drawbacks, while an improper wiring can also prove to be more expensive and even cause more damage as it can lead to not only electrical shorts but also electrical fires. When a wire triggers a spark or a current overload, this can cause fire and the entire house may be down in ashes within a couple of minutes. Hence, one of the several reasons why house rewiring is just too important to ignore.

In this FAQ, we’re going to take you through the house rewiring process so as to ensure that your project is done to perfection. However, if you do not feel confident enough to pull this off, we’d strongly recommend you get in touch with a reliable electrical professional who can guarantee that a safe and effective work is done.

• Firstly, you’d have to upgrade the main service panel to a minimum of 100 amps
• Fit dedicated circuits in the service panel for all the home’s major appliances.
• Allow for a space of about 6 to 8 feet between electrical outlets throughout the house in order to cut out the need to run extension cords which could be a fire hazard.
• Install only three-prong type to avoid electrical shocks when fitting new outlets.
• Using ground fault circuit interrupters, fit outlets in the bathrooms, kitchen as well as outdoors. These outlets will shut themselves out so as to prevent electrical shock when wet.

The short and simple answer to this question is, no. If you’re a seasoned DIYer then you should probably know a thing or two about electrical works around your property. However, house rewiring works should only be carried out by a qualified and registered electrician for a handful of reasons. In this FAQ, we’re going to take an in depth look at a few reasons why a house rewiring project should always be tackled by a reliable professional.

• Risk. Not only do you out your own health and that of your loved ones at risk when you attempt to complete electrical rewires on your own, but you also put your property at risk. Tackling electrical works involves a great danger. These dangers can come in different forms such as electrical wires electrocution, shock as well as fire. What’s more? Items in your home also possesses higher voltages, and when it comes to electrical wiring, the higher the voltage, the more dangerous the project becomes. Another tricky task to get around is hidden junction boxes as well as connections. Since these components are out of sight, the chances of you getting shocked increases rapidly. All these risks can only be mitigated when proper procedures are followed . therefore, if you decide to do electrical work on your home, then there’s the need to obtain necessary permits for completing the work. Once completed, the work done should be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector. However, the best way to reduce the risks is by hiring the services of a licensed electrician.
• Safety. Electricians are trained to perfect their craft and comply with safety protocols. They’re also required to pass a licensing test so as to work as an electrician. The safety of your property and loved ones when it comes to your home’s electrical works can only be guaranteed when done by a qualified and registered electrician.

How Does Electric Central Heating Work?

An electric central heating works to provide a number of benefits for you. These benefits include the following:

lSpace Heating

• The storage heaters work during the night to store electricity which would be used to heat up the heat retaining bricks. This, in turn, will release this energy throughout the day to warm up the room.

• There are also electric radiators which works to deliver on-demand heat and as a result, economy tariffs are totally avoided. It will generate heat by itself rather than storing it and with the controls, you can easily determine the amount of heat to be released when you require it.

• There is the wet electric system options as well which comes with water filled radiators. This operates in a similar way to normal radiators, however, it makes use of electricity to heat up the water.

lWater Heating

• An electric boiler operates in a very similar manner to other boiler types, just that it makes use of electricity as its fuel. Here, the water is warmed by a heating element and the water is later moved to several radiator throughout the house by a pump. These electric boiler types earns you tariff savings as you’ll be able to heat water at night.

• Heat pumps geothermal or air source, redistributes heat instead of creating it. Heat pumps are powered by electricity and it works by absorbing heat either from the air or ground which it then channels it through a pump. This can then be incorporated in heating either water or a room.

• A dedicated immersion heater is another water heating option. Here, the heating element is positioned inside a hot water cylinder. In a similar fashion to a kettle, the element heats the nearby water. Immersion heater can act either as a backup or your main heating element.

How Many Solar Panels And Batteries Do I Need?

Are you presently considering adding a solar system to your home? With several homeowners in the UK using solar now, many more are realizing the numerous benefits they stand to derive by getting one. Therefore, if you’re thinking about adding the system to your home but do not know where to start, you’ve come to the right place.

Here, we’ll help you calculate the number of solar panels and batteries you’ll need to power your home. Starting from the panels, you can begin by taken into account everything that makes use of power in your home to get a good idea of how many you’ll need.

• Firstly, you’ll have to determine the number of watts you use. Simply go through your utility bill for kilowatt-hours (kWh). This varies amongst homes and being able to identify your daily average energy usage will assist you in getting your solar needs.

• Secondly, you have to determine the peak sunlight hours - having in mind that the solar panels only work when under direct sunlight. Once determined, you can then multiply the figure in hours by your home’s hourly energy usage and divide by your selected solar panel’s wattage.

Generally for a 1500 square foot house, you might need around 15 to 18 solar panels to cover the house’s electricity.

Meanwhile for batteries, there are also some factors to be considered to determine the number of batteries you’ll need for your house. These factors include your home’s power or electricity usage, the period of time in which the battery will be used as well as the battery’ specifications. Once done, you’ll be able to calculate the number of batteries required by your home.