Maintenance
How to fix a leaking tap
Most of the time, if a tap in your home is leaky, dripping or hard to close it's the result of a broken washer. While it's possible that your leaking tap's a 'washerless' tap (i.e. one with a ball, cartridge or ceramic disc mechanism - see the 'Types of taps' article linked below), it's a lot less likely that these taps will be leaking like this. You can usually tell if you have a ceramic disc type tap because it'll only need a quarter or half turn to fully open the tap.
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What is passive design?
Ever noticed that some houses are cooler or warmer than others without relying heavily on powered cooling or heating devices? This usually comes down to clever design...
Where should hot water systems be installed?
The position of your hot water system relative to your taps is vital to your system's efficiency. Find out how best to plan your layout, and what to consider when space is limited.
Monocottura vs. bicottura tiles: what's the difference?
If you're shopping for ceramic tiles, it's likely you'll run across the Italian terms 'monocottura' and 'bicottura'. These refer to the firing process for the tiles, which can make a significant difference to the tile's properties.