Finding The Best Hot Water System For You

Having hot water cylinders is pretty essential in your home unless you enjoy having cold showers! There are a lot of different systems out there on the market, making it difficult to choose the one that is best for you. While a lot of people will go off based on price, you should remember that cheaper isn’t always better, and it could even cost you more in the long run.

You want your hot water cylinders to be of the highest quality, so you have hot water whenever you want. Your system also needs to be efficient so that your water and energy bills don’t continue to break the bank. There are so many different things to think of before finalising your choice.

When you have done some research, it is important to have a few different companies/options available. You could also make a pro and con list of all the options available to you after you have narrowed your choices down. No matter your situation, it is important to talk with an expert, and get a number of different quotes, so you can more accurately compare.

So, have a read on below at all of the aspects to looking for to help you find the best hot water system for you:

Heating Methods

There are two main heating methods for hot water cylinders that you should consider, which are tank and instantaneous (or continuous flow). Your household needs and location will help steer you in a certain direction. A tank hot water system is better for bigger household, using 5+, while the instantaneous system is better for smaller households.

Efficiency

The efficiency of your hot water system is important to ensure household bills do not get out of control. You have probably seen the efficiency stars on the systems, and while this can be a guide, it isn’t currently regulated by the government, meaning there is more wiggle room with the efficiency score has been provided. It is a good idea to speak with an expert as they will be able to shed more light on the systems that are actually more efficient.

Size

It is really important to get the size of your hot water system correct. If it is too big then you are paying for something that you aren’t really using, and if it is too small then you could run out of hot water. Some of the things you need to consider when thinking about the size would include, the number of people living in the household, whether you wash dishes or use a dishwasher, hot or cold water used when washing clothes, etc.

Installation Costs

Technician servicing hot water cylinders installation

Depending on what you are looking to install, it will dramatically impact the cost. If you are looking to replace your current hot water system with a similar sized system, then the cost usually isn’t that high, probably around $500. But if you are moving the location of the hot water system, this can rapidly increase the installation price, depending on the additional plumbing and electrical work, and it can be upwards of $2,000.

Water Quality

The quality of local water may have an impact on the type of hot water system you get. If there is poor quality water in your local area, then you don’t really want that water sitting in a tank, as it is likely to cause corrosion of the tank at a faster speed. It is important to find out the quality of the local water, as if it is poor then an instantaneous system could be the better option.

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The Exciting Rise of Designer Homewares

There is a heartening rise in designer homewares in the world these days, an exciting renaissance of interior spaces with an explosion of new and exciting furnishings that are artworks all on their own. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter interiors, with this denouncing of the norm, there is a rising tide in exciting designer homewares that have piqued the interest of amateur DIY interior decorators to try and create their own works of art in their living spaces.

Today we will explore a few of the easy ways you can develop and hone your own interior eye and maybe even start a little side hustle of your own.

1.   Searching Online For the Newest Designer Homewares

An advantageous aspect of the internet is certainly the accessibility for people to strut their designer homewares and designs online for all to see and interact with. One easy way to develop your own sense of style and voice in the industry is to simply explore, peruse through the cavalcade of options and sites that offer designer homewares, and notice the sheer range that is at your disposal.

You’ll find sites like Etsy have mountains of content revolving around the creation and style of various household decorations, especially designer homewares which are infinitely reinvented as technology and tastes change with time.

After a little time exploring the inter-web for the latest and greatest, you’ll start getting a feel for where the market is, and hopefully, you’ll start considering how each piece fits into particular spaces and style schemes.

2.   Showrooms and Roadshows

So, you’ve dipped your toe into the unknown and vast world of designer homewares in the online space, now you can take the time to visit one of the many roadshows and showrooms that populate most cities around the globe. Artists love to show off their designer homewares in a physical space as well as online. The best way to get a feel for style is to see it in person after all.

Visiting one of these showrooms will allow you to further develop your natural eye for what fits and what does not for any particular space, which is a must-have skill for any budding interior decorator. It also gives you the opportunity to talk with and meet the people who bring the designer homewares to life and ask them any number of questions as to their inspiration or where to go next. It’s a wonderful networking opportunity and who knows, you may even find that piece you’ve been looking for in your own living room.

3.   Start With Your Own Interior

So, you’ve developed a little taste for the designer homewares world, you’re starting to develop a keen eye and style that is purely you. Now comes the fun, starting with your own home is the best way to put these lessons into action. Start with a small living space in your own home that could use a little spruce up, then begin buying up the furnishings you believe will get the job done right. Soon you start noticing that your little corner of the world is looking like the grandiose and beautiful rooms you saw when you began this little adventure.

After you have re-arranged your first room, the time has come to showcase it for the world to see, tag the artists and see what they say, eventually, if you keep at it, you may start hearing from friends who want the same sort of look for them.

There you have it, the easy 3 step method for learning and cultivating a passion for designer homewares and turning it into a money-making side project. Of course, it doesn’t have to be for money, after all, interior decorating is a reward in itself. Enjoy.

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3 Reasons To Upgrade The Shower Slider In Your Bathroom

A shower slider is far from the most eye-catching item in your bathroom, but it serves an essential purpose. Depending on how robust it is, you will have different functions you can access while you are washing.

You may not even have a shower slider, and instead, you only have the water delivery in a fixed position above you. There are obvious advantages to having more versatility in this space, and the following will list a few of them for you so that you have a better idea.

Let’s take a look at 3 reasons to upgrade the shower slider in your bathroom.

 

1.    Adjust the height

The most prominent utility of a shower slider installation is that it allows you to easily adjust the height of the water delivery. This is particularly useful if you have a family with children as you will be different heights.

Being able to correctly adjust the water delivery is part of what makes for a relaxing experience when washing. It allows you to maximise the pressure of the hot water behind your head, rather than it falling from a greater height or you having to duck underneath it.

This is particularly beneficial for children as they will be able to more easily reach different water delivery controls (if you have them). This allows them to adjust the type of stream they get and can be useful for other methods of washing.

 

2.    Precise control

Often when you invest in a new shower slider, you will be investing in a whole new unit that includes a new water delivery head. Practically 100% of these units will allow you to take the head off of the rail and use it in your hands.

This allows you to have greater control over the water and more precisely wash different parts of the body. It also makes it easier to wash pets or small children who obviously can’t hold the head themselves and target different parts of their body.

This greater level of control also has other benefits. It allows you to more thoroughly wash different areas and use less water while doing so, which in turn helps you to save money on your water bills.

You’ll enjoy more significant hygiene benefits when you are more precisely able to wash. This is one of the key advantages of investing in a robust shower slider for your bathroom.

 

3.    Aesthetics

Woman getting out from the shower

Of course, upgrading to a shiny new shower slider will also come with aesthetic benefits for your bathroom. This is especially true if you match it with other elements in your bathroom to create a modern and stylish look.

Chrome is a popular finish for bathroom fixtures as it does not get dirty as easily and it’s easy to see when they do need to be cleaned of soap scum etc. There are also many other types of finishes you can go with, and each will have different practical and aesthetic benefits.

The more uniform you make your bathroom space, the nice it will be for you to use every day. It will also raise the value of your home since the kitchen and bathroom are the two main rooms that people think about when they are inspecting a property they want to buy.

Having a modern, functional, and stylish shower slider in your bathroom will make it better for you to use and make the whole space more appealing to prospective buyers. When it comes to bathroom renovations, the shower slide is something that is often upgraded.

There you have it, 3 reasons to upgrade your shower slider today!

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How should you steam?

Do you give steaming a chance? Then it is important that you know how to steam. You can steam in two ways:

  • Steam while showering. Breathe in the warm air through your nose while showering. 
  • Steam over a bowl of hot water. Does steaming while showering not help enough? Then fill a bowl with hot water of a maximum of 60 degrees.

Be careful not to add products to your bowl of hot water. Adding salt or menthol can cause additional irritations and complaints. For best results, steam three times a day with a towel over your head for 15 minutes.

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Does steaming help with a cold?

No, steaming does not help your cold to pass faster. It can ensure that you experience the additional complaints less. A blocked nose often causes a stuffy feeling, which is very annoying. Especially if you do not get enough sleep as a result or if you wake up from your own snoring .

Steaming could also prevent a sinus or sinus infection. If you have cavities blocked by the mucus, there is a chance that the mucus will become inflamed. Steaming prevents your cavities from becoming clogged and therefore reduces the risk of inflammation.

Not a fan of steaming? Then view our range of cold products .

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Why steam?

Do you have a cold and do you suffer from a stuffy feeling due to a stuffy nose? Steaming ensures that you clear your stuffy nose and sinuses. You can of course also do this with the help of a nasal spray , but if this does not work sufficiently, you naturally want a different solution. Steaming naturally loosens the mucus in your nose and sinuses. This often gives you a bit more air in your opinion.

Do you have questions about steaming because you feel that you are only starting to sniffle more? Then we are happy to remove these question marks from you. It makes perfect sense that at first you just seem to be producing more mucus. You have loosened the mucus in your nose and sinuses by steaming and that has to be removed.

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What is sinus infection?

With a sinus infection (also called sinus infection or sinusitis), the mucous membrane in one or more of the hollow spaces behind your nose, in your upper jaw or in your forehead (the sinuses) is inflamed. This mucous membrane is in contact with the mucous membrane in your nose by means of small channels.

Usually, a cold precedes sinus infection. The nasal mucosa is swollen because of the cold. The swelling spreads through the drainage channels to the sinuses. The mucous membranes can therefore not get rid of their waste products. The defense of the mucous membranes drops, viruses & bacteria can seem and inflammation originates.

What are the symptoms of sinus inflammation?

If you have sinus infection, you will have:

  • Pain in your forehead, above jaw or back your eyes
  • A stuffy nose, sometimes with yellow-green or bloody mucus
  • Coughing, if the mucus gets in your throat
  • Sometimes painful molars, for example when you chew

The pain is especially present in the morning and gets worse when you bend over. You can also get a fever.

How does sinus infection develop?

As mentioned, in many cases a cold is the cause of sinus inflammation. Sometimes an allergy can cause complaints that resemble a sinus infection. Symptoms that point in this direction are: sneezing, seasonal complaints and a lot of clear mucus.

Does sinus infection go away on its own?

Yes, sinus inflammation usually clears up on its own. The complaints usually disappear within a week.

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