Spot the signs around your appliances Learn how to spot the signs of a Carbon Monoxide leak around your appliance. Fortunately, although you can’t see or smell Carbon Monoxide it’s easy to identify signs that indicate there may be a strong risk of it being produced. Simply look at your gas or heating appliances. Danger signs include:

• Sooting or staining on or around your appliance
• Excessive condensation in the room where the appliance is installed
• Lazy yellow / orange coloured flames

Carbon Monoxide can also be present in smoke from solid fuel or oil appliances. If you are using a gas appliance that should have a crisp blue flame, such as a pilot light, look out for changes. If it turns to a lazy orange flame, the appliance may not be working correctly.

You are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if:

• Your appliance was incorrectly or badly installed
  
• Your appliance is not working properly and efficiently
  
• Your appliance has not been safety checked and serviced annually
  
• There is not enough fresh air in the room due to blocked vents or chimneys and flues
  
• Your chimney or flue is blocked or has not been swept regularly
  
• You allow untrained or individuals not qualified for the fuel or appliance to install or maintain your appliances
  
• There is no audible CO alarm fitted and working in your home
  
  Be Carbon Monoxide Aware www.becarbonmonoxideaware.com
  

THOUSANDS OF TRADESMEN ARE UNKNOWINGLY WORKING WITH ASBESTOS

As the HSE continues to run their "Hidden Killer Campaign", local Asbestos Consultants,
Qube Solutions Services have decided to offer low cost Asbestos Awareness Training.
This is aimed at ALL trades including the employed and self employed, to ensure that local business and trades people are aware of the hazards and risks posed by asbestos containing materials (ACMs) within their everyday working environment and to provide an overview of the legislative measures and controls that the employer must comply with to safeguard them.

Asbestos Awareness Training is a legal requirement to be carried out annually for those persons who are liable to disturb asbestos while carrying out their normal everyday work, or who may influence how work is carried out.

"Thousands of Tradesmen are unknowingly working with Asbetos"
Each week approximately 20 tradesmen die from this hidden killer, upto 3 plumbers, 6 electricians, 6 joiners die weekly from asbestos related disease.

The courses are being run at Centenary Business Centre in Nuneaton.  The next course is on the morning of Wednesday 10th March and takes approximately two hours.  For more information go to www.qube-uk.co.uk                    

                                         

There has been loads of press about the boiler scrappage scheme.  We wanted to make sure you know what to do so we've compiled 6 easy steps.... 

If you have an old boiler that is G rated - you can swap it for an A rated energy efficient boiler and receive £400 from the Government.    

You will need a 'Cash Back Voucher' - it is important that you take the following steps in the correct order.   IF YOU HAVE THE WORK DONE BEFORE THE VOUCHER IS RECEIVED THIS WILL INVALIDATE YOUR CLAIM.

1.  You need to ascertain if the boiler is eligible there are a number of ways you can do this
      1.  Go to www.governmentboiler-scrappagescheme.info enter the make and model of 
            your boiler for a quick check if you are eligible
       2.  Give E.C.A a call, we will come out and give you more information about the 
             scheme,  check if your boiler is eligible and what to do next.

A quick test for gas boilers is to see if it has a permenant pilot light- if it has then it is very likely to be a G rated boiler or worse.  If it is gas fired and over 15 years old it is also likely to be eligible.

2.   Arrange for an installer to visit and quote you for a brand new Energy efficient boiler.  Make sure they give you a full quotation in writing including material and labour costs - THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT !!

3.   NEXT YOU NEED TO CLAIM YOUR VOUCHER.  When you have the quotation in writing call the ACT ON C02 Advice line on 0800 512 012 - quoting the following information:  Your full name, The address of the property, The make and model of the boiler being scrapped, The Company name, address and contact details of the installer carrying out the work, The type of replacement boiler being installed, Confirmation that you have received a quotation in writing.

4.   If successful, you should receive your voucher approximately 10 days after you have applied.  Please note - vouchers are only valid for 12 weeks from the date of issue.  There are only 125,000 vouchers available and approximately 3 Million eligible boilers in the Uk.  If you do not claim the voucher within the time allocated it will be cancelled and reallocated.  You can apply again, but you only have a chance that your application will be accepted if funds are still available.

5.   Once you have received your voucher, you can proceed with the installation.  You will need to pay for the new boiler and installation upfront and then claim back the £400 by sending the voucher and invoice from the installing company to The Energy Saving Trust - full instructions will accompany the voucher.

6.   Payment will be issued within 25 working days of receipt of voucher and invoice.

If you have any doubts or questions please give us a call or drop us an email and we will go through everything with you.    Good Luck!!

Valentines day will soon be here and we at E.C.A are getting in the mood.   The Best of Lichfield are running 14 days of LOVE promotion for  members and their clients.  We are proud to say we have won the Testimonial of the week courtesy of Mr Eric Barnett - Thank you Eric, we love you !!  If you would like to know more about The Best Of Lichfield and find some LOVELY suppliers visit www.thebestof.co.uk/local/lichfield