LHS Plumbing & Heating Blog - Tips, Guides & Case Studies

Why pH Matters and Why We Test Every Boiler When it comes to boiler servicing and heating system repairs, water quality is often overlooked. Yet the water circulating around a central heating system has a direct impact on the condition, efficiency and working life of boilers, heat exchangers, pumps, radiators and valves. At LHS Plumbing Services, we believe a boiler service should be more than simply checking the appliance and issuing a certificate. We also look at the condit

At LHS Plumbing Services, we don't just service boilers - we help homeowners get the very best performance from their heating systems. Recently, we carried out a routine annual service in Buckhurst Hill on an Ideal combi boiler. The appliance passed all safety and performance checks, with combustion readings, gas pressures and operational tests confirming it was working correctly. Rather than simply leaving the system as it was, we discussed ways the customer could further im

If you're looking to reduce your heating bills while making your home more comfortable, weather compensation is one of the smartest upgrades you can make. Modern boilers and heat pumps are designed to work efficiently at lower temperatures, and weather compensation ensures they do exactly that. What Is Weather Compensation? Weather compensation is an intelligent heating control system that uses an outdoor temperature sensor fitted on a north facing wall to monitor the weather

Recently, our Gas Safe engineers completed a boiler replacement in Chingford (E4) after diagnosing a severely blocked primary heat exchanger inside an ageing Vaillant combi boiler. The customer had experienced ongoing heating issues, poor hot water performance, and rising energy bills. Following a full inspection, we recommended replacing the boiler rather than carrying out an expensive repair. A failed or heavily blocked heat exchanger filled with magnetite and scale is one

Load compensation in boilers is a technique that adjusts the temperature of the central heating water based on the heat requirements of a building. This is achieved by using an internal sensor to measure the difference between the current room temperature and the desired temperature set by the user. The controller then communicates with the boiler to increase or decrease its output to precisely close the gap between the current and desired temperatures. This method of control

Improving Efficiency, Control, and Performance with a Correctly Sized System Boiler Replacing an outdated fireplace back boiler with a modern heating system can present several design challenges. One recent project involved relocating the boiler from a fireplace back boiler arrangement to a first-floor cupboard. Here, we installed a Viessmann Vitodens 100-W 19kW system boiler, designed around a Priority Domestic Hot Water (PDHW) setup. Our goal was not simply to replace the e

This week our Gas Safe engineer attended three different boiler jobs across Chingford. From boiler repairs to emergency breakdowns, here's what we found and how the issues were resolved. Job 1 – Boiler Repair on Kings Road, Chingford Customer called us to say their boilers hot water was running hot and cold on a Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDi 32kW combi boiler. What we found Boiler temperature running into the high 90's Burner cutting out in hot water mode Hot water temperatur

If a commercial building in Chingford has a booster pump system that keeps failing despite repeated repairs, replacing it with a modern twin DAB E.sybox Mini 3 setup can finally deliver the reliability the original installation never achieved. We recently completed exactly this job for a three-storey office block in Chingford, E4, where the existing pumps had been out of action for around four years. The Job The client, managing a three-floor office block in Chingford, had be

When it comes to keeping our heating systems running efficiently, regular maintenance is key. One service that often gets overlooked but can make a huge difference is power flushing. If you’ve noticed your radiators aren’t heating up properly or your boiler is making strange noises, power flushing might be the solution. In this post, we’ll explain what power flushing is, why it’s important, and how it can benefit your home or business heating system. What Is Central Heating P

If radiators at the far end of a large property aren't heating up while the boiler runs constantly on full pump speed, the cause is often a flow rate problem rather than a faulty boiler. On a recent job in Loughton, we resolved exactly this by fitting a custom-made low loss header and an additional circulator pump to a Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDi Classic Regular boiler serving 18 radiators and a hot water cylinder. This is a common issue in larger homes in IG10 and the surr

Our Gas Safe heating engineers successfully upgraded an existing heating system in Woodford Green that was putting pressure on the boiler and its pump. This system comprised 3 circuits: 2 underfloor heating circuits and 1 unvented hot water cylinder circuit, each with a pump. The boiler was a Baxi Potterton Promax system boiler with an Grundfos 15-60 internal pump. In this system, up to three pumps were operating through the boiler depending on circuit demand - ranging from a

7 warning signs your boiler needs replacing, from a Gas Safe registered Viessmann & Vaillant installer serving London and Essex. Free advice, no pressure.

If you're renovating a home, upgrading an old system, or converting a loft or garage, a new central heating installation is one of the most effective ways to improve comfort and cut long-term running costs. This guide covers how a full heating install works, what drives the price, and how to plan it properly — for homes across Loughton, Woodford Green, Buckhurst Hill, Wanstead, Chingford, Chigwell and Epping. What counts as a ''central heating installation''? A full installat

Your boiler is one of the hardest-working appliances in your home, providing heating and hot water throughout the year. One of the most common questions homeowners ask is: "How long should my boiler last?" In most UK homes, a modern gas boiler will last between 10 and 15 years when installed correctly and serviced regularly. Some boilers can operate efficiently for longer, while others may need replacing sooner due to poor maintenance, installation issues, or heavy usage. Ave

When an underfloor heating system starts developing cold spots, inconsistent room temperatures, or zones that refuse to heat up, the underlying cause is often more complex than a simple thermostat fault. We were recently called to a property in Woodford Green to diagnose and repair an underfloor heating system suffering from several interconnected issues. Initial Fault Investigation The homeowner reported that several underfloor heating zones were no longer responding correct

Our team was called out to a Vaillant 637 boiler breakdown in Woodford Green, issue described - load banging when the boiler was on, causing the boiler to over heat and shut down, showing various fault codes on the interface. After inspecting the boiler it was confirmed the main heat exchanger was partially blocked and filled with magnetite, sludge and scale produced by the radiators in the system. Client had two options: Flush main heat exchanger and boiler or Replace the bo

Our Plumbers in Woodford Green attended a property who were experiencing loud banging pipework every morning at around 4am - even when no taps or appliances were being used. After investigating the issue, we identified excessive mains water pressure and outdated incoming pipework components as the cause. The Problem The property was suffering from: Loud banging noises through the pipework Water hammer during early morning hours Excessive incoming mains pressure Inadequate pre

Keeping your boiler serviced every year is one of the best ways to maintain efficiency, improve reliability and ensure your heating system continues to operate safely. This month we've completed several boiler services across Chingford, helping homeowners prepare their heating systems for the months ahead. Here are three recent boiler servicing jobs carried out by our Gas Safe engineer in the Chingford area. Worcester Bosch Boiler Service – Connaught Avenue, Chingford Our fir

Air is one of the biggest hidden enemies of any wet central heating system. While many homeowners recognise the importance of magnetic filters for removing sludge and debris, far fewer understand the benefits of removing dissolved air from the system. A deaerator is designed to continuously separate and remove microscopic air bubbles from the heating water before they become a problem. Whether you have a gas boiler, heat pump, or commercial heating system, installing a high-q

A HYDЯAH® copper manifold is a precision-engineered component designed to provide reliable and efficient flow distribution within modern plumbing and hydronic heating systems. Acting as a centralised distribution hub, the manifold divides a primary water supply into multiple circuits, ensuring balanced flow, improved system performance, and controlled delivery throughout a building. Manufactured with multiple branch connections, HYDЯAH® copper manifolds are designed for deman

When we talk about heating-system efficiency, we often focus on the boiler, controls, radiators and pipework. But one subject is arguably more important than all of them: the water circulating inside the system. A heating system can have an excellent boiler and sophisticated controls, but if the system water is contaminated, poorly conditioned or repeatedly diluted with fresh mains water, corrosion, magnetite, sludge and component failure can follow. Good heating-system water

Our team was called out to a property in Chingford to install a new Viessmann boiler. During the pre-installation survey, it became clear that the existing gas supply pipework wasn't going to be adequate for the new appliance's gas rate - a common issue we see across older Chingford homes where the original pipe run was sized for a much smaller, less efficient boiler decades ago. The problem: the existing run included sections of 15mm pipe and 22mm pipe along its length, neit

When choosing a new boiler, most homeowners concentrate on efficiency, warranty length, price and the manufacturer's reputation. But one component deserves considerably more attention: the primary heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is where the energy from combustion is transferred into the heating system water. Its design, material, surface area, waterways and operating conditions all have a major influence on boiler efficiency, reliability and service life. Two materials do

When we talk about energy efficiency, insulation is usually the first thing that comes to mind—and rightly so. While lofts and walls often get the spotlight, one of the most overlooked (but incredibly important) areas of the home is under the floorboards. If you live in an older property with suspended timber floors, there’s a high chance that a lot of your heat is simply slipping away beneath your feet. At LHS Plumbing Services, we now offer specialist underfloor insulation