Mark is the new member of the Normans heating team, after wanting a career change he has become re-qualified in gas and oil. He is a friendly, chatty and inquisitive member of our team. In his spare time, he enjoys the great outdoors doing activities such as paddleboarding.

We are pleased to announce that we have successfully past our accreditation to become a HETAS registered installer. With the continuing rise in energy costs, we recognise that our customers are looking for alternative means of heating their homes. If we can help you with your woodburner installation, flue liner, or Pre-fabricated chimney system, then please do not hesitate to contact us for a free no obligation quotation.

I know, from personal experience, how important it is, to have access to these and are proud to sponsor the emergency defibrillator, maintained by South West Ambulance Service, located on the side of RNLI Mudeford lifeboat Station

Wishing all our customers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Even the most looked after boiler will struggle to function if its condensate pipe freezes. Luckily, it’s not a difficult job to put things right if it does happen. This handy guide will help you get your boiler up and running quickly and easily.

What is a condensate pipe?

A condensate pipe carries condensation from your boiler to your outside drain. It’s usually a white or grey plastic pipe that travels from your boiler through the wall directly outside where your boiler is located. During cold weather, the condensation in this pipe may freeze and cause a blockage causing the condensation to back up into the boiler and cause it to shut down.

Step-by-step guide

If you suspect that your boiler condensate pipe has frozen, the following steps should help you get things back to normal quickly.
Remember, if you don’t feel confident when following this guide then you should contact an expert boiler engineer for help.

1. Confirm the condensate pipe is frozenDepending on the make and model of your boiler, a frozen condensate pipe may be indicated by a ‘fault code’ or warning light on the boiler’s display. Gurgling or bubbling sounds coming from the boiler or the condensate pipe are another sign that the condensate pipe has frozen.
2. Locate the blockageThe pipe is probably frozen at its most exposed point. This may be the open end of the pipe, or at a bend or elbow. Running your hands over the pipe until you find a section that feels colder than the rest should help you identify the blockage quickly.
3. Use hot water to thaw the pipeUsing a jug or watering can, pour hot water along the length of the pipe, repeating the process until the pipe has thawed (do not use boiling water as this can crack or damage the pipe). If you’re using a kettle, make sure to cool the kettle for at least 15 minutes once it’s boiled. Alternatively, you can use a hot water bottle or a heat pack to slowly defrost the pipe.
4. Restart your boilerOnce the frozen section has been melted and cleared, check your boiler manual for instructions on how to reset the boiler correctly. Your boiler should now restart.
5. Not fixed? Keep tryingIt may take several attempts before your boiler restarts, but if it doesn’t, you may need to call out a qualified boiler engineer.

We are currently looking for a fully qualified Gas / Oil engineer to join our team here at Normans Heating.

The right candidate needs to be experienced in the following areas for consideration:

• Boiler installation, this includes gas LPG and oil boilers ideally.

• Boiler repairs/servicing. (Same as above)

• First and second fix plumbing.

• High end bathroom installations.

We will supply a van and tablet for completing jobs as well as uniform and an analyser.

What we would expect from you:

• You must have good timekeeping.

• You need to be honest and upfront.

• Your work must be of the highest standard.

• You must be clean and tidy.

• You must be able to work on your own as well as in a team.

• You must have ambitions.

We want to help engineers progress in their careers as much as possible.A lot of our work is for busy professionals who expect high end workmanship as do we. We are looking for someone to start ASAP!

If you fit the above description, feel free to get in touch by sending your CV and covering letter to office@normansheating.co.uk.

This is an exciting time at Normans Heating, we are currently looking for an apprentice in Plumbing and Heating to join us and to grow our team of oil and gas engineers.
Ideally you would be a Level 2 NVQ apprentice, hold a full driving licence, have a keen eye for detail, desire to learn and very positive attitude.
Requirement age for the apprenticeship opportunity is 17-24, you would be joining our team at a key time for company growth and development.
If you are interested then please do send your CV to office@normansheating.co.uk and we look forward to hearing from you!

Founded in 1999 by Norman Staples, now taken over by his son David Staples. We are a local family run, professional plumbing and heating company in the South West, specialising in oil and rural fuels. We are Gas safe registered, OFTEC registered, water industry approved plumbers and Hellios approved. Our office is based in Avon, Ringwood and we pride ourselves on being responsive and friendly to all our customers.

Known for being courteous, honest, reliable and above all reasonable. From boiler breakdowns and tank installations to bathrooms renovations and services, we are here to help.