Gas Safety Week 2021

By JR | Blog

Gas Safety Week: Community Safety

It’s Gas Safety Week 2021 this week (13-19 September), which we are once again supporting.

Spreading awareness of gas safety

Gas Safety Week 2021 raises awareness of gas safety and why it’s important to take care of your gas appliances. Now in it’s 11th year, the week is organised by the Gas Safe Register. This is the official list of gas engineers legally allowed to work on gas.  

Unsurprisingly, poorly maintained or badly fitted gas appliances are dangerous. They can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. As you may know, CO is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly and without warning. You cannot see it, taste it or smell it.  

This year’s Gas Safety Week addresses a whole range of gas safety issues: from how to stay gas safe, to using a qualified, registered engineer and much more. It’s main aim is to ensure the community doesn’t suffer from the effects of illegal gas work through lack of awareness.

 

Our gas safety week tips to keep you and your family safe

Check your gas appliances annually. Use a Gas Safe engineer to check and service your gas appliances once a year. If you rent, make sure your landlord arranges this.

Ensure  your engineer is on the Gas Safe Register. All our engineers at Stevenson Heating are on the Gas Safe Register.

Look out for your friends and relatives – especially if they can’t arrange their own gas safety check or may be unaware of what they need to do. Help your loved ones to have their appliances checked and serviced regularly.

Check for warning signs that could indicate your appliances are not working correctly. Signs may include: lazy yellow / orange flames instead of crisp blue ones; black marks on or around your appliance; a pilot light that keeps going out; and too much condensation in the room.

Know the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.

Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm and make sure your friends and relatives have one too. They need to have the EN50291 mark and display the British Standards’ Kitemark.

 

Service Care Plans

To keep your gas heating system in tip top condition, including an annual service, why not sign up to one of our Service Care Plans? They help you spread the cost and keep things working properly.

Finally, we’ll be sharing some tips and advice on how to stay gas safe on our social media throughout Gas Safety Week. So, please be sure to follow us to get the updates:

Facebook – Stevenson Heating Ltd

Twitter – @StevensonHtg

Instagram – @Stevensonheating

And, for gas safety advice or to book an engineer to check your gas appliances, call us on 020 8462 8822, email us on info@stevensonheating.co.uk or request a call back.

Help Arlo to raise funds for King’s and the PRUH

By JR | Blog

Remember when we helped Arlo and his family on DIY SOS a couple of years ago?

Well, now Arlo’s dad Mike is on a mission to fundraise for King’s and the PRUH. And he needs your help!

 

Great Hospital Hike

 

On 18 September, Mike will be taking part with friends in The Great Hospital Hike, for King’s College Hospital Charity.

He’ll be walking the 17 miles from King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill to the Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley. Arlo has spent considerable time in both hospitals, including the first 576 days of his life.

Arlo, pictured below and now aged 5, was born with a genetic lung condition, which means he is always connected to a ventilator with high flow oxygen. He also relies on a feeding peg in his tummy and needs constant care.

 

Special wheelchair for Arlo

As well as donating to the hospital hike, Mike is fundraising towards a special wheelchair for Arlo.

Given Arlo is one of only a handful of people in the UK with this genetic lung condition, he needs a lot of oxygen and other equipment with him constantly.

As a standard wheelchair will not hold what he needs, his family would like a bespoke wheelchair that will carry everything for him.

So, please help Mike to fundraise if you can. We will be donating!

You can donate at Arlo’s Go Fund Me page.

You can also find out more about Arlo and his journey on his Arlo’s Army Facebook page.

 

Images courtesy of Mike Newcombe and Arlo’s Army Facebook page.

Meet the team: Jo Hunt

By JR | Blog

Each month, we’re interviewing a different member of our team. This month we spoke to Client Co-Ordinator, Jo Hunt.

How long have you worked for Stevenson’s, Jo?

I’ve been working here for over seven years and I’m the Service & Installations Client Co-Ordinator. I’m usually the first person you speak to when you call us!

 

What did you do before that?

My background is in 3D model making, for which I have a Higher National Diploma. I spent many years making 3D models for the advertising industry.

I also spent two years working as an architectural model maker in Frankfurt, which was interesting as I didn’t speak German at first!

As well as that, I’ve had the great privilege of working several times as a prop maker for the Royal National Theatre. That’s not something many people get to experience and it was amazing being backstage and meeting famous actors. Sir Simon Callow once bought me a drink for working on his production!

 

What roles have you held at Stevenson’s?

I started out as a receptionist, working closely with the Installations Manager and surveyors. I was then promoted to arrange the planning of new boiler installations with clients. Last year, arranging annual boiler servicing, landlord gas safety certificates and boiler repairs were added to my remit.

Many people don’t realise that there’s a lot of planning needed for a new boiler installation. I work closely with all the teams at Stevenson’s and the clients themselves to co-ordinate everything before, during and after the installation. I especially enjoy talking to clients and putting them at ease.

 

What do you want to achieve in your current role?

I strive to be an informal, friendly point of contact for the company. I try to remember clients’ names and I like to build a friendly, informal rapport with everyone.

It can be so worrying for someone when they have no hot water or heating. I usually give out my tips on how they can keep warm, which includes things like doing the hoovering and having hot drinks! I think that is part of why people keep coming back to us – we treate you as a person, not just a number. 

 

Tell us something we don’t know about you

I am a former Jackie magazine cover girl and I modelled with Steve Strange from Visage! I was 15 at the time and a school friend’s sister worked at the magazine. They wanted someone to model who was in the Jackie reading age.

 

At the time, it was very exciting! I spent two hours in hair and make-up, wore a hat by Philip Treacy and a designer outfit from PX.

Steve Strange was told it was my dream come true to meet him, so he instantly sent out for champagne. What I’d actually said was that it’d be my dream to meet David Bowie or Gary Numan!

Anyway, I still have the champagne bottle, personally dedicated and signed by Steve.

I’ve recently discovered that a copy of the magazine I was featured in is selling online for £16.99! At the time it was just 16p.

 

What do you like watching on TV?

My favourite TV series has to be The West Wing. One of my favourite quotes from the show is “What’s next?” from President Bartlett. I also like Parks & Recreation.

 

And finally, tea or coffee?!

Now I am very particular about this! In the morning coffee, and then in the afternoon, tea – strong as possible. Don’t bring me tea the colour of beige, that is not tea!

 

Did you enjoy reading about Jo Hunt? If you’d like to read more about our other staff, click here.

Summer Price Freeze: Buy Now to Save Later

By JR | Blog

Benefit now from our Price Freeze

We’re freezing our current prices until the end of August!

This gives you a great opportunity to get some work done around your home over the summer months.

Why are prices increasing?

Prices are going up everywhere you look right now – partly due to Covid and partly due to Brexit. There is, of course, a knock-on effect on supply chains. This includes for many of our suppliers in the heating, plumbing and electrical industries.

But the good news is, we’re not passing on these increases to you right now. We want to give you chance to get some work done around your home before we have to put our prices up.

 

What’s included in the price freeze?

Have you thought about getting your boiler serviced while you’re not using it over the summer? Or how about upgrading your radiators, taps or shower fittings? The summer months are the best time to get some of these things done.

 

Our summer price freeze includes:

Boiler service – did you know that summer is the best time for your annual service when you’re not relying on your heating?

New radiators – upgrading to more efficient radiators can save you energy and money on your heating bills.

New taps & fittings – replace old, tired or leaking taps, shower or bath fittings to give them a new lease of life.

Boiling water taps – would you like instant access to hot water without boiling a kettle?

Water softeners – reduce the effects of ‘hard water’ limescale in your home with a Limetron fitted to your mains or a water softener under the sink.

Home security – have you considered a video doorbell and security cameras at home? We can install them for you, so you can keep an eye on your property, your pets and your loved ones at the touch of a button.

Meet the team: Andy Oliver

By JR | Blog

Each month, we’re interviewing a different member of our team. This month we spoke to Head of Finance, Andy Oliver.

How long have you worked for Stevenson’s, Andy?

I joined the team seven years ago, in 2014, as Service Manager.

 

What did you do before that?

I worked for 30 years in the coffee industry as an engineer and service manager, repairing coffee machines in many of the big coffee chains. I used to head up the engineering section of Coffee Nation, which is now Costa Coffee.

Before that, I started out as a paper boy for John Menzies (remember them?!) and worked my way up to store manager.

 

What roles have you held at Stevenson’s?

I started as Service Manager, where I looked after the engineers and the service desk, ensuring everything ran smoothly. I was then MD for a while and took over the finance role in July 2020.

 

What do you want to achieve in your current role?

I’m working on streamlining our financial processes and systems, bringing in relevant technology to help. This will make it easier for the team and help us keep costs down – and remain cost-effective for our customers.

 

Tell us something we don’t know about you

I am a trained barista! Something I learned during my career as an engineer in the coffee industry. You can’t fix the machines without knowing how to use them!

 

What do you enjoy doing when not working?

I, like some of the others in the team, am an avid cyclist. I’ve done the London to Brighton cycle ride five times and have twice completed a 100-mile Olympic cycling route.

My family recently had two boxer puppies, so they’re keeping me busy at the moment too. They’re only 13 weeks old, so still require a lot of looking after!

 

Do you have a favourite film?

Oh definitely Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption.

 

And finally, tea or coffee?!

Given my work history, it’s no surprise I’m a big coffee fan! I love a proper, freshly ground cup of coffee.

 

Did you enjoy reading about Andy Oliver? If you’d like to read more about our other staff, click here.