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MAC Gas / Plumbing / Heating, Sutton Coldfield (2026)

14/04/2024

We’ve been fairly quiet with our Facebook posts this year due to all the business coming our way thanks to all our loyal customers and their recommendations.

So here’s a few before and after pictures of some of the boiler replacements we’ve been kept busy with this year so far.

Being Baxi approved installers means we can offer the highest priority support from Baxi including same day repairs if the fault is called in before 2pm.

So thanks to you all for your support and feel free to contact us for anything gas, plumbing, heating or electrical 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 😊😊

07/04/2024

I was called to this property to remove the towel rails in the en-suite and main bathroom to allow the customer to paint the walls behind them. I would then fit new chrome towel rails in their place as the original white ones had started to rust and looked unsightly.

Whilst I was there the customer told me about an issue she had with the washing machine where it had flooded the kitchen mid cycle. I said at least you knew where to turn the isolation valve off to stop the water leaking out until the machine was either repaired or replaced as we’ve discussed this previously (she’s been a customer of mine for a while now).

It then transpired that although she did know where the isolation valve is, only her teenage children were home at the time. The kids didn’t know what to do or how to turn the water off (and if she did try to explain what did what, they still wouldn’t have the confidence or would want to mess with any valves or taps without knowing what really did what).

I then went on to suggest the installation of a Surestop switch which allows the all of the water to be turned off at the flick of a switch and how I’ve told my own kids that if there’s ever a problem when they’re home alone, that they can flick the Surestop switch off and the immediate panic is over until I can get back to sort it.

I always carry Surestop switches on the van so I was able to install this at the same time as fitting the new towel rails also meaning that she didn’t need to take anymore time away from work for me on a return visit.

I’ve done posts on Surestop switches previously and their benefits, but this was one situation I’d never really come across because in this instance the customer knew where to isolate the washing machine water supply and also knew where to turn off the water main at the stop tap. And now with the new Surestop switch fitted, her children can now also get any situation with water under control at the flick of a switch.

So feel free to contact us for anything gas, plumbing, heating or electrical 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 😊😊

07/01/2024

Happy New Year to all…

And in the spirit of healthy New Year’s resolutions I’d like to talk about the ever growing conversation about drinking water…most of us don’t drink enough and the argument behind drinking tap water is huge.

Most people I speak to who have done their research stick to bottled water but this brings its own concerns due to the health concerns of water being stored in plastic bottles…not to mention how long that water has actually been stored in that bottle plus where it came from originally and also environmental factors with the bottles used.

Filtered tap water is now a very big business and rightly so….water is life in every way and I have this particular filter fitted at home as it removes 99.9% of bacteria, 99.9% microplastics, 99.9% viruses as well as 80% of lead and 90% chlorine not to mention far more filtration than your average Brita type filter meaning water as pure as it can be on tap 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Tap water has been recycled through sewerage treatment farms on average up to 7 times through our taps and toilets…which is great in one respect…but it also means that it contains lots of chemicals that remain within the water from this recycling process taking place. This is where the argument lies for filtering the water at the tap…as it still passes through all of the infrastructure and pipework to get to your property and your tap…

It’d be like washing your hands for lunch and then carrying on with various jobs for 30 minutes before you actually eat the lunch.

The idea is that you wash your hands immediately before handling your food for hygiene reasons.

The same applies here…filter the water directly at the tap and you know you’re as clean as you can get.

One of the biggest gripes of filtered tap water is how often the filters need changing and the cost of this process.

Well, these filters cost approximately £100 to buy and only need replacement cartridges changing once a year at a cost of around £50 for as much filtered water as you like…plus the initial cost of fitting the filter…unless you’re going to install the unit yourself…

Most installations take well under an hour and can often be carried out by the homeowner depending on their knowledge and if the correct isolation valves are fitted etc. Replacement filters can be changed within a matter of minutes.

But feel free to give us a call to get the complete unit supplied and fitted by ourselves and start to enjoy perfectly filtered water on tap and get 2024 off to the healthiest start you can by investing in the very thing that’s vital to life…

So give us a call for helping you make your drinking water as clean and healthy as it can be and for anything else gas, plumbing, heating or electrical. 😊😊

22/12/2023

Recently we were contacted by a customer who had noticed water dripping from the bottom of their boiler. This was caused by a split condensate pipe (an internal pipe on the boiler) and is a common fault on this particular model. In fact it was such a big issue that the replacement pipe was completely redesigned (as shown in the picture).

It’s a relatively simple fix but the water damage to other components can be costly if the problem isn’t sorted straight away.

Luckily in this case the problem was noticed early on so no other parts were damaged as a result of this problem.

The boiler was back up and running within the hour and heating and hot water were good to go.

We’re on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week throughout the Christmas break and throughout the year for that matter, so contact us for all your emergency breakdowns although I really hope you don’t need to… 🤣🤣

And have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year…🎄🎄

12/11/2023

We received this call late on Saturday. A Valiant Eco Pure combination boiler was showing a F75 fault and our customer had no heating or hot water.

Upon investigation we discovered that a blocked pressure sensor was to blame. We fitted a new one and the house was lovely and warm again within no time and hot water was once again flowing…

Contact us for all your emergency breakdowns 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

29/10/2023

We must come across this issue at least 4 times a month.

One of the most important aspects of gas regulations are flues and ventilation. This is because they are dealing directly with the issues concerning carbon monoxide. This is the colourless, odourless and tasteless poisonous gas that can kill or cause serious harm in the smallest concentrations, which is why flues and ventilation on gas appliances are so important.

In this instance the house had sold and we were contacted to provide a boiler service and gas safety inspection as requested by the purchaser’s solicitors. You can see that we discovered that the recently fitted boiler had a flue system that wasn’t screwed to the boiler, or sealed around the wall internally or externally. This means that the flue can easily fall apart and then allow poisonous gases into the property and therefore cause a danger to life.

It doesn’t get much more serious than this other than having no flue fitted at all and this is why I’m still surprised every time I see new boilers fitted in such a way.

This particular boiler is a very good make and comes with a 10 year parts and labour warranty when installed correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and gas regulations.

However the amount of times we see installations left like this by so called reputable engineers is shocking.

It always makes me smile when people sometimes say “I’ve had a cheaper quote for the same boiler that you’ve quoted on”. In this instance the 2 main factors would be…firstly…my installation comes with a 10 year parts and labour warranty. As this is an illegal install it therefore has no warranty. Secondly, my installation will not be dangerous and put anyone at risk living within the property.

I haven’t started on the other corners that were cut elsewhere to get this job done as quickly as possible. With us you can be assured that all work is carried out correctly and completely.

So for anything gas, plumbing, heating or electrical…and most of all, safe…😊😊 feel free to contact us 24hrs a day 7 days a week.

15/10/2023

We have fitted a few of these combination toilets recently and they can be a perfect solution for areas with limited space.

In this instance the old fashioned toilet had failed components and was also leaking around the waste connection.

The wash hand basin behind the door was also something the customer wanted to change so this became the ideal answer to address all the problems

We were able to place all the feed pipework through into the garage meaning all isolation valves for the toilet feed and hot and cold water were immediately accessible and complied with water regulations.

We also installed a new section of worktop above as before there was a painted piece of mdf board which was looking tatty. Along with the feature tile splash back at the back of the basin this creates a nice feature to the room.

These types of toilet can sometimes require more planning than a regular toilet and basin installation but if everything is done correctly the end result looks really good.

Contact us for all your Gas, Plumbing, Heating and Electrical needs 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 😊😊

24/09/2023

In accordance with Part L of the Building Regulations we are now required to test for water quality as part of every annual boiler/central heating service we carry out. This includes checks for concentration of chemicals and water cleanliness.

Over time, radiator sludge builds up in your central heating system from an unavoidable mixture of rust, dirt and scale. This thick gloop sits at the bottom of your pipes and radiators which stops the water running through your system properly and your radiators from heating up efficiently. To combat this inhibitor chemicals are used. The chemicals in the inhibitor work together and the chemical reaction breaks down the sludge in your central heating system and protects it from building up again.

Inhibitor chemicals are an important component for heating and here’s why… Central heating inhibitor is the heating equivalent of a stage director. It works behind the scenes and plays a very important part in keeping everything running smoothly. However most people aren’t really sure what inhibitor is, what it does or the disasters it can prevent. In fact, it is so crucial to a well performing heating system that most boiler manufacturers state that your warranty could be invalid if your central heating doesn’t have the correct inhibitor levels.

So what is central heating inhibitor?
Central heating inhibitor is a chemical liquid used to protect your central heating system and keep it working efficiently to prolong its lifespan. Inhibitor is made up of a mixture of potassium tetraborate tetrahydrate, disodium molybdate, sodium nitrate and 2,2′,2”-nitrilotriethanol. It is usually clear or a pale yellow colour and must be stored in its original container in a cool well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight.

Is inhibitor necessary in central heating?
Not only does radiator inhibitor ensure that your radiators and pipes are in good shape, but it is a crucial part of protecting your heating system and could also save you maintenance costs on repairs for issues that inhibitor could have prevented. Also, as we mentioned earlier, your boiler warranty may even be void if you don’t use inhibitor because it is an essential part of a fully functioning central heating system.

The first thing that manufacturers are required to do upon a warranty call out is take a water sample…if this isn’t up to current standards in relation to inhibitor dosage then the warranty is invalid and you’ll be left with the repair costs out of your own pocket.

The pictures show the water quality testing kit used on a boiler service we recently carried out on a boiler that wasn’t installed by us but was still under the manufacturer’s warranty. As you can see from the initial readings…the lack of central heating inhibitor would have meant that the boiler warranty was invalid even though the customer was keeping up to date with the servicing. With the customers approval, we added the inhibitor chemicals there and then which meant that the manufacturer’s warranty remains valid.

So make sure that your engineer is testing for central heating water quality on an annual service or you may as well be throwing money down the drain.

Alternatively, you can contact us for your annual servicing and we can show you how well protected your system is and bring things up to full efficiency if you’d like us to. 😊😊

10/09/2023

On Friday we carried out a boiler change for a customer (in the middle of a heatwave).

There had been lots of issues with the 15 year old existing boiler so the customer decided to invest the money in a new Baxi 10yr warranty boiler with new heating controls.

Even after all these years it felt strange to fit a heat producing appliance in temperatures of 30 plus degrees. 🤣🤣

It’s actually the best time of year to have the work carried out as for the short time you’re without the heating and hot water it’s not so much of an issue for obvious reasons.

But it still felt wrong 🤣🤣 especially when we powered up the thermostat and it read 32 degrees before the boiler had even fired up for the first time.

So for all your gas, plumbing, heating and electrical needs just give us a call.

27/08/2023

I was recently contacted by a new customer to carry out an annual service on the central heating boiler at their home.

When I enter a property that I haven't been to before I always have a conversation about any issues that they may have had, or are having currently with the boiler. I also ask about any other work that has been carried out to the boiler or any other gas appliances in the property recently.

In this instance the customer said that there were no issues but the gas meter had been moved a few years earlier when she had a smart meter fitted.

On carrying out a gas tightness test (a test to check for gas leaks anywhere on the system)…I found there to be leak of gas which I then had to trace.

We have a set procedure as GasSafe engineers that we follow when tracing gas leaks which involves testing the live gas appliances first.

On testing the boiler, the hob and the fire…all were found to be leak free, which meant that the leak was on the gas pipework somewhere within the property.

One of the pieces of equipment we use has the ability to detect the smallest of gas escapes and can make tracing leaks sometimes more straightforward assuming that the leaking joints are accessible.

As you can see from the footage, the leak was found using the gas sniffer and then confirmed using leak detection fluid where you can see the leaking joint bubbling away from the leaking gas.

The leak was in the old gas meter box on the pipework that had been extended to the new meter position. My guess would be that the leak had been there ever since the work was carried out.

Once I'd made the installation safe I then proceeded to remove all of the existing sub standard pipework and replace it with new in the correct way (as it should have been done in the first instance).

The customer did ask why this hadn’t been picked up in previous years on previous services as she’d had the boiler serviced more than once since the gas meter was moved.

My answer was…well maybe they didn’t carry out a gas test…unfortunately I know of so many engineers/companies that don’t bother as this takes more time and therefore means it’ll cost them more money…

She then confirmed that neither of the previous engineers had asked for access to the garage…which is where the gas meter is located.

So there we go…one of these companies was the nations leading service provider and the other was a leading reputable midlands based firm…both I’m assuming were cheaper than me for servicing.

The reality is…the service could be £5 but if the property isn’t checked for gas safety…then what’s the point…it’s £5 that you’ve been conned out of as you’re not receiving anything you’ve paid for.

Along with carbon monoxide related issues, it doesn’t get any more serious than gas leaks as both of these are a danger to life.

But even on a very minor issue it’s also gas that the customer is paying for just to escape out into the atmosphere.

No one is perfect and we’re certainly not claiming to be, but we are always safe. We aim to provide the best service we can to continue to have a strong business and more satisfied customers day by day.

So feel free to contact us for all your gas, plumbing, heating and electrical needs. 😊😊

20/08/2023

At this time of year we always get a handful of customers that get in touch to get their boiler, heating controls and/or radiators upgraded ready for the coming winter.

The boiler and controls may all be working fine but their age or some small indicators of minor issues may give the customer enough of a reason to make the sensible choice to upgrade during these warmer months. This gives them peace of mind with a 10 year parts and labour warranty and the highest efficiency meaning the lowest cost fuel bills.

This is an example of just that…the boiler and controls were all in working order, but there had been just a few minor issues here and there. There was also the issue of there being a lack of parts available for their current boiler (should they need them) due to its age. This convinced them to invest in a new boiler and controls at their convenience rather than risk it failing on a cold winters day when most heating engineers are extremely busy and most likely struggle to react as quick as they’d like to.

So remember to stay ahead of the game and give us a call for all your gas, plumbing, heating and electrical needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

13/08/2023

We are the 24/7 emergency contact for a number of local property management companies.

This call came in last Sunday morning from one of those companies as a property on their books had a leak on the waste pipework in the kitchen and the new tenant was due to move in that day.

This was quite urgent as using the kitchen sink or the toilet, basin or bath upstairs caused water to leak from the joint and therefore flood into the kitchen behind the washing machine. Not to mention the fact that it’s sewer water and therefore has health implications for anyone within the property.

The tenant was quite rightly refusing to move in because of the issue as she had a young child and couldn’t use the sink, toilet, basin or bath.

Situations like this can be tricky out of hours as accessing the materials needed when plumbers merchants are closed isn’t always possible. Luckily we do keep a comprehensive stock of materials needed on the van to cover most situations and in this instance had the parts to carry out the necessary repairs.

So with a new seal fitted, the sink, toilet, basin and bath were all operational again and it allowed the tenant to move in on the agreed date meaning the tenant, the landlord and the property management company were all now happy with the result.

Contact us for all your emergency call outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Or anything else gas, plumbing, heating or electrical. 😊😊

MAC Gas / Plumbing / Heating

14/04/2024

07/04/2024

07/01/2024

22/12/2023

12/11/2023

29/10/2023

15/10/2023

24/09/2023

10/09/2023

27/08/2023

20/08/2023

13/08/2023

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