Month: May 2015

Anchor Pumps Launch Range of Emergency Flood Kits

Coping with a sudden flood and its aftermath can often be a difficult experience. It takes time, knowledge and the correct equipment to restore some level of normality to your home or business.

This has been the case of many households throughout Britain during the 2014-15 winters; the wettest recorded for over a century. Many areas in the UK remain at risk of further flooding during spring and autumn in addition to the potential for unusual or flash flooding during the summer.

After salvaging furnishing such as sofas and carpets wherever possible, it is necessary to strip the affected area to bare floorboards and concrete so that drying can begin. However, before the restoration process can commence, the daunting task is removing large volumes of flood water, and this is where emergency flood kits are needed.

After high demand from customers, the team here at www.anchorpumps.com have created a new range of complete emergency flood kids, specifically designed to protect from and clear up flood damage in both domestic and commercial properties. They consist of submersible pumps and accessories, essential in case of a flood emergency, and we have already seen many householders and business clients preparing themselves by purchasing and storing these kits in readiness;

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The emergency flood kit consists of:

1. A Wilo Drain TMW 32/11/B, 24 watt water cooled basement drainage pump. This is suitable for stationary and fully automatic operation. The pump generates a continuing turbulence around its suction area. As a result there is no generation of odours related to the flooding and sediment settling is eliminated. A fluid that circulates between the pump shroud and its outside housing is cooled to prevent overheating during prolonged operation.

2. A Carry Cage that can be used to filter away leaves and other debris.

3. A 10-metre, weather resistant, Layflat hose. These hoses are collapsible, strong and very flexible. They are commonly used for agricultural and industrial water pumping as well as for domestic emergency flood kits.

4. A ¼-inch width Hosetail clip made in zinc-plated mild steel that will connect the pump and the hose. Its tough design means that it will withstand use in adverse conditions.

5. ¼-inch Camlock Couplings that fit between the pump and the hose. These are vital to connect the hose, tank and other fittings. These couplings can be made of stainless steel, aluminium, polypropylene, fibreglass as well as reinforced nylon to suit the nature of the liquid being pumped.

As Britain’s leading distributor of domestic and industrial pumps, Anchor Pumps has been a major player in the UK pump industry since 1976 and are pleased to be adding a new range of products to its ever growing online categories.

Click here to shop the new range of emergency flood kits online from £99

emergency flood kit

Stuart Turner Pumps: Kilimanjaro Trek 2015

Better known for their skill in manufacturing water-pumping systems, the brave and adventurous team at Stuart Turner Pumps recently got their blood pumping extra hard in a marathon climb up Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest point.

The grueling and challenging eight-day trek was the latest venture by the team to raise much needed funds for the Stuart Turner Charitable Trust, a registered charity that exists to give help to not-for-profit organisations that work within the community. Grants are issued to organisations within the RG9 postcode, helping groups such as those in financial difficulty, the disadvantaged and elderly or disabled.

Stuart Tuner Pumps

The Stuart Turner Pumps team set off on the arduous trek on the 2nd April, departing from Heathrow and flying via Nairobi to Kilimanjaro International Airport. After a night in a hotel, it was goodbye to mod cons for the rest of the trip, as they got used to living in tents and climbing each day. In order to get used to the high altitude, they actually slept each night at a lower altitude than that which they’d climbed to during the day.

A team of 51 porters joined the climb alongside the Stuart Turner Pumps climbers, including cooks and assistants, medical porters and guides. Despite rain for the first few days, which made for miserable conditions as everyone got soaked to the skin, on the evening the fourth day the sun did come out, giving the team their first glimpse of the mountain itself, covered in snow and looking very far away.

Despite the hardship, the venture was a resounding success with everyone returning triumphant, albeit with sore muscles!

Well done from all the team at Anchor Pumps – great achievement!

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Summer home improvement checklist

Summer is almost here, and the weather is certainly starting to cheer up. Before you settle down to enjoy the sunshine, there are a few matters of home improvement and maintenance that you might want to see to at this time of year;

Anchor Pumps

A Lick of Paint
If the outside of your home doesn’t look quite as bright and cheerful as the summer weather, a lick of paint can work wonders. It can transform both brickwork and window frames and help to protect them from those guaranteed UK Summer showers too!

Check Plumbing
Pipes may have been damaged by cold weather over the winter, especially if there is no lagging. Blockages, leaks and even dripping taps are worth attending to quickly during the warmer weather, in preparation for next winter!

Energy-Efficiency
Now the weather is warming up, switch your boiler to summer mode to save energy. If you don’t have a proper heating controller, installing one can make your home more energy-efficient all year round. Other energy-saving steps you can take include installing insulation (having this kind of work done is generally more pleasant in warmer weather) and also switching to energy-saving light bulbs.

Roofs and Guttering
It is usually a good idea to check your roof for any issues such as loose or cracked tiles. Check all parts and aspects of your roof, and while you’re at it take a look at your guttering to ensure there are no leaks or blockages.

Check Your Sump Pump
Should your home happen to have a submersible pump to prevent flooding of your basement, it may need some attention after its busiest season is over. Check in the manual for any regular maintenance you should carry out. You may need to unplug it, clear debris from the tank’s sump pit and clean the screen if it has one. If your sump pump seems to have any problems, check the manual or call in a plumber.

Clean and Tidy
To get ready for summer, don’t forget the traditional spring clean. This should take place both inside and outside your home. Inside, have a good clear-out – recycling wherever this is an option – and a thorough dust and clean of all rooms, surfaces and fittings. Outside, clear away natural clutter that may have built up through the colder months, such as dead leaves and branches.

What Type of Shower Pump Do I Need?

Few things in life are more annoying than a shower that doesn’t have enough power behind it. Let’s face it – a trickle of water just doesn’t feel as if it’s getting the job done. This is why choosing the right shower pump is important. If your home has poor water pressure, a shower pump can put that right by boosting the water flow and enabling you to enjoy a satisfying, powerful shower experience.

If you find yourself asking what shower pump do i need? Here are some tips and recommendations from the team at Anchor Pumps to help;

What Shower Pump Do I Need

Firstly, check the kind of boiler you have in your home. Your choice of shower pump will depend on whether you have a conventional system or a combi-boiler system. Next you need to decide whether you require a positive or negative head shower pump. This may sound a bit daunting, but it’s really quite straightforward. If the vertical distance between the base of your cistern tank and your shower head is 500mm or more, you need a positive head pump, as this kind of system relies on gravity to get the water to your shower head. However, if your shower head is situated at or above the level of your cistern tank, then a negative head pump is what you need, as this system sucks the water from the tank to take to your shower head.

Just bear in mind that if you have more than one shower in your home in need of a boost, then you’ll want to select a more powerful model.You also need to take into account where the pump will be stored – most will live in the water tank.

That covers the basics, and now comes the next part: choosing from the various brands. The amount of choice can seem a little daunting, but in our opinion there are three shower pump models that stand out for their combination of high performance and low noise levels.

Stuart Turner is a major name in shower pumps, and the company’s Monsoon range has a great reputation. Made from high-quality brass, there are various models to choose from, including single-head or twin-head options, and all are low-voltage and therefore cost-effective.

The Salamander CT Force range offers high quality regenerative pumps, value for money, brass construction, low maintenance, reliability, efficiency and quietness. They are also easy to install and will last you for a good number of years.

Grundfos pumps offer carefully designed, well-constructed and thoroughly reliable pumps which are easy to install and fitted with high-density long-life carbon-graphite seals, integral controls and anti-vibration feet.

However, if you’re looking for a quality pump priced at under £150 which will be just as effective as costlier models, then take a look at the Stuart Turner ShowerMate Eco S2.0 Twin or the Salamander CT75 Xtra 2.0 Bar – both represent excellent value for money.

Keep these tips in mind and you can’t go far wrong!