Purchasing and installing a new boiler is one of the biggest expenses that you can undertake as a homeowner. However, a majority of people prefer not to look into a boiler replacement because of the price of a new boiler.  But if your boiler is old and worn out, then getting a new one is a no-brainer. This means that you will have to put some money to the side for you to afford it.   Experts at iHeat confirm it. You can save more by making a simple decision today rather than postponing the inevitable. A new boiler will not only serve you better but will also allow you to enjoy your home even more. So, how can you afford a new boiler? Here’s how to do it: Put money aside If you feel like your boiler is getting to the end of its lifespan, it may be time to make some gradual savings. Do not ignore problems with your boiler until it’s broken down and dysfunctional.  If this happens then it will be impossible to get a new boiler, especially if you are on a tight budget at home. However, putting money aside now means that you can afford the boiler at the end of the year. Before setting your savings to the side, go on a research spree to find out the prices that you are looking at. Do not purchase the first boiler that you come across.  Take time to shop for boiler prices as well as suppliers. By doing it this way, you are bound to save a boiler that fits your needs and your budget. Go for boiler finance Boiler financing is just like financing a car or washing machine. It means that you can have your boiler installed without paying an upfront cost.  Unfortunately, a majority of people are unaware of this option and try to pay for a new boiler out of pocket. The good news is that there is an array of financing options to choose from. Take time in examining your options as well as the interest rates that are associated with the financing options.  By choosing boiler finance, you will make the most of a brand new boiler without having to fully pay for it right off the bat. When Should You Get a New Boiler? If your boiler is still functioning well, then there is no need to consider a new one. However, if you are constantly paying someone to come and carry out repairs then it could be a good time to invest in a boiler. Also, if your current boiler system is not giving you control over your heating systems (for example, your heater control can no longer be adjusted), a new boiler will improve your family’s comfort. Bottom Line If you are looking to buy a new boiler and replace your old one, the aforementioned tips will help you afford it. Do not forget to do your research as it will help you find the perfect boiler for you. Once you’ve carried out your due diligence and purchased the boiler of your choice, you can invest in a boiler cover that will come in handy whenever repairs are needed.

Lifestyle Appliances Ltd, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of outdoor leisure products, has seen a surge in online sales during the recent lockdown period, which the company managed with the latest software, cyber security and remote working tools. The award-winning Redditch-based company was formed in 2001 and enjoys a strong reputation in the retail, leisure and hospitality, and industrial sectors. In the past quarter, Lifestyle Appliances’ business has experienced growing online demand as more of us stay at home and many of its retail customers started buying online rather than visiting the showroom. The company already used a range of Managed IT services from its Kidderminster-based technology partner of 12 years, OGL Computer, including IT Support, Office 365, Cloud Recovery and Proactive Administration, to manage business processes. But it was OGL Computer’s ERP software that helped Lifestyle Appliances manage the online spike in sales.  OGL’s integrated CRM, accounts and purchasing ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution combines data from all sales channels into one platform. By bringing together information from many different systems, Lifestyle Appliances was able to process orders more efficiently.  Frank Spencer, Lifestyle Appliances Director, explains: “OGL Software really came to the fore as it enabled us to track stock movements quickly and keep our customers up to speed with the daily fluctuations in stock availability, so we could pass this accurate information on to our customer base.” While OGL Computer’s Cloud Recovery solution gave Lifestyle Appliances’ peace of mind with automated off-site backups of its data, Office 365 supported the company’s flexible remote working environment. Frank explains: “A small number of staff utilised mobile VPN set ups to work from home and this enabled them to access the OGL platform real-time from a remote location to process sales orders and purchase orders. This kept the flow of orders to be dispatched going into the warehouse so that delivery time promises for our internet customer base were maintained.  “Our view on remote working has totally changed. We feel that as we transit out of the pandemic and return to what you might call the “new normal”, practices implemented during the pandemic and lockdown will be maintained as standard working practice as a result of them being recognised as a far more efficient way of conducting our business.” Lifestyle Appliances has also recently invested in technology from OGL Computer’s Cyber Security division, CyberGuard Technologies’ with next-generation anti-virus, Carbon Black Defense, to help protect its network via real-time monitoring and advanced security measures.  A cost-effective first line of protection, Carbon Black Defense provides real-time monitoring of user behaviour to identify and report suspicious or malicious activities. By protecting user endpoints and offering a rapid response to suspected threats on mobile devices and BYODs, since implementation Carbon Black Defense has already reduced the amount of virus-attacks Lifestyle Appliances had previously encountered. Nick Davies, Head of Software Development at OGL Computer, concluded: “With our range of IT support services and security solutions in place around our ERP software, Lifestyle Appliances is better able to manage expectations of customers, partners and staff. We’re finding that more distributors, like Lifestyle Appliances, are coming to us wanting to improve or even set up e-commerce stores, so our e-commerce team is very busy. Using our services, those distributors are safe in the knowledge that their IT infrastructure is robust, secure and stable, so their teams can easily increase sales without any additional administration effort or cost.”

As the world struggles to navigate back to some kind of normality amid the Covid-19 pandemic, we are turning to innovation to help us solve some of the most pressing concerns around safety at home and in workplaces. Indoor spaces are a particular concern, being 10 times more polluted than outside air and making anywhere people gather inside, a potential risk of rapid airborne infection. Ground-breaking technology that can clean the very air we breathe, is proving to have limitless applications in the wake of Covid-19. Originally designed for use in medical environments, the Novaerus air dis-infection system is now being pioneered in spaces from offices to retailers, restaurants, care homes and schools to aid in protecting workers and clientele from airborne pathogens. Novaerus is an ultra-low energy, plasma technology for air disinfection and is safe to use around even the most vulnerable, continuously, 24 hours a day. “The Covid-19 pandemic has been a life changing event for everyone and has impacted every aspect of daily life. The reality is that airborne pathogens like Coronavirus cannot be dealt with by simply surface cleaning and hand sanitizing.  Air quality needs to also be addressed if people working and interacting in indoor spaces are to be protected,” explains Sam Allcock, Marketing Manager of Seldex, Seldex is dedicated to providing cutting edge technology in the pursuit of improving the quality of indoor air for everyone. The company has partnered with Novaerus, who developed the technology in Ireland and have completed testing in some of the world’s leading laboratories. In independent laboratory studies Novaerus products have been shown to safely and effectively reduce bacteria, viruses, allergens, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. Some of the viruses and bacteria tested against the Novaerus systems include; SARS, measles, Influenza A, tuberculosis and several strains of Staphylococcus. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, the NV1050 unit was shown to reduce MS2 bacteriophage by 99.99% in 15 minutes. Seldex supply a range of Novaerus units to suit all indoor spaces (buildings or vehicles) which are portable, simple to use, low-maintenance and highly effective for rapid or continuous infection control, odour mitigation and particle reduction. “Novaerus plasma technology is powerful, yet gentle. With no harmful by-products, it is safe for use around even the most vulnerable,” says Sam Allcock, “We are pleased that the wider application of these products is now being realised, particularly in the fight against Covid 19 and we hope that by supplying these products, we can play our part in helping to keep more UK citizens get back to work safely.”