Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Christmas Tree decoration made easy....

As we make our way into December and Christmas grows ever closer, those of you who have not yet, will be planning on decorating your house for the festive period, including the joyous (and sometimes rage inducing) task of erecting and decorating the Christmas Tree.

Here we will try to provide you with some tips to help make your decorations look great and make the tasks of putting them up that bit easier (hopefully avoiding the annual family argument over whose fault it is the tree looks like it was decorated by Stevie Wonder)

Location

First and foremost, whilst putting up your tree, you need to consider the location. You may choose to put it in the corner of a room, this is ideal for those who don't have much time (or just can't be bothered) as it limits the area of the tree you need to decorate. Other things to take into consideration whilst choosing the location of your tree include:

1. Keeping the tree out of direct heat, i.e. next to fires or radiators, as it could not only damage the tree but may also be a fire hazard. 
2. Making sure you don't put the tree where it may be in the way of something important, such as the TV or next to doors or dining tables.
3. Make sure you erect your tree somewhere near a mains socket. The last thing you want is Grandma tripping over the wire/extension lead for the lights on Christmas day and pulling down the whole tree completely ruining Christmas for all involved!

Lights

That leads us nicely on to our next set of tips, the lights! Arguably one of the most important decorations on the tree, not only do they provide a nice warm atmosphere to the room but they also draw attention to the tree and light it up to its full potential. Now, no matter how neatly you stored them away after last Christmas you can guarantee they will have managed to tie themselves in knots throughout the year. So before you embark upon the perilous quest of untangling your lights, plug them in to make sure that all the bulbs work. At least then if they don't you have an excuse not to untangle them. 

The best way to put the light on is to start from the top and wind them down the tree, placing some on the edge of the branches and some further in towards the trunk, this way you can maximise the area of the tree that is lit up.

Decorations

There are no rules when it comes to decorating the tree, it can be as minimal or as over the top as you like. This gives you the opportunity to be creative and get into the festive spirit. However, we do have a few tips to maximise the experience of decorating the tree and ensure it looks as satisfying as possible. 

1. Hang larger decorations about a quarter to half way down the branch, this way they have less chance of dropping off. 
2. Use a mixture of large and small baubles and decorations and space them out evenly around the tree. Try to avoid clustering. 
3. Be creative! Let the kids make their own decorations, personalise your existing decorations, this will make the whole thing a bit more special and exclusive.

The Final Touches

Now that your tree us in the perfect location, all lit up and beautifully decorated, it is time to make the finishing touches. This could include hanging a bit if tinsel or stashing some treats amidst the branches such as candy canes or chocolate, decorating the base of the tree with a skirt or some other form of base decorating apparel and, not forgetting, the pièce de résistance of tree decorating, the star/angel that sits on the top. Of course, if you do not posses a star/angel, you could always get creative and stick half naked action man up there wearing wings and a santa hat (no need to be bound by tradition). 

Something of an Innovation!

My final tip is, if you want save yourself all this hassle next year, you can alway wrap your fully decorated tree from head to toe in cling film and put it in the loft whole. The next year all you have to do is choose your location for you tree, cut the cling film off, et voilà! Fully decorated tree!

Thanks for reading!

Development of IoT drives research into fifth generation (5G) mobile and wireless communication technology

As discussed previously in this blog, IoT (Internet of Things) is a network of physical objects accessed through the internet. These objects will have technology such as microchips embedded in them which will enable them to react to the external environment or internal states. Objects can therefore sense and communicate via the internet.

Benefits of IoT

The development of IoT is set to completely transform day-to-day life, making tasks such as shopping, traveling and working a whole lot easier. IoT will have the ability to alert you of traffic jams and help you to avoid them, inform you when you are running low on groceries and even order more for you, and give you the ability to control home and kitchen appliances remotely from smart devices.

IoT and 5G

It is believed that by 2020, 5G mobile networks will offer speeds of up to 10Gbps, with low latency and response times, making them key to the development of the Internet of Things. 5G will be essential to the development of IoT as it will not just be computers and phones that will be connected to a wireless network, but household appliances such as fridges, ovens, thermostats etc... Our automobiles, our bicycles, and even our clothing. Not only will our own personal possessions be connected via IoT but the entire infrastructure of the country will be connected, for example, the roads we drive on and the pipes that carry our water. In five years time it is estimated that there will be 25 times more devices on our wireless spectrums in the UK and current 4G services just do not have the capacity to support such growth.

Potential risks

Despite the potential benefits IoT has to offer, fears of security have also arisen through its development, as it will gather vast amounts of data that could give a comprehensive insight into deeply personal aspects of our
lives. This has the potential to create a worrying threat to our privacy, even in the safety of our own homes.

Just how fast will 5G be?

The potential benefits for 5G are massive. As a consumer you will be able to download a 1080p HD movie to your mobile in about one second. Also, thanks to the versatility of 5G, and its ability to scale, any kind of dropped connection should be a thing of the past. Due to the sheer speed of 5G it has the potential to eliminate the need for DVD, Blu-Ray and Video Game disks. Once networks can download a 50GB video game within minutes physical disks will quickly become obsolete.

Will 5G be expensive?

No, in fact it should be a lot cheaper than a 4G plan today. A 5G data plan could give you an allowance of up to 50GBs per month and yet cost half the price of your current 4G plan. The reason for this is due to the fact that the cost of delivering 1MB of data falls by around half each year. In 2008 the average cost of 1MB was 43p. Today it’s about 2p. By the time 5G is available it is predicted 1MB could cost around 0.001p.

Pacifica Group acquire new site in Washington as expansion continues

Pacifica group has recently opened a new site in Washington, Tyne & Wear with the potential to create around 45 jobs through a £2m expansion.

The acquisition of a new warehouse on the Washington site will aid the growth and day-to-day running of
new company 'Spare Parts Online' providing a vast storage area of over 60,000 square foot. The site also contains office and welfare facilities opposite the main warehouse.

The expansion came after securing £500,000 from FW Capital, managers of the North East Growth Plus Fund, as part of a £2m funding round, which also included a £250,000 grant through the Let’s Grow fund as well as a £1.16m commercial mortgage and loan from HSBC.

Group Director Kevin Brown (far right of the photo) said: “This investment marks a major milestone for us as we embark on the next phase of the company’s expansion. It has put us in a great position to achieve our aim of becoming Europe’s premier support services provider to the domestic appliance industry.”

Joanne Pratt (second from the left on photo), FW Capital’s fund manager in the North East, said: “Pacifica has become a major player in the European domestic appliance industry and now provides customers with a comprehensive range of services. They’ve have built an excellent reputation and taken on additional staff as they’ve expanded. The move to Washington is an important step for Pacifica and I’m pleased FW Capital has been able to join forces with HSBC to come up with a funding package to back its continued expansion. This investment is an excellent example of how we can work alongside other funders to structure investment packages for ambitious North East companies.”

The expansion has created a number of new jobs within the area providing roles such as warehouse labourers, forklift truck drivers, pickers, packers, warehouse administrators and warehouse manager.

Some great tips for cleaning your kitchen appliances!

No one likes the chore of cleaning the oven, microwave, blender etc... it's a job that can drive even the calmest person commit acts of violence upon inanimate objects. Here is a look at some of those hard to clean kitchen appliances and some tips that will help make your life that little bit easier.

#1 The Blender

This tip comes in two parts. Firstly clean the blender as soon as you are finished using it. Leaving the remains of your latest blended concoction to dry on to the bottom of the blender only makes it a lot more difficult and frustrating to clean. 

Secondly as soon as you have finished pouring your creation into a bowl or cup pour a little bit of washing up liquid into the blender and add some warm water. Replace the blender back on its motor and give it another whirl. This should help remove any chunks left behind and give the blades a good clean. Repeat this process as many times as you see necessary. Once the blender is clean rinse with cold water to get rid of and soap suds and you're done. 

#2 The Microwave 

Cleaning dried foods such as beans, soup etc.. off the inside of a microwave can be a difficult and frustrating task. Following these simple tips can make the process a lot easier and stress free. All you will need is a lemon, a microwaveable bowl, 300ml of water and a cloth. 

1. Firstly start by cutting a lemon in half, squeeze the juice into the microwaveable bowl and mix in around 300ml of water. 
2. Next put the bowl in the center of the microwave and put on full power for between 5-10 minutes, allowing enough time for the steam to condense on the roof and walls of the microwave. 
3. Once the bowl has been in for the appropriate amount of time carefully remove it (it will be hot!) and, with a cloth. wipe off the once dried on food remains with great ease.
4. Pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage, stand back and admire your great work. 

#3 The Oven

A nice tip that will make cleaning the oven a doddle is to place half a cup of ammonia into a cold oven over night. The fumes from the ammonia will loosen up all the grease and build up of burnt on food. The next day simply wipe the oven clean with a wet cloth. 

#4 The Electric Grill

For anyone who has ever used a George Foreman grill (or any other brand for that matter) you will know the sheer anger and frustration you experience whilst trying to clean the damn thing. Which is why, especially in student homes, they can go uncleaned for months on end (giving all food you cook in it that char-grilled taste). 

1. Unplug the grill and let it cool slightly.
2. Place wet paper towels over the grill plates ensuring the grill is still warm enough that it promotes some steam to loosen the cooked on grease and grime.
3. Close the grill with the paper towels still in place and leave to cool. 
4. Once the grill has cooled lift the lid, remove the paper towels and with a washing cloth that has been dipped in hot soapy water simply wipe the grill clean with ease. 

This method will save a lot of time spent scrubbing burnt on fat and food from the grill plates and makes a job we all dread a whole lot easier. 

#5 The Dishwasher

A dirty dishwasher will not clean dishes as effectively as a clean one, that's why it is important to clean them out every once in a while. Here are is a nice simple tip that should help make the task a little easier.
Firstly place half a cup of vinegar in a glass cup on the top rack of your dishwasher and run it on high for one cycle. Then place a cup baking soda on the bottom of the basin and run the dishwasher on a half cycle with hot water. This should help shift all the dirt and grime that has gathered in your dishwasher and you will be able to see the difference in your dishes after a wash. 

If you have any more cleaning tips of your own please feel free to share in the comment box below. 

Thanks for reading and I hope we have made cleaning your appliances that little bit easier. 

Powerful hairdryers, next on EU's ban list? Let us know what you think!

With the introduction of new European legislation, with the aim of meeting targets for energy efficiency, we have already seen a ban on vacuum cleaners rated above 1,600 watts. The ban will cover any vacuum cleaner over 900 watts in 2017. According to the European Commission the rules will contribute to saving 19 terawatt-hours every year by 2020. This is the equivalent of the electricity produced by four power plants for 5.5m homes.

Next for the chop, in the European Unions attempt at tackling climate change, could be powerful hairdryers. Hairdryers tend to range from around 900 watts up to as much as 2,300 watts. Fears are emerging throughout hairdressers and consumers that more powerful models favoured by salons will no longer be available. Critics describe the plan as "ill thought out" and claim that it would be unlikely that the plans would save energy and could make hairdressers vulnerable to arm, back and wrist injuries as it could increase the amount of time it takes to dry a client’s hair. National hairdressers federation president Paul Curry, owner of Studio 12 in York, said: “We all want to do our bit for the environment but these ludicrous changes, if they do become law, are ill thought out and could be potentially very damaging to our industry.”

As well as hairdryers there are up to 30 other appliances that appear in the study requested by the European Commission in order to meet a target for energy savings of 30 per cent across the EU by 2030. Other appliances that appear in the study include toasters, kettles, wifi routers, lawn mowers and smartphones. 

The study carried out by the European Commission will determine which appliances need to be regulated, in order to best reach targets for 2030, and make recommendations as to the most effective way to regulate the chosen appliances. 

Günther Oettinger, the German EU energy commissioner, explained that legislation preventing consumers from buying high-wattage appliances was necessary to fight climate change. He explained “We haven't got round to these devices yet, we want curb power consumption. All EU countries agree that energy efficiency is the most effective method to reduce energy consumption and dependence on imports and to improve the climate. Therefore there needs to be mandatory consumption limits for small electrical appliances.”

Have your say!!!

Do you believe that limiting the power of every day appliances is a step in the right direction when it comes to tackling climate change and reducing our energy consumption. Or, do you believe the new rules could have harmful effects on the market and certain industries and effect the quality and functionality of future products.

Please let us know and have your say by using the comment box below.

Pacifica Group Ltd make North East Fastest 50 List

I am pleased to announce that Pacifica Group Ltd once again, after winning the award in 2011, have made the North East Fastest 50 list, helping set the pace for the region’s growing economy. The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50, devised by leading North law firm Ward Hadaway and backed by The Journal, identifies and champions companies in the region who have achieved the most impressive performances in growing their businesses.

Independent economic researchers compile a list of the 50 fastest growing companies in the North East using factors such as companies who have seen the biggest annual growth rate in their turnover. This means that every company on the list is there on its own merit and being measured on its tangible success. 

How going green can benefit the environment as well as your bank balance.

In a time when the idea of going green seems to be everywhere it is hard to ignore the constant pressures to live a more economically and environmentally friendly lifestyle. “Going green” is the concept in which we steer away from old and wasteful habits and look towards new renewable, sustainable and eco-friendly processes, products and energy.

In this article we will take a look at how repairing your own appliances can not only help save you money but also help you save the planet and be more eco-friendly. We will also take a look at the latest in “Green Appliances” and explore new features that will save you money and help save energy and reduce waste.

When we throw an appliance away the likelihood is that it will end up in landfill, but what happens when all the landfills are full, what will we do with our rubbish then?  In order to stop this from happening or at least slow down the process me must reduce waste or look towards more recyclable products.

One thing we can do to help reduce waste is stop and think before we throw out our broken appliances, ask yourself “can this be fixed?” obviously you don’t want to spend a fortune on getting an engineer in to fix the appliance when it may not cost much more to buy a brand new appliance. But if it is possible to fix the appliance yourself, with specified parts bought online and delivered to your door for a fraction of the price of a new appliance, then you are not only doing your part to help save the planet by reducing the waste that goes into landfill but you’re also saving yourself a load of hard earned cash which you can then  spend on something more productive like that new pair of shoes you've been after or that new treadmill you’ll use a couple of times before it becomes a rather expensive clothes rack.

Now to take a look at the latest in eco-friendly appliances that are available on the market today. Buying the best in eco-friendly appliances may come at a high price but will save you a lot of money in the long term and will help reduce waste and be better for the planet and the environment. For example you may hunt around for the cheapest washing machine you can find and think you've bagged yourself a bargain and saved a lot of money but to produce products for such a low cost, corners must be cut. This can result in machines not being as efficient as they could be therefore creating a lot of waste and using more energy than is necessary. Therefore the cheap washing machine that you bought will have high running costs a due to a waste in water and energy and be costing you a great deal more in the long term.

Washing Machines

 
One of the leading washing machines when it comes to energy efficiency is the WMB81445L from Beko. It uses half the energy of an A-rated machine at 60 degrees and has an impressive range of programs, including the 14-minute fast wash.It also automatically reduces the water level for half or small loads, saving you money on utility bills. Beko’s specially developed Aquafusion Technology also reduces the amount of wasted detergent and significantly enhances washing performance. The washing machine is also designed to give great results at lower temperatures such as 30 degrees.

Fridge Freezers

One of the markets leading eco-friendly fridge freezers, with an A+++ energy efficiency rating, is LG's GBB530NSCFE. Thanks to LG’s Inverter Linear Compressor, this refrigeration product has been rated as A+++, ensuring efficiency by its design comprising of less components than conventional compressors, therefore making less noise and having less friction points. Even cooling is achieved through LG's Multi Air Flow System, whereby cool air is circulated through multiple vents, ensuring efficient cooling at an even temperature throughout. Due to these features making the appliance as efficient as possible it has a running cost of only £25.23 per year with CO2 emissions of just 73.95kg per year. 

Tumble Dryers

The Gorenje D9866E seems to be head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to energy efficiency and its stats make for some interesting reading. With a running cost on average of £23.10 a year based on 23.41p per cycle and CO2 emissions of just 67.69kg per year. It has an efficiency rating of A+++ down to features such as a lower drying temperature and sensor drying. 

Cookers

Leading the way in the eco-friendly cookers market is a offering by SMEG called the SUK61MX8. It has an energy rating of A and can reduce energy consumption by a further 20% from the standard A Energy rating. It has a yearly running cost of just £17.66 and emits 51.76kg of CO2 a year. Features such as double glazed doors, enamel interior and seven different oven features help keep this oven as economically efficient as possible.

Dishwashers

Finally, a look at one of the more energy efficient dishwashers available on the market. The Siemens SN26T297GB. Running costs average out at around £34.75 per year with a mere £3.26 per year going towards water costs. CO2 emissions are around 92.31kg per year giving is an energy efficiency rating of A+++. Features include energy efficient Zeolith drying, hydroSensor and loadSensor analyse your load to give most efficient wash, speedMatic hydraulic system for efficient washing and dosageAssist dispenses the perfect amount of detergent so less wasted detergent. 

Electrolux joins IoT focused AllSeen Alliance

Electrolux have joined the AllSeen Alliance. The AllSeen Alliance is an open-source project with focus on the innovation of IoT technology.

IoT stands for the Internet of Things and is a network of physical objects accessed through the internet. These objects will have technology such as micro chips embedded in them which will enable them to react to the external environment or internal states. Objects can therefore sense and communicate via the internet.

Electrolux own brands such as Frigidare, Zanussi, Molteni, Eureka and Westinghouse and are best known for products such as vacuum cleaners, refrigerators and dishwashers. 

  

Electrolux have joined competitors Haier, along with Microsoft, Panasonic, Qualcomm Connected Experiences, Sharp, Silicon Image, Technicolor and TP-Link, on AllSeen's Premier Member list. Members range from consumer electronics and chipset manufacturers to retailers and service providers with the intention to use the open-source framework as a platform for objects and devices to interact.  

The Chairman of AllSeen Alliance,  Lait Ben-Zur said in a statement:

“We've said from the beginning that only a pan-industry effort using open source and collaboration can advance the technology required to build a truly connected world. The decision by Electrolux to join with the other signature companies is an important step forward for the AllSeen Alliance and we look forward to Electrolux AllJoyn-enabled products being commercially available.”

This can provide for all kinds of opportunities such as refrigerators that can not only alert you when they are running low but also order the relevant groceries online for you. It may also provide for the opportunity to control your vacuum cleaner from home, enabling you to send instructions as to where in the house you would like to be vacuumed. The possibilities are endless.

Jan Brockmann, Chief Technology Officer at Electrolux said:

“Electrolux strongly believes that this technology, where appliances communicate with each other, with consumers and with other devices, offers a great potential to develop products and services that improve how we cook our food and clean our homes. For instance, we are working on solutions for smarter cooking, which will leverage our professional capabilities to help people achieve great tasting food with minimum effort.”

On the down side, this type of technology may carry a security risk. Providing new channels by which firmware can be hacked. The last thing you want is to have your router hacked into because the security on your refrigerator is not up to date. Problems, I’m sure, are being worked on and are constantly being improved by such groups as the AllSeen Alliance.

Background AllSeen Alliance

The AllSeen Alliance is a nonprofit open source consortium dedicated to driving the widespread adoption of products, systems and services that support the Internet of Everything with an open, universal development framework that is supported by a vibrant ecosystem and thriving technical community.

The Alliance hosts and advances an industry-supported open software connectivity and services framework based on AllJoyn technology accepting contributions from premier members, community members and the open source community.

This secure and programmable software connectivity and services framework enables companies and individuals to create interoperable products that can discover, connect and interact directly with other nearby devices, systems and services regardless of transport layer, device type, platform, operating system or brand.

#TechTuesday- GE's Vision of Future Appliances

As a follow on to last Tuesday's blog about the future of domestic appliances, I would like to share a video by General Electrics which gives an interesting and more in depth insight in to some of the concepts discussed in the blog. It provides for an exciting and realistic look in to what will be possible in the near future and how the home of 2025 will differ to the present day home.

   
Thanks for watching, for more industry news or information about us please subscribe or follow us on one of our many social media platform listed under the "Handy Links" section.

#TechTuesday- The future of kitchen and home appliances

Good morning and welcome to the blog

Today, in honor of Tech Tuesday, we will be exploring the future of kitchen and home appliances. We will take a look at the weird and wonderful ideas of the top appliance brands as well as their innovative new products and prototypes.

First off a personal favorite of mine. We were all blown away (quite literally) when we first experienced the Dyson Airblade hand dryers in a public toilet. Prior to the Dyson Airblade, drying your hands after a trip to the toilet was like being sneezed on by a mouse and often resulted in finishing the job by wiping your hands on you jeans or jacket. Well now Dyson have released the Airblade Tap which features an automatic water outlet as well as an automatic hand dryer. 

 

The Dyson Airblade Tap is currently being adopted in places such as bars, hotels and stadiums but due to its high price tag (around £1000-£1600) it is yet to be a regular feature in the everyday household.

Next a look at some ideas by Electrolux. I will begin by taking a look at the Ribbon Heater and Cooler. The Ribbon is a multi-purpose heater and cooler for portable use. Essentially it is a flexible ribbon which is used to wrap around a food or drink container for chilling or heating.

The black side provides heat and the white cools. It can be curled up and is easily portable. Controls placed on the side facilitate easy use. The chargeable thermoelectric cell battery can also reverse the charging process– whilst not in use the cells convert excess heat back into electricity. Sounds like the perfect device to take to the match to keep you pie hot and your pint cold.  

Another idea from Electrolux is the Onda Portable Microwave. It will work by sliding the device onto the end of specialy designed packages containing pre-prepared meals. The aluminum contained within the interior of the handheld device creates a circuit connection when the seal of the packaging is broken. Paper batteries are used to produce energy, making the Onda both smart and eco-friendly.

Now for a look at Electrlux's Smart Phone Operated Mobile Cooker. The heat plate can be paired and controlled by a smart phone and can be placed anywhere you wish. The smart-phone app is designed to be  used with NFC tags within the food packaging which provides cooking instructions. 

General Electrics have envisioned what the home of 2025 may look like providing an insight into what they think are real possibilities for the future of home appliances. One of the most exciting concepts, in my opinion, is the idea of a social cooking experience. "Imagine virtual experts who can help you learn to cook from the convenience of your own home or prepare great meals with friends around the country virtually. In GE's home of the future, improvements to voice recognition, motion plus facial recognition and deep-thinking technology will create "human" simulations of experts in fields like cooking. Sensors in kitchen appliances, as well as virtual cooking tutors will give instructions tailored to your skill level and interests, so meals come out perfect every time. Friends and family can even share a celebrity chef experience with a replica of a famous maestro giving instructions to make it more of a party than lesson."

Another exciting concept is the idea of a virtual closet. The idea that your washing machine can display a virtual closet from which you can choose what to wear. It could even make suggestions based on weather or what will match. You could potentially plan your whole weeks wardrobe. So no more excuses for the wife or girlfriend taking a millennia to get ready for fancy night out.  

Other futuristic ideas that GE envisage include in-sink dishwashers; induction cooking modules with interchangeable and integrated induction accessories allowing for unlimited and exciting culinary exploration, as well as more cabinet space when stored in the integrated storage drawer below; and the Smart Faucet with Hydration Sensor which dispenses filtered water, ice and carbonated water, vitamins and various beverages. Just by placing your finger on the faucet and the built-in hydration sensor lets you instantly see your hydration level.

Smart appliances seem to be a big part of the future of appliances. This involves being able to connect to your fridge or washing machine through your smart phone via Wi-Fi and controlling the appliance from anywhere in the world. You could tell you machine to run a dark wash from your office by simply touching the screen of you smart phone. You could also sync the contents of your fridge with your smart phone so you know what to buy when you go out shopping or know if your flat mate has been stealing your chicken nuggets again.

 

The possibilities are endless, and we will be with you all the way ensuring that if anything does go wrong with your appliances fresh out of The Jetsons we will have the spare part to fix it.

Thanks for reading, please feel free to leave a comment and join in the discussion. 

Why fixing appliances yourself is a great idea

Hello and welcome to the blog.

Today we will be looking at reasons why fixing broken appliances yourself is a great idea and the advantages of doing so.

Do you own an appliance that is no loner working to its full potential or has possibly given up all together? Like many of us you may be putting off getting a repair due to a number of different reasons, be it the financial cost, not having the time to wait around at home for an engineer to call or just that you haven't got round to it yet. Well..... we may just have the perfect answer. Below are some reasons why buying parts from www.sparepartsonline.co.uk and carrying out a repair yourself may be the best option for you.

1. The website is well set out and simple to use making it "a piece of cake" finding the part or parts that you require. The website allows you to search by model number, part number, appliance or brand name as well as manually via product categories and sub categories.

2. Once an order has been made we offer a wide range of delivery options including next day delivery in order to make life as easy as possible for you, the customer. Orders not selected for next day delivery will be dispatched using Royal Mail. In some instances where items are bulky and/or fragile, your order will be shipped via a courier or special delivery. Orders not received within two weeks of the date of dispatch can be declared as "lost in transit" and we will arrange for a replacement or a refund. We operate our next day delivery via one of our courier companies depending on the area of the country in which the delivery is being made. The couriers which we currently use are UKmail, APC and UPS. Any items dispatched on a next day delivery service will be traceable through the relevant couriers online tracking portal. 

3. Buying spare parts and fixing an appliance yourself can save a lot of money compared to the cost of buying a new appliance altogether or paying for an engineer to make a repair. This also means no missed days off work due to having to sit in at home and wait for an engineer to call or a new appliance to be delivered.

4. It is good for the environment. This is a fantastic reason for all the hippies out there. Fixing your old appliances instead of throwing them out helps reduce waste and minimises the amount of waste going to landfill. A repair may also help an appliance run more efficiently and thus reduce energy waste. So fix an appliance yourself and you are essentially giving the earth a hi-five.

5. It may be a lot easier than you think. The majority of minor repairs are relatively straight forward and are easy to do with a small amount of guidance. Also carrying out repairs yourself can help give you a greater understanding of how you appliance actually works which may help with any future problems.

6. Fixing things makes you look and feel like some kind of awesome superhero. There is a great sense of achievement in knowing that you have fixed something with your own hands and other people will look at you and think "wow, that guy/girl has just brought life to a machine, they must be some sort of super human".

Spare Parts Online- Advice to Landlords and Tenants

Hello and welcome to the blog 

Today we will be looking at responsibilities of landlords and tenants with regards to safety and maintenance of appliances and how Spare Parts Online can help make life easier and cheaper.

As stated in the guidelines for private renting on GOV.UK landlords have certain set of responsibilities regarding safety that they must adhere to. The landlord must keep the  property safe and free from health hazards.

Gas safety

Landlords must:

• make sure gas equipment they supply is safely installed and maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer
• have a registered engineer do an annual gas safety on each appliance and flue
• give you a copy of the gas safety check record before you move in, or within 28 days of the check

Electrical safety

   Landlords must make sure:

• the electrical system (eg sockets and light fittings) is safe
• all appliances they supply (eg cookers, kettles) are safe

Fire safety

Landlords must:

• follow fire safety regulations - eg by checking you have access to escape routes at all times
• make sure furniture and furnishings they supply are fire safe
• provide fire alarms and extinguishers (if the property is a large House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

These guidelines have a direct impact upon the manner in which repairs must be carried out and help establish rules for landlords and tenants.

Landlord's are always responsible for repairs to:

• the property’s structure and exterior
• basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings including pipes and drains
• heating and hot water
• gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation
• electrical wiring
• any damage they cause through attempting repairs

Whereas it is the tenants responsibility to ensure certain aspects of the property such as equipment supplied by the landlord:

• are kept clean
• are not damaged by themselves or anyone else
• are looked after and general maintenance is carried out such as changing fuses, light bulbs and unblocking sinks if required

How Spare Parts Online Can Help

Landlords

Replacing broken appliances can not only be very costly, but is also damaging to the environment. And for a alternative to paying for a repair by an engineer, landlords may find it cheaper and easier to buy spare parts direct from sparepartsonline.co.uk and repairing an appliance themselves. This can help save a considerable amount of money and means no longer having to take time off work or wait around for engineers to attend, the repair can be carried out as and when the landlord likes. 

Tenants

Usually the accidental damage of an appliance owned by the landlord will result in loss of a deposit or a hefty repair bill. Buying parts direct from sparepartsonline.co.uk and repairing the appliance yourself can help save a lot of money and avoid losing any deposits. 

Thank you for reading, feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Win a Sony Smart 3D Blu-Ray Player with Spare Parts Online

Competition Time

We are happy to announce an exciting opportunity for Facebook users. We are currently running a LIKE and SHARE competition in which one lucky winner will bag themselves a great prize.

The prize is a Sony BDP-S5200 Smart 3D Blu-ray Player with Super Wi-Fi worth over £100.

About the Sony BDP-S5200

Take your movie viewing to new heights with the Sony BDP-S5200 Smart 3D Blu-ray Player. This super quick loading 3D Blu-ray player not only delivers Sony′s best ever picture and sound quality, it′s also extremely versatile too. Enjoy your favourite Blu-rays or DVDs in stunning HD or 3D. Stay connected with the Sony BDP-S5200 Smart 3D Blu-ray disc player - Stream an unprecedented amount of internet content and services via built-in Wi-Fi and enjoy sites such as YouTube, Facebook and BBC iPlayer. Share your favourite music, video and pictures directly from a USB device or over a DLNA network and appreciate them on your HD TV. And if that wasn′t enough, you′ll be able to use your smartphone as a TV remote control or mirror content.

BDP-S5200 Features

■3D Blu-ray player

■Sony Entertainment Network
■TRILUMINOS Display technology
■Quartz design
■2D to 3D conversion
■USB playback
■Smartphone control
■DVD upscaling
■Quickstart and loading
■Built-in Wi-Fi
■DLNA support
■Miracast technology
■Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD
■High Definition audio codecs
■Colour Black

Connections
■1 x USB
■1 x HDMI
■1 x Coaxial Audio Out
■1 x Ethernet

Dimensions
■W x H x D: 265 x 43 x 199mm

■Weight: 0.9Kg

How to enter

To enter the competition simply LIKE the Spare Parts Online Facebook Page. And SHARE our Competition Post. Once the Facebook page reaches 500 likes, everyone who has liked the page AND shares the competition post will be put into a draw to win the Blu-Ray Player. The lucky winner will then be announced on Facebook. 

Links

To visit our Facebook page click here.

To see the competition post click here.

Links are also available to down the right had side of the page under the heading "Handy Links"

Thank you for reading and GOOD LUCK!

White Knight spare parts now available

Good morning all and welcome to the blog.

I am please to announce that all of our White Knight Tumble Dryer spare parts are now on the website and available for purchase. To be redirected to the site please click here.

A little about White Knight

White Knight is a branded range from Crosslee Plc. "Crosslee plc is established as Europe's largest independent tumble dryer manufacturer. As the tumble dryer specialists, the company has the experience and resources to produce over 600,000 units per year. Sold throughout 75 countries across the globe, every unit is produced utilising Crosslee's manufacturing excellence, to ensure that every client receives the highest quality dryers time and time again".

Thank you for reading and please keep an eye on the blog for exciting new updates.

Spare Parts Online - The Who, What, Where, When and Why!

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to the Spare Parts Online blog.

The aim of this blog is to provide an insight into the company and the industry in which we operate, as well as provide quality consumer advice and a source of light entertainment.

First off a little about ourselves, we are an online retailer of spare parts providing spares for a wide range of kitchen, laundry and sound & vision appliances. 

Our head office is currently based in Chester-Le-Street, County Durham and we are in the process of acquiring a warehouse in Washington, Tyne & Wear. We are a trading division of 0800Repair who are a national repair network repairing all levels of domestic appliances. 

We provide spare parts for a large range of major brands within the appliance market such as AEG, Baumatic, BEKO, Belling, Electrolux, Indest, LG, Smeg, Frigidaire, General Electrical, Fridgemaster, Vestfrost, Sony, Teka, Kuppersbusch, Hisense, Vestel, Finlux, Gorenje, Bush, Bosch, NEFF, Hoover and Miele.

We provide spares to repair engineers throughout the whole of UK and Europe to complete repairs that are both in and out of warranty. 

We also provide spare parts direct to the customer in order for them to carry out their own repairs, using instructional videos and materials which we hope to have up and running in the near future. To the customer this provides a cheaper option to replacing an old/broken appliance or paying for a repair. 

Our products include over one million spare parts and accessories from over 500 top brands and own leading brands. We provide spare parts for a wide range of appliances such as tumble dryers, washing machines, hobs, freestanding cookers, range cookers, built in cookers, cooker hoods, chest freezers, upright freezers, fridge freezers, undercounter fridges, undercounter freezers, dishwashers, TV's and microwaves.

We are currently in the process of launching the Website and carrying out promotional activities on social media platforms such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Please feel free to comment and ask any questions you may have.

Thanks for reading!