richi

@Onoff thanks for bumping this thread. Very timely!

Or what if you go on holiday for two weeks, but the next day suffer a nuisance trip of the breaker (which is inside your property)?

Just a note that my pump questions are probably a red herring. I missed your comment about it only running for 2-10 seconds. I agree with others' best guess it's the photocell (boiler thinks it has failed to light and shuts off to prevent unburned kerosene being squirted everywhere). (When I read "short cycling" I assumed you were talking about a few minutes, as if the water wasn't taking the heat away fast enough, causing the loop 'stat to kick in.)

Stupid questions: Is the pump pumping? If so, did the engineer change the pump speed?

Just a note to clarify that Three's app-less VoIP only works with a limited number of phones (and you have to buy Three's version of that phone). Alternatively, Three has a VoIP app, called Three inTouch.

previously on this topic: https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/3773-mobile-signals-frustrated-by-house-wall-insulation

You took the words right out of my fingers...

Unless someone else fiddles with it without your knowledge ;-)

I was kinda assuming the red pointer was set to indicate the maximum recommended pressure. No?

Um, what the heck is that at 6.5 bar pressure???

I may be thinking too simplistically, but are you actually asking for confirmation that you've discharged the condition, or are you merely notifying them?

Stairbox also worth a look

"CarboAir™ 100 has been developed to filter very high concentrations of VOCs from larger grow rooms." Do I detect a wink-wink in that sentence? Anyway, I'm sure @JSHarris will be along in a moment to outline a homebrew solution containing fish-tank granules

Well, I signed up on the site for a callback. Someone called at about 7pm from a mobile number, but I couldn't understand a word he was saying. I kept asking him who was calling, but I never heard a company name. I eventually heard the word "insulation" somewhere in the jumble of words, so I guess that was my callback. Presumably he gave up trying to make himself understood, because he hung up on me.

I have a bad feeling about that site. Despite being a .org.uk domain, it's run by a company called Shelter 4 Green Deal. Its main site, shelter4greendeal.co.uk, implies it's something to do with the charity Shelter and is full of typos.

Yeah, there are shedloads coming off lease. Here are some random thoughts: First of all, the model to go for is the 4hs (note the s). It has the cheapest insurance because it has radar cruise control, speed limiter button, lane-departure warning, and brake warning system. I don't think any of the pre-facelift models have parking sensors, but the 4hs does get a reversing camera. It suffers from the usual Japanese disease of going "bong" and "beep" for no obvious reason. One of the more irritating is that lane-departure warning, but there's a secret way to turn it off. I bought a high mileage 64-plate example, leased by someone who clearly didn't pay their own fuel and only cared about the BIK tax. I don't think it had ever been fast-charged, and rarely 10A charged, judging by the pristine state of the charge ports. And indeed, the battery capacity seems to be about 90% of spec (I've not dumped the ODBII data, but the dash computer consistently says I get 9–9.5 kW∙h of charge from empty). It always tells me I'll get 25–27 miles of pure EV range, which seems about right. I'm seeing 45–65 MPG on longer runs (without a recharge). I've not ventured into the Ecotricity fast-charger network, but now Vince has changed the pricing (again), I might. For the geeks among us, it's great to be able to completely control the regen (with the paddles). Some people like to dial it up to maximum and drive with just one pedal. But it's much more efficient not to use energy in the first place, rather than have to regen it, so I prefer to switch it off completely and think ahead, like the IAM driver I am not. It's a comfortable ride. The pre-facelift model isn't the prettiest thing on the road, and the facelift brought a nicer cabin, including heated steering-wheel. But they are of course much more expensive pre-owned. The paintwork is pretty thin. It's suffered from stonechips, etc. I might consider investing in a respray. According to Honest John, "Mitsubishi has built a battery factory in Cirencecester. If any of the cells become faulty they would replace all 56 (?) cells and only charge for the faulty cells - this cost was assuming the car was outside the 8 years electric warranty." Bought from Used Cars of Bristol, who seemed to be decent enough to deal with. Enough rambling. Ask any question and I'll do my best to answer.

I agree, although the reverse is also true. Without a peer-to-peer channel, we'd be restricted to mass media and the occasional windmill-tilting book. Unfortunately, critical thinking is required!

Respectfully, that sounds like argumentum ad verecundiam. The only bodies I know that disagree with the data are those that stand to look stupid for their previous recommendations (notably, the AHA). I'm happy to learn of any truly independent bodies that still believe the evidence is strong, of course. @JSHarris's point about Cochrane is right on. As with its previous reviews, its latest shows inconclusive evidence (but the reviewers stop short of recommending a reversal of the conventional advice). To be clear: the data show a moderate benefit of salt reduction among the hypertensive sub-population, but actually a dis-benefit for those with typical blood pressure. IMHO, Lewis Dahl is to dietary sodium as Ancel Keys is to dietary fat. Both unscientifically shouted from the rooftops about their data and their data alone. Self-aggrandisement is not the same as science. Despite the data being poor, their shouting caused the U.S. government to "do something" (because, hey, something must be done!) Important: I am not your doctor (I am nobody's doctor). So talk to yours. And read the science to decide for yourself. Here are some pointers (this is an inexhaustive list):

There's a point of view, widely held, that you shouldn't drink softened water. Supposedly because of the extra sodium ions in the water, causing high blood pressure. I call shenanigans, for two reasons: A properly adjusted, metered softener shouldn't add excess sodium The "science" behind the theory that dietary sodium increases blood pressure is, frankly, bunkum. It's believed that more people suffer from poor health from not getting enough salt than from the tiny, tiny effect that salt has on blood pressure -- as a direct result of the public-health advice to cut down on salt. (At this point, @Coopers is muttering "don't get him started.")

Agreed. I put in a Combimate a few months ago (plumbed for the whole house, not just the boiler). It makes it much easier to clean taps, etc. You don't get the soapy benefits of soft water, but you also don't need to find space for a hulking great machine that uses additional water, electricity and needs refilling with salt. Phosphate-dosed water is believed safe to drink (many USA municipal water companies dose at source).

Don't forget: It's £100 in total, so you could just pay a £1 deposit on a credit card but still get §75 protection.

...or you could go the Charlie Luxton route (I have a feeling @JSHarris will have a field day with this): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzveC3u8cak [didn't there used to be a way to embed YouTube?]

Section 75 protection on credit cards is fairly well known. What's less well known are the protections afforded by Visa and Mastercard Ts&Cs on all cards (debit included). At a minimum, these should protect you from non-delivery (e.g., if supplier goes bust), but might also offer some protection from "goods not as described."

Just a bit of fun, but it sounds like the sort of thing @Onoff might like handmadematt.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/heat-recovery-ventilation-heat.html

Just, um, closing the loop on this thread: My Gas Safe guy finally found the fault, which turned out to be a Baxi PCB -- £177+VAT for the replacement part! But this would be the same PCB that he replaced 10 months ago, so the distributor refunded it. Any thoughts? I hesitate to rip out what is now a "perfectly good" boiler, but the tenant is worried I've left him with an unreliable system.