Bath time

Domestic heating often dominates talk around the sector – especially now as the long-established norms are being increasingly disrupted by alternative solutions brought forward by the focus on ‘low-carbon’ solutions. However, bathroom refurbishments, repairs and renovations can also make-up a significant proportion of plumbing work and certainly deserves a share of attention.

So, it was interesting to read the latest report from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) which suggests the number of people looking to have a bathroom refurbishment in the next two years is rising.

The poll of 2,000 UK adults indicated more than a quarter of the UK population (26%) wants to complete a full bathroom refurbishment, with partial makeovers and replacing taps also slightly up – clearly good news for the sector.

However, alongside this positive story one concerning issue revealed in the survey was a downward trend away from professional fitters –although the survey did show that some Brits would rely on trusted professionals they have used before. (You can read more details from the BMA survey on page 14.)

When renovations or refurbishments are being discussed trusted professionals can play an important role in product specification – ensuring the solutions selected meet the needs of customers. With high energy costs persisting, and customers motivated to make energy-savings, it is probably a good opportunity to advise them about the latest product innovations which can help save both water and energy.

As Tom Reynolds, Chief Executive of the BMA remarks: “As consumers look to save money, we could see an increase in the purchase of innovative products designed to cut energy and water bills. Professional installers are critical for this endeavour. Their advice and knowledge ensure customer satisfaction, compliance, and safety.”

When selecting products for the bathroom perhaps one thing to look out for is the Unified Water Label. Designed to offer clear and concise messaging about the water consumption of a product the voluntary scheme is industry-led and supported by over 160 brands, with around 16,000 products currently registered.

The way in which water is heated, distributed and used not only in bathrooms, but throughout a house, can play a major role in keeping bills under control – something which all customers will be pleased to hear. By providing tailored advice and through delivering competent installations professionals can provide customers with ways to keep bills under control while reducing the demand on valuable resources.

The publishers and editor do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors, nor do they accept responsibility for any errors of translation in the subject matter in this publication.

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(Certificate of Average Distribution for the issues distributed between January and December 2021)

Jonathan Cole EDITOR