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Wasps have a black as well as vivid yellow pattern on their abdomen. With a black head, thorax as well as six legs, a grown-up wasp is similar in dimension to an employee honey bee at about 12-15mm in size whereas queens are larger at around 20mm in size.

In theory, you can fit solar panels yourself. In practice, it’s worth leaving it up to the professionals.

If you get DIY solar panels and install them on your roof yourself, you won’t be able to apply for the government-backed Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). The SEG pays you for every unit of electricity you generate and send back to the grid, so it’s a scheme well worth signing up for. However, you must have your solar panels installed by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)-registered engineer or company, so you’ll miss out if you install the solar panels by yourself.

The other thing to consider about installing solar panels yourself is that you’re dealing with electricity. Electricity is extremely dangerous if handled incorrectly, so if you don’t have any qualifications in working with electricity you could be putting yourself and your family at risk. Connecting DIY solar panels yourself and doing it incorrectly could mean that you give yourself an electric shock or cause a fire. If your home is damaged due to a fire caused by solar panels you’ve installed yourself, it’s unlikely that your home insurance company would pay out.

Before having a go at installing your own solar panels, do some quick sums to see how much money it could really save you. A 3.5kW DIY solar panel kit will cost around £4,000-5,000. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a home in the South East of England where most occupants are out all day until 6pm would save around £100 a year on their electricity bills. That means that you wouldn’t break even until 40 years, but solar panels last around 25 years on average. However, if you have your solar panels installed by an MCS-registered installer and they cost £4,500, you could save £220 a year including your SEG payments. That brings the payback time to around 20 years.

So although the initial outlay is slightly less when you install solar panels yourself, it’s much better to have them installed by an MCS-registered engineer so you can take advantage of the SEG payments.

A clogged sewer line, when left untreated, can lead to a wide range of serious problems. If the issues arises from a toilet or kitchen sink pipe, then it’s highly likely that it just might be a clogged drain. However, if every flush results in a build up of sewage in your home, then the problem is likely to be in the main sewer line. If you’re looking for ways in which you can unclog your main sewer line without a snake, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’re going to show you just how to go about it. Let’s take a look!

1. Boiling water. If you want a quick and easy fix of your blocked sewer pipe, then this is for you. Simply pour some quantity of boiling water into the drain. In several cases, this will cause the particles causing the blockage to dissolve or loosen without having to resort to more drastic measures. However, it’s advisable to only use this method on either metal or ceramic pipes. Use hot and not boiling water on PVC pipes to prevent heat from loosing its joints.
2. DIY Natural Cleaner. To use this method, simple create a DIY cleaner by incorporating bicarb soda (baking soda) and white vinegar. Pour the baking soda into the sewer pipe and follow it with the vinegar. Once done, cover the sewer pipe to ensure the mixture does not bubble out of the pipe. In some cases, you may need to repeat the process a number of times to make sure that the blockage is properly removed. After completion, simply flush your sewer pipes down with hot water.
3. Plunger. This is a very common option that home owners use in clearing their blocked drains. Firstly, cover all overflow spouts before you start to plunge to get a strong seal. The strong up and down pressure produced by the plunger can go a long way to clear any blockages to ensure your pipes flow uninterruptedly again.

Removing a double glazed window can be quite labour intensive. If you decide to try it yourself, make sure you give yourself plenty of time, and wear gloves and goggles.

Begin by unscrewing all opening windows at the hinges and removing them. Then take away the beading and putty around any fixed panes and take them out too.

Once you’ve removed all the glass, use a saw to put angled cuts in the frame, and a bar and hammer to remove it in sections. You should remove the sill if you’re going to replace that too.

Finally, cut through any screws holding the frame into place with a hacksaw.

There are a wide array of smart ring doorbells available in the market today and all coming with detailed installation instructions. Here, we’ll make it clearer to enable you get it done right, the right time and with little stress. With a properly installed ring video doorbell, you’ll be able to identify who’s at the door before opening and even chat with them via your table, PC or Smartphone. And to make it even more interesting, you can easily install a ring doorbell yourself and save some money.

Installation Steps

• Assemble the mounting bracket

Bring out the mounting bracket that comes with your ring video doorbell. You’ll discover a small level within the mounting bracket, put this on the bracket’s slot. Once done, gently line it up to the spot where you want to place your doorbell.

• Determine the pilot holes

Firstly, ensure the bubble found in the level is straight. Then, mark out where the screws will go through.

• Drill the identified pilot hole spots

When drilling, you’ll need not just your drill and drill bit (or a masonry bit, if its a brick), but also your eye and ear protection. Drill the marked out spots to create pilot holes and subsequently hammer in the plastic anchors that comes in the ring doorbell’s pack to help hold your screws in place. Once done, put the bracket on the top and tighten your screws.

• Scan the QR Code

With the use of your phone, scan the special QR code given behind your doorbell to ensure the ring doorbell is only accessible by you and your loved ones.

• Secure the doorbell

Ensure that the bracket is properly in place and attach your doorbell to the mounting bracket. Once done, you can make it safe by using smaller security screws to hold it. Upon completion, your ring doorbell is ready for use - it’s that easy!

The A-G scale refers to the energy efficiency of your boiler. G-rated boilers are the least efficient, and give you less heat and hot water for your money. Installing an A-rated boiler will reduce your energy bills and carbon emissions. Don't compromise on cheaper, lower rated boilers, you will save yourself more money longer term with an A-rated model.

Generally the process for having plans produced will only take a month or two. Major works or new builds can take upto ten months to produce. This will depend on the requirements of your project and the number of technical drawings you need produced. An architect will always advise you based on the project how long these will realistically take.

If you happen to live in a quiet, serene environment ( or just cherish being in one) and wish to have an air source heat pump installed on your property, then you’d probably want to know just how noisy these renewable energy source are. In this post, we aim to provide answers to this question and more. Let’s take a look!

There is no short and direct answer to this question as air source heat pumps are available in varying shapes and sizes which makes the sound as well as volume of their noise different between models and manufacturers. However, as a result of government regulations, most of the contemporary air source heat pumps are able to function a lot quieter when compared to the older models. As you would have expected, modern air source heat pumps shouldn’t produce more than a low whirring sound provided they’re functioning as they should with no faults. On the other hand, the volume of the sound generated is largely dependent on the amount of work the air source heat pump is doing. This implies that a greater work load will generate a louder noise. This is due to the fan’s speed which works to absorb warm air into the compressor.

In order not to disturb the neighbours, noise pollution is normally determined at the design stage of the air source heat pump installation. The unit to be placed outdoor will typically be positioned as far from the neighbours property as possible and it’s also a great idea not to put the box directly under any windows. Overall, it’s always advisable to go for the newer models which tend to be better designed with thicker chassis and quieter fans.