Installation Guide for the Electric Hot Water Tap

Get your plumber to follow the below instructions when fitting the Instant Hot Water Tap.

No 1: Before installation ensure your water and electrical supply are isolated. If retro fitting remove the existing tap.

No 2: Ensure that the hot water supply is isolated. We recommend fitting a blanking device to the hot water supply.

No 3: Place the EHT10 in the desired fitting location using one of the supplied rubber washers between the EHT10 and fitting surface.

No 4: Underneath the sink place the second rubber washer along with the fixing piece and then secure in place using the fixing nut being careful not to over tighten.

Plumbing installation is as follows:

The cold mains water supply is connected to the water inlet at the bottom of the EHT10. It is essential that an in line shut off valve is installed during plumbing of the EHT10. For optimum performance the flow rate should not exceded 4 litres per minute.

After plumbing the EHT10 move the handle to the cold position to allow water to flow. Check for any leaks.

Electrical installation is as follows:

brown/live, blue/neutral, green yellow/earth to be connected to a switched fused spur outlet.

Switch on electrical current then move the handle to the hot position to allow water to flow, the power indicator will then light.

Water will begin to heat after 5-10 seconds. Optimum heat is obtained when the lever is closest to the off position.

Move the handle back to the off position, the indicator light will go off and water will stop flowing.

The EHT10 is now installed and ready for use

See full product details on the Instant Hot Water Tap

Fathers Day Gift Ideas 2012

Here comes another one of those days you got to dip into the pocket and pay some gratitude.

After all you wouldn’t exist if he didn’t would you?

If you have not already realised it, Father’s Day in Ireland is coming up on Sunday June 17th. Over the next few weeks be sure to have a Saturday night in, go without eating, beg on the street but don’t forget dear old Dad!

To help get you into thinking mode we identified some potential gift ideas and matched them with the all so very different types of Dads that exist on planet earth.

The Sporty Dad

The English soccer season may be over but here comes the Euro 2012 Championships. With Ireland joining the party on the rocky road to Poland it has got that added bit of spice. The GAA Championship season is also upon us, then there is the Tour De France, Wimbledon and let us not forget the London Olympics. Sporty Dad is sure in for a great summer.

He might be expecting an Ole Ole O’Shea Euro 2012 T-Shirts so why not surprise him this year?

Is  your Dad the type who goes to all the games during the summer but hates to miss out on what else is happening in the world of sport? The chances are he brings a little battery operated radio with him on his travels for fear of missing something. The problem is the batteries sometimes run out leaving Dad in a right kerfuffle. How about a radio which require which is powered by daylight, by winding up or indeed can be fully charged off a computer through the included USB charging kit. Headphones can be attached to the radio so he won’t be annoying anyone else and it also includes a flashlight and can even be used as an emergency mobile phone charger. Of course this also means that the old “my mobile went dead” excuse is consigned to the history books!

If Dad likes cycling or just tends to go on a cycling buzz once a year (typically around the time the Tour De France is on TV) make sure he is safe with Reflective Cycling Gloves or Reflective Cycling Socks

The Budgetary Dad

If Dad is all about saving money and tends to use terms like “tightening our belts” you can help him along his merry way to reduce the bills with a wide variety of products.

Energy rates have been going one direction in the last few years. Unfortunately that is up, up and up again. If Dad gives you a hard time about how long the hair dryer is on or the fact that you boil a full kettle four times before you actually get around to making that single cup of tea well give him a break he has good reason.

If you want to risk a proper ear bashing lecture about the energy usage you can get Dad one of the Brand New Owl Micro Plus Energy Monitors. This new model was only released on May 1^st and ultimately allows the user to monitor electricity spending in real-time and get all the rest of the members of the household to pull together and adjust behaviour patterns with the ultimate goal of reducing the next bill.

Give your Dad a double saving treat by presenting him with an Ecocamel Water Saving Showerhead. This device will not only help him save water without compromising the shower performance but also save on the energy bill as less water needs to be heated.

If you have occasionally looked out the window and seen your father dancing on the rubbish bin in an effort to free up space why not treat him to a Bintrasher. This will mean less embarrassment for you and will allow him get more rubbish into the bin in a more practical fashion. It will also reduce the risks that he might break a leg and best of all it is an Irish made product so you will be doing your little bit for our economy.

The Constant Gardener Dad

If your father is more the green fingers type there is an extensive range of products that he just might appreciate.

Water Butts are designed to collect rainwater from the downpipes of your home. This water can then be put to good use by watering the plants in the garden or even washing the car. With water metering imminent they have never been more popular and a useful investment which will ultimately help to save Dad some money.

If he has already beaten you to it and you are in quite a generous mood consider getting either a solar powered water butt pump or a battery operated portable water pump to compliment the Water Butt. If Dad had been happily using the garden hose prior to getting the Water Butt installed he may be a little frustrated having to revert back to the watering can to use the collected rainwater. The pump will mean he can use the hose again to distribute the collected rainwater.

Also worth considering for the gardening gifts and a little easier on the pocket are 7 Pattern Water Saving Hose Nozzles and Moisture Meters which are used for ensuring that plants are neither over water or under watered.

On the gardening lighting front its worth considering the solar garden globe, sun jars or regular stainless steel solar garden lights.

Adventure Dad

If Dad is all about the great outdoors the Kelly Kettle Kit is another wonderful Irish made product which provides all the necessary tools to easily cook the dinner and make a cuppa when away on one of his adventures.

He can keep his clothes clean and get a little exercise with a Pedal Powered Washing Machine and keep up to date with the big bad outside world or relax and read a book at night with the LED Lantern which incorporates a radio as well as the light.

The be prepared Dad

Some fathers like to be prepared for all eventualities. If they got a product that needs to be used in times of emergency they will brag about the fact that they had it for months on end. Hydrosacks are an eco alternative to sandbags to counter flooding and the Wrapseal pipe leak repair kits and two products Dad would love to store away for that rainy day.

The Musical Dad

The singing Dad sometimes needs to be put in his place. Encourage him to keep it in the bathroom with a Water Powered Shower radio which fits on the faucet of the shower and will allow him to belt out the tunes with accompanied backing vocals and not really bother anyone else.

Perhaps father dear is more a background musician rather than the front man. Drumstick pencils might be just the thing to help him reminisce about those childhood rock star dreams.

Remember you can get a 10% discount on any of the above gift ideas if you order before June 1st and use the promotion code May10. Alternatively call 01 8428187 and quote the code. Budgetary Dad would be particularly proud of you!

Save 10% on Everything at Purchase.ie this May

Purchase.ie was founded on November 1st  2009 and so its our half birthday today.

I think you are meant to stop celebrating half birthdays at the age of seven but since we are only two and a half we can continue with this practice.

Purchase.ie is actually in big celebratory mood lately having been shortlisted as a finalist for the Green Retailer of the Year and more recently our blog was shortlisted for a Bord Gais Social Media Award. We also had a great chat with the bold Hector on 2FM about water saving tips lately.

While Purchase.ie is dreaming up acceptance speeches and getting the carpenter in for a new shelf for all the silverware coming its way why don’t you take advantage of the situation and get yourself a 10% discount on any of the Purchase.ie product range.

To avail of the offer simply insert the promotion code May10 at checkout here online or call us on 01 8428187 and quote the code. You might even decide to tell us how great we are!

This offer is only valid to the end of May 2012 so get shopping!

Win Water Saving Products

If I got a Euro for every time I heard the phrase “Water Meter Charge” over the past week I guess I would have exactly 127 Euro at this stage!

The household charge, water metering……., 2012 has been a difficult year so far for Irish folk.

2FM were giving away a years supply of Ballygowan, Today FM were offering to pay your first year of water charges so at Purchase.ie we have decided to do our tiny little bit for the long suffering Irish householder.After all we do have a dedicated section on our shop on water conservation products.

We are giving away three water saving products as prizes for the best water saving tips provided to us by you.

To enter the competition simply submit your top water saving tips in the comment box below.

Hey and no copying the answers we provided in our blog on countering the water meters please LOL.

The prizes we are giving away are as follows

1: Ecocamel Water Saving Shower head – Reduces the amount of water that comes out of your shower to 6 Litres per minute without compromising the water pressure.

2: Water Leak Alarm – Detects leaks anywhere in your home of as little as 40ml per minute.

3: Toilet Tummy (2 Pack) -Saves water in your toilet cistern everytime you flush it.

So get your tips in as soon as possible and you could be saving water within the next few weeks.

Closing date to enter is May 14th 2012. Winners will be announced here in our blog.

Further to being invited to speak about water saving tips on the Breakfast with Hector Show on 2FM last week we are also giving a 5% discount on all our products at present when you enter the code Hector at checkout or call 01 8428187 and quote the code.

How to Assemble a Water Butt Kit

Assembling a water butt kit is quite simple really. Other than all the bits and bobs you receive in the kit all you will need is a measuring tape, a hacksaw, a drill and a 25mm drill bit.

When you receive your Water Butt Kit you will receive the following

Water Butt

Stand

Child Proof Lid

Downpipe Divertor Kit

Tap

Follow the simple ten steps outlined below and you are ready to go. If you have any difficulty don’t hesitate with getting in touch. Email  sales@purchase.ie or call 01 8428187.

Step 1: Disconnect Lid of Water Butt by pushing right to left.

Step 2: Take out Stand and Downpipe Divertor Kit for Butt and unscrew tap for inside out position (it is positioned inside out so as not to be damaged whilst being transported)

Step 3: Place Water Butt on Stand and position beside the downpipe with the tap facing outwards and reattach the tap on to the outside of the Water Butt

Step 4: You will find drill points at the top of the Water Butt on both the left and right hand side. Using a 25mm drill bit make a hole on the side of the Water Butt closest to the downpipe. Ensure that drill bit is in the marked central area.

Step 5: Push connector through the washer from the inside then tighten the nut on the outside to form a seal.

Step 6: A 30mm section now needs to be removed from the downpipe. Mark the downpipe 10mm below the top of the water butt. Mark again 30mm below the first mark.

Step 7: Use hacksaw to remove this section of downpipe.

Step 8: Insert main body of the divertor kit ensuring the square section is upright into the cut section the down pipe.

Step 9: Connect hose between the Water Butt and the divertor kit on downpipe.

Step 10: Place Childproof lid on top of Water Butt and you are ready to start collecting rainwater from your downpipes.

See 190 Litre Water Butt Kit

See 200 Litre Water Butt Kit

Tips on Fighting Against Water Charges in Ireland

Talk of water meters is again dominating media coverage in Ireland over the past few days after reports that the government will charge householders 300 Euro just to have them installed in their homes.

The present Irish government and its predecessors have been fumbling along for a number of years now on how and when water metering will commence. Although it is still up in the air as to how exactly it will be implemented what seems now almost certain is that by 2014 domestic water charges will be in place.

Given that the household charge was 100 Euro no matter if you owned a one bedroom apartment or a 10 bedroom mansion there is no certainty that the government will implement a fair way to charge for this. If they do however it would mean the more water you use the more you pay.

So what ways can we counter the water rates and reduce what we have to pay? Below are some tips. If you got any questions give us a call on 01 8428187 or email sales@purchase.ie

Water Saving – Taps and  Showers

Water Saving Shower Head

Most of us have been guilty of taking an unnecessarily long shower or running the kitchen tap for ages letting good water flow down the drain as we await the water to reach our desired temperature.

Letting water flow unused down the drainpipe really is a bit of a sin. Use a bucket or some sort of container under the tap or shower head whilst you are waiting for the right temperature. Using that water on your plants or in the garden is something we should all get used to doing.

A simple way to counter water wastage in the shower is to install an aerated shower head which uses half the water of a normal shower head without compromising the showering experience. Most shower heads use about 12 liters of water per minute but this can be reduced to just 6 liters with the aerated shower head. These shower heads come with a universial fitting suitable to fit on the vast majority of showers and there is also a fixed aerated shower head model for wall fittings.

Water Tap Restrictor Fittings

You can install the same technology on your taps. Some taps will use up to 20 litres of water per minute when fully switched on. Tap aerators come in two different models. One has an efficiency of 4 litres per minute and are ideal for bathroom taps. The other has an efficiency of 8 litres per minute.

Be more aware of the time you spend in the shower by installing a shower-timer. A great way to drop hints to our members of the household if nothing else!

Water Saving – Toilets

Toilet Tummy Displaces Cistern Water

Not a very attractive topic but somewhere we can make significant savings all the same as it is estimated the the toilet accounts for 40% of total amount of water used in a household on any given day. Some people swear by the phrase “if its yellow let it mellow and if its brown flush it down”

After that line I reckon I have lost a few readers so if your are still here thank you for putting up with me!

Modern toilets tend to have a dual flush option (half flush for the number ones and full flush for the number twos). A full flush is generally about 6 litres on these toilets and thus are quite efficient.

If your toilet cistern has not been replaced since the 1980s you probably use 12 litres of water every time you flush. If the cistern was installed in the 1990s a full flush probably accounts for 9 litres of water.

There are a full products available to help reduce this water. A toilet tummy acts as a cistern displacement device. Simply fill it with water and attach it to the side of the toilet cistern and save water every time you flush. If your on a budget you can always fill a mineral bottle and drop it into the cistern and it will do pretty much the same thing.

The flushwiser is an alternative water saving product for the toilet. It is installed by drilling a hole in the siphon of the toilet. The flushwiser then acts as a tap for adjusting the ballcock upwards or downwards.

Water Saving – Detecting Leaks

Water Leak Alarm

If you got water leaks in your home it could cost you a small fortune when the water charges come in.

A water leak alarm will detect a leak of 40ml per minute (one drop every two seconds) or greater. Simply fit it to the water pipe in your home and if the alarm sounds check all around the house for visible leaks. If you can’t find any call the plumber to get it checked  out.

Water Saving – In the Garden

If we follow the UK example in Ireland (we still invariably tend to do this) saving water in the garden might be forced upon us rather than it being a matter of choice. In the UK they recently introduced a garden hose pipe ban. Failing to take it seriously could result in a hefty 1,000 GB Pound fine!

Water Butt collects rainwater

Installing a Water Butt Kit on the downpipes of your home is a great way to save water in the garden. The Water Butt will collect rainwater from your roof and your plants will appreciate it much more than mains water anyway!

You should also give consideration to installing a Water Saving Nozzle to your garden hose (whilst you can still use it!) This works using the same technology as the aforementioned shower head and taps and has seven different flow patterns.

Its also wise not to give your plants more water then they need. A moisture meter can be plugged into the roots of your plants as you water and can tell you when its time to stop watering.

If you got any tips you would like to share please add in the comments field below.

As Purchase.ie celebrate getting shortlisted as a finalist for Irish Green Retailer of the year in 2012 we will like to you to share our joy by giving you a free gift with your orders in April.

When you spend just €30 in any one transaction on Purchase.ie order during April we will include a free Solar Powered Window Light with your order as long as you also use the promotion code freewindowlight

The Solar Powered Window Light normally retails from Purchase.ie for €7.95.

It includes 3 bright LED lights and it can be mounted on windows or indeed any smooth surface through the included suction cups.

Powered by the integrated solar panel on one side it will give you a nice energy free light at night-time.

Best of all you won’t even have paid for it in the first place!

Just remember spend more than 30 Euro and use the code when ordering!

So getting shopping now to get your free April gift.

Purchase.ie will exhibit at Shopping World in Deansgrange, Co Dublin during the month of April.

Shopping World is a new pop-up shop initiative whereby a whole host of shops are located under the one roof on a short or long term lease agreement.

If you are interested in any of the Purchase.ie product range but would like to view it physically before making a decision as to whether or not to order it then this is a wonderful opportunity to drop by, have a look and ask any questions you might have. If you are happy you can even take the product home with you on the day!

You can also see a number of other outlets under the one roof while you are there including quality menswear and ladies fashion, furniture, toys and much more.

Times and Dates to Visit Purchase.ie Unit at Shopping World in April

Thursday April 5th    10am-7pm

Friday April 6th         10am-7pm

Saturday April 7th     10am-6pm

Sunday April 8th       12noon-6pm

Thursday April 12th 10am-7pm

Friday April 13th      10am-7pm

Saturday April 14th  10am-6pm

Sunday April 15th     12noon-6pm

Shopping World is located at the Deansgrange Outlet Statoil House on the Deansgrange Rd(between MSL & Twyford car dealers).

If got any problem finding it give us a call on 01 8428187.

Solar Power Stations Frequently Asked Questions

How does an SPS system work?
Using a premium Solar Technology International panel, energy is harvested from daylight and transferred via a sophisticated management system into the deep cycle, ultra safe solar battery. The energy stored in thebattery is then available to use as and when required. Power can be delivered as 12v current to power 12v appliances such as garden lights, interior lighting, some lap top computers etc or 240v current through the supplied inverter to power most “plug in” electrical devices most often used in the home and business.

Which SPS system should I buy?
There are four SPS systems in the range, all of which deliver differing amounts of power and selection should be made depending on what appliances need to be powered (refer to the table at the bottom of solar power station product page). Should, in the future, more power be needed (for example to run your appliances for longer or to run more appliances) an SPS Extension Panel can be purchased and this simply plugs directly into the Power Box. Therefore “daisy chaining” an additional panel couldn’t be easier.

How to install an SPS system?
This is very straight forward! All SPS systems and SPS Extension Panels are supplied ready assembled.

First step is to decide on the solar panel location. The panel is supplied with a multi adjustment rack so it can be located on soil, grass, hard standing or a flat roof (full
instructions, hint and tips are supplied).

A 10m cable,attached to the solar panel, plugs directly into the all weather Battery Box. A 10m extension cable then plugs into the “power out” socket of the Battery Box and the
end of this cable needs to enter into the building or room where the power is needed. The cable then attaches to the inverter and that’s it!

A standard multi gang extension (not supplied) can then be plugged into the inverter and
the SPS is ready to start delivering power.

Can the SPS system be moved?
A great feature of this system is that it is totally portable. The solar panel and rack can be folded flat and the Battery Box is easily carried. Therefore, one SPS can beused in many different locations.

How long will an SPS system last?
A system should last for 35 years. The component parts have varying warranty periods as follows: solar panel – 20 years, battery – 3 years, inverter 2 years the other components have a lifetime guarantee. The consumable elements i.e battery and inverter should
last 5+ years and can easily be replaced.

What is the payback time on an SPS system?
This can be immediate if using the SPS as an alternative to installing mains cable – in fact not only will pay back be instant but the costs saved will be enormous! Where the system is being used in premises where mains power already exists, payback will be longer. Of course, the payback time could be significantly reduced depending on future energy
price increases.

What is the environmental benefit of using an SPS system?
The environmental benefits are significant. An SPS system will save nearly 2 tons** of carbon emissions over its lifetime – a very impressive amount for a single system! Add in an SPS Expansion Panel and each installation really goes a long way to cutting down on the use of fossil fuels.

What are the benefits of using an SPS system over other micro renewable systems?
• No installation costs
• Limited running costs and virtually no
maintenance
• Totally safe
• No noise or vibration
• Planning permission is not required
• Fully portable
• Low costs – long term guarantees

Click here to go to Solar Power Station Product Page

Choosing the Right Location

The location, weather conditions and seasonal lighting availability will affect the number of hours the LEDs on your Solar Garden Globe are illuminated for. Ideally your solar garden light should receive 8 hours of full sunlight, which will enable your solar garden light to illuminate for up to 8 hours. If your solar garden light is placed in a shaded location the batteries will not charge fully, reducing the hours of night-time illumination and shortening the battery life.

How to Assemble your Solar Garden Globe

Clip the Glass Globe to the Globe holder.

Simply hold the two metal location clips up and place them into the hole in the globe.

The globe should then hold firmly on to the holder.

Insert the ground spike into the post and push into the ground.

Loosen hard packed ground first otherwise damage may occur to the post or spike.

NOTE – under no circumstances push down on the Globe as both damage to the light and personal injury may occur.

First Time Using Solar Garden Globe

Switch to the on position (the switch is located under the solar panel unit). Depending on how much charge is in the battery depends on how well the light will illuminate on the first day or so. Once the light has been in the sun for a few days optimum operation will be achieved.

Tips on using your Solar Garden Globe

• Do not place your solar garden light near night time light sources such as street lights or floodlights as this may cause the lights to turn off at night.

• To prolong the life of your solar garden light and reduce the risk of corrosion, install away from salty, corrosive or highly fertilised areas.

• Ensure that you do not scratch the surface of the solar panel and ensure that you keep the surface free of dust and debris at all times.

• The LEDs in your solar garden light are not replaceable and should never be tampered with.

• To clean your solar garden light, wipe over using a soft, damp cloth.

Replacing the Batteries in your Solar Garden Globe

1. Remove the lamp from the ground.

2. Remove the 4 small screws from the underside of the solar panel.

3. Remove the battery and replace with a new rechargeable battery of the same type.

4. Reverse the above procedures and position the lamp back in the garden.

See the Solar Garden Globe here