Protect your home from hard-water scale, from £800.
Thomas installs water softeners across Essex, covering Stansted, Bishop's Stortford, Harlow, Saffron Walden and the surrounding area. Essex has some of the hardest water in England. If you can see scale building around your taps or inside your kettle, the same thing is happening inside your boiler, your washing machine and your hot water cylinder. A water softener stops that process.
Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. When water is heated, those minerals precipitate out and form limescale. Over time, limescale builds up inside heating systems, hot water cylinders and household appliances, reducing their efficiency and shortening their working life. A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium before the water reaches your plumbing. The result is water that doesn't scale up, which means appliances run more cleanly and boilers run more efficiently.
Most homeowners notice the difference within a few weeks. Heating systems that have been dealing with limescale start to run more efficiently. Shower screens and taps stop showing scale deposits. Dishwashers and washing machines need less detergent. In Essex, where water hardness is well above the national average, the long-term protection a softener provides is particularly relevant. Hot water cylinders and boilers that might otherwise need early replacement last longer.
Water softener installation prices run from £800 to £2,000. The price varies depending on the unit specified and the complexity of the pipework. The softener is typically installed under the kitchen sink or in a utility room and connects to the incoming cold water supply. It uses a small amount of salt to regenerate, which needs topping up periodically. Thomas will explain how the unit works and what upkeep it needs when he installs it.
Helen
I'd moved into my new home and found out on day one that the boiler was not working and also the shower..contacted Stansted Heating and Tom was going to be passing my home later that day. He diagnosed the problem with the boiler and came back the next day to replace the necessary parts and then looked at the shower.. that was more complicated but he again rectified the problem a few days later. I'm so grateful for his help and couldn't recommend him more highly
x x
We can't recommend Stansted Heating Solutions enough! Tom and team are incredibly reliable and truly know their stuff inside and out. Everytime they've worked on our plumbing, they're tidy, professional and efficient. We always feel safe and confident in their work and wouldn't think twice about calling Tom for all future plumbing needs, very fair pricing too, they really are... simply the best!! Beth and Russell - Hertford
Adam Payne
Top service, clean, professional, respectful, would highly recommend 👍
Thomas covers Stansted, Saffron Walden, Newport, Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow, Sawbridgeworth, Hertford, Harlow, Epping, Loughton and the wider M11 and M25 corridor. If you're not sure whether you're within range, call 07774 323248 and Thomas will let you know.
Call 07774 323248 or use the contact form. For most installation jobs, Thomas needs to visit the property before quoting, so the sooner you get in touch, the sooner he can arrange a visit.
Yes. Thomas issues CP12 landlord gas safety certificates and is qualified for both Natural Gas and LPG appliances.
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6pm, and Saturday 9am to 1pm. Thomas answers the phone during working hours and calls back if he misses you.
Yes. Thomas carries out all the work himself, usually with a young apprentice who he trains to the same standard. When you call to discuss a job, you're speaking to Thomas directly, not a call centre.
Once a year. Annual servicing keeps the manufacturer's warranty valid and catches problems before they become breakdowns. Most people book a service in autumn, before the heating runs hard through winter. If you're in the Bishop's Stortford or Stansted area, Thomas can help with that.
Most straightforward replacements take one day. If you're changing boiler type, for example moving from a back boiler to a combi, or if there's significant pipework work involved, it may take two days. Thomas will give you a realistic timeframe when he visits to quote.
Yes. You won't have heating or hot water during the work, but the property is habitable throughout. In most cases the new boiler is commissioned and running by the end of the same day.
Most new boilers include a manufacturer's warranty, typically ranging from two to ten years depending on the brand and model. Thomas will register the warranty on your behalf as part of the installation process.
Not necessarily. Pressure loss is often caused by a small leak in the system or a failing pressure relief valve, both of which can be repaired. Thomas will diagnose the cause. If it's a repair job rather than a replacement, he'll tell you.
Thomas installs a range of reliable makes. The right brand for your home depends on the system type, your budget and availability. He'll give you his honest recommendation rather than defaulting to the most expensive option.
The most common causes are dirty injectors or a failing thermocouple. Dirty injectors restrict the fuel supply and cause the burner to cut out. A thermocouple on its way out fails to hold the gas valve open consistently, so the burner drops. Both are dealt with as standard during an annual service.
AGA and Rayburn both recommend annual servicing. The appliances that cause the most trouble are the ones that haven't been looked at in several years. A yearly service keeps injectors clean, replaces the thermocouple before it fails, and checks the flue is clear.
Yes. Thomas is qualified for both Natural Gas and LPG work. If you're on an LPG bulk tank or a domestic cylinder supply, he can service your appliance without any issue.
The appliance needs to cool before Thomas can work on it safely. For a traditional AGA that runs constantly, this means planning ahead. He can advise on timing when you book, and he'll relight and test the appliance fully before he leaves.
Generally yes, up to a point. A well-maintained AGA can run for a very long time. Thomas will give you an honest view on whether the appliance has more years in it or whether it's approaching the end of its useful life. He won't recommend a service just for the sake of it if the appliance is beyond practical repair.
Yes, and it's particularly valuable. Because underfloor heating takes longer to reach temperature than radiators, a smart thermostat that learns the warm-up time will start heating well ahead of when you need it. The result is a room at the right temperature when you want it, without wasted running time.
Most floor finishes are compatible, including tile, stone, engineered wood and vinyl. Solid wood is less suitable because it can expand and contract with the heat. Thomas will advise on floor finish compatibility when you discuss the project.
Wet systems run at lower water temperatures than radiators, which means the boiler runs more efficiently. Running costs depend on insulation, floor area and how the system is controlled. A properly designed and insulated installation typically runs at lower cost than a comparable radiator system in the same space.
Yes, but it involves more work than installing during a build. Retrofitting usually means lifting existing floors, which adds cost and disruption. It's worth discussing with Thomas whether it's practical for your specific property.
In the rooms where it's installed, yes in most cases. Thomas designs the system so that the underfloor circuit is the primary heat source for those rooms. In some older or poorly insulated properties, supplementary heating may still be needed, but he'll advise on this as part of the design.
Essex has consistently high water hardness. Limescale builds up inside boilers, washing machines, dishwashers and cylinders over time, reducing efficiency and shortening their working life. A water softener removes the minerals that cause scale before they reach your plumbing, protecting those appliances for the long term.
Most units are installed under the kitchen sink or in a utility room, close to where the cold water supply enters the property. The unit is plumbed into the cold supply and requires a drain connection for the regeneration cycle. Thomas will identify the best location when he visits.
The softener typically bypasses the drinking water tap, which stays connected to the untreated cold supply. That means your drinking water is unaffected. Some people choose to add a separate filter to the drinking tap, which Thomas can also supply and fit.
The main ongoing task is topping up the salt. Most households need to do this once every four to eight weeks, depending on water usage. Beyond that, the units are low maintenance. Thomas will explain what to watch for when he installs it.
Prices run from £800 to £2,000 depending on the unit and the installation requirements. Thomas visits the property and gives a fixed quote before any work is agreed.
Two common causes. On a direct system, the immersion heater may have failed. These can be replaced without necessarily replacing the cylinder. On an indirect system, where the boiler heats the cylinder via the coil, a failed motorised valve stops hot water reaching the cylinder properly. Thomas can diagnose which it is and advise on the most practical fix.
A vented cylinder works with a cold water tank in the loft and operates on gravity pressure. An unvented cylinder connects directly to the mains supply and typically gives better water pressure throughout the house. Unvented systems require installation by a qualified engineer because they operate at mains pressure with safety devices that must be set correctly.
Most replacements are carried out in one day. Thomas will confirm the timeframe when he quotes. You won't have hot water during the work, but you'll have it back the same day in most cases.
A well-maintained copper vented cylinder can last 20 to 25 years. Unvented cylinders typically last 15 to 20 years, though hard water areas like Essex can shorten that if the water hasn't been treated. If you're installing a new cylinder, it's worth considering a water softener at the same time.
No. Combi boilers heat water on demand and don't use a stored cylinder. However, if your home has more than one bathroom or high hot water demand, a system or heat-only boiler with a cylinder often performs better in practice. Thomas can advise on whether your current setup is right for your home's needs.