What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Gilberdyke John]

"Competent Person Scheme" however, means something specific and is defined in the regs. In the gas world it means that you must be Gas Safe registered. There is no alternative. In the oil world it means that you must have persuaded at least one of a number of different (listed) organisations of your ability. If you haven't done that, then to comply with the law you have no choice but to involve Building Control. It used to be much more vague, but no longer.

James

OFTEC is the oil boiler equivalent of gas safe or HETAS for solid fuel burners. However if you have the skills and knowledge to install correctly, safely and without subsequent problems like fires or carbon monoxide poisoning there's very little chance of detection. Buying a new boiler does have a risk of starting a paper trail especially if warranty registration rears it's head.
Buying a second hand unit from a private vendor won't normally have a paper trail to worry about. Something like buying a new TV from a major retailer gets your address checked by the TV licencing mob. Buying from a private vendor doesn't (normally)

 

[Gilberdyke John]

As far as I am aware, installation of oil-fired heating in new builds is banned from 2025 (or possibly 2026). If you have an existing oil installation then replacement of an oil-fired boiler with another will still be possible until some time after 2030. I don't know how replacing an electric system with an oil-fired system is handled though. That might be considered a new installation and therefore also be banned. I'm not even certain of the dates because they've been changed at least once.

James

A really good reason to buy a similar second hand boiler of same as your existing one to store in a dry safe space possibly for 15/20 years.

 

[Penninetrader]

A really good reason to buy a similar second hand boiler of same as your existing one to store in a dry safe space possibly for 15/20 years.

Imagine..... that we will be driven to such measures by scoundrels, The UKSSR is a coming up fast.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Selling the property may become a problem as you're supposed to have some sort of "certificate of conformity" these days I believe. Qualified installers can issue one themselves as long as they're following the rules. A self-install would probably require dealing with the local council's building control department (and a huge amount of faff to put together all the paperwork they'd require). Either way you're not likely to get one unless all the necessary rules are met.

If you're not likely to be selling for a couple of decades or you're only planning on leaving the property in a box and you're happy for it to be your heirs' problem then I imagine it doesn't matter that much as long as you don't burn the house down either

James

If paperwork is missing most solicitors happily sell you an insurance indemnity for very little money in the highly unlikely event of future queries. When we sold our last house it transpired that an old earth closet in the yard had been a public convenience back in the 18th century but had no access since then except through a brick wall next door.

 

[pargyle]

Imagine..... that we will be driven to such measures by scoundrels, The UKSSR is a coming up fast.

The first gas boiler we had in this house lasted over 15 years without a probvlem ..the heat exchanger failed and I picked up a second hand boiler the same and my plumber kept it going for another 8 years until the replacement heat exchanger failed ... the subsequent boilers only seem to last 6 or 7 years before they have to be replaced as 'uneconomic to repair'. Sign of the times I fear ...

 

[Peterjay]

I have an out-apiary in a fairly remote place, with four hives. Three are strapped down, but one of them was insecure because I didn't have enough straps back in October.
At some point within the last three weeks this hive has been blown over, and a small number of bees have perished because of the weather. But amazingly, some passer-by has seen this situation and roughly rearranged things so that the bulk of the colony had some protection.
It was a brave person or another beekeeper because appropriately, the bees were a bit cross when I tidied things up.
It's nice to have had an interaction with the public inolving bees that has been so positive.

 

[Penninetrader]

I have an out-apiary in a fairly remote place, with four hives. Three are strapped down, but one of them was insecure because I didn't have enough straps back in October.
At some point within the last three weeks this hive has been blown over, and a small number of bees have perished because of the weather. But amazingly, some passer-by has seen this situation and roughly rearranged things so that the bulk of the colony had some protection.
It was a brave person or another beekeeper because appropriately, the bees were a bit cross when I tidied things up.
It's nice to have had an interaction with the public inolving bees that has been so positive.

Angels walk amongst us

 

[Bluetractorman]

Failed to find the silicone cap supplied with my instantvap.It blew off when I inverted the device to blow steam through it. Bang and away it went somewhere in my shed. Learning the hard way as ever. I wont assume friction will keep it on next time, if I ever find it! I pass this on in the hope that it'll save someone else crawling around their shed on hands and knees..

 

[Sutty]

Failed to find the silicone cap supplied with my instantvap.It blew off when I inverted the device to blow steam through it. Bang and away it went somewhere in my shed. Learning the hard way as ever. I wont assume friction will keep it on next time, if I ever find it! I pass this on in the hope that it'll save someone else crawling around their shed on hands and knees..

You need a fair amount of force to keep it on and avoid steam shooting out!

 

[Gilberdyke John]

You need a fair amount of force to keep it on and avoid steam shooting out!

Be grateful it relieved the pressure and you didn't have a steam "explosion"

 

[Erichalfbee]

You need a fair amount of force to keep it on and avoid steam shooting out!

I heat mine to about 150 degrees and armoured with thick washing up gloves simply turn the machine over hanging on tightly to the pink cap.

 

[Swarm]

You only half fill the cap.

 

[pargyle]

Went round to the apiary for the first time since Boxing day when I came down with a vile cough and cold and have been totally incapacitated until today ... miserable day down here, damp and breezy - bees hunkered down - a few dead ones on the landing board - looks like the mortuary attendants could not be bothered taking them further. All hives still hefting heavy ... plenty of warmth on the clear crownboards so clearly in good health - a few odd bees wandering about on the top of the frames on two hives but the others deeper in the frames. Wished them Happy new year and left them to it.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I heat mine to about 150 degrees and armoured with thick washing up gloves simply turn the machine over hanging on tightly to the pink cap.

From memory I think it’s recommended you cool to 100deg. I just tip a small amount of water into cap invert and hold the cap tightly!

 

[Erichalfbee]

From memory I think it’s recommended you cool to 100deg. I just tip a small amount of water into cap invert and hold the cap tightly!

That never worked for me but I use a full cap. That’s probably why.

 

[Murox]

First decent calm day for a while so I made a pilgrimage to the hives at the farm Track seriously washed out with 4 inches of slurry mud at the bottom of the hill to drive through. Happily all hives still upright and remarkably no trees toppled anywhere near them. One nuc particularly active with fliers even though it's only 5 degrees in the sun. Other hives feel good and a quick peak through the perspex confirmed life.

 

[Penninetrader]

Bright sunny but cold in the hills, only fliers were 2 hardy individuals, first being a curious who came out on hearing me whistle and singing nearby, the second on a return flight or possibly lost and finding a colony to call home, my task today was to seriously prune Hawthorns adjacent the apiary which generally interrupt their flight paths. Starting to think I don't have as much time to prepare for the new season as I thought.