New Baxi boiler being fitted.

Wednesday 29th December 2010

As I type British Gas are fitting a new Baxi central heating boiler. The old boiler (also a Baxi) is working OK but with the VAT increase (17.5 to 20%) about to take effect and the low efficiency of the boiler I thought it would be worthwhile changing.

The new boiler and parts were delivered at 7:15 this morning and the two engineers (father and son, Chris and Russ) arrived at 8 A.M.

I am having thermostat valves on 8 of the 9 radiators and the whole system is being Powerflushed.

As the installation is going several bits have been found that need sorting.

• The front bedroom radiator bleed valve was rounded off but fortunately a new fitting was easily put in
• The pump was corroded, as were a lot of the brass fittings around the system.
• The (corrosive) water in the system is very black so highlights the need for a good clean out.

On the initial plan the planner thought a new hole would be needed for the boiler flue but with the boiler being a bit lower in the cupboard the same hole can be used. Once the job is finished if there is no building work then  that amount can be taken off the bill.

Staines Moor

A beautiful sunny day in October so I went for a walk on Staines Moor. Left the bike at the Two Rivers shopping centre and walked through to the moor. Once through the gate the loud squeak alerted the nearby group of horses that came over to me assuming I had food for them. A lack of oats and apples didn’t seem to dissuade them so they followed me for a while as I made my way across the moor. Unlike my last walk here, in high summer, there were no butterflies about and fewer birds. The obligatory Green woodpecker was feeding on the grass and small groups of Starlings swirling around, near the cattle. A pair of pied wagtails were bathing in the river and several Meadow pipits where nearby too.
In the trees, near the northern edge of the moor, a group of eight Fieldfare were chirping away, another clear sign of autumn.
I made my way back along the old railway line which blocked the low sun from dazzling me. No Jays, which usually frequent these trees, but lots of wood pigeons were spooked from an early roost as I made my way along.

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