Piped Up

Rob Nezard
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Piped Up is a UK heating and trades podcast hosted by Rob (Founder of UKRadiators.com) and James, a heating engineer with 20 years’ experience. Unfiltered opinions, debates, and real reactions from inside the trade — covering the realities of heating, business, and life on the tools. Rob brings the business perspective. James brings real-world experience. 🎥 Full episodes on YouTube 📱 Daily clips across social 🎧 Audio available everywhere Made for heating engineers, plumbers, tradespeople — and anyone who can handle honest opinions without the PR polish.

الحلقات

  1. Biggest Tool Theft Ever, Biogas vs Heat Pumps and Vaillant Wins (Kind Of)

    قبل ٣ أيام

    Biggest Tool Theft Ever, Biogas vs Heat Pumps and Vaillant Wins (Kind Of)

    Welcome back to Piped Up – and this time we're covering the biggest tool theft recovery in UK history, a heated debate on heat pumps vs biogas, and why Vaillant just won the internet's favourite boiler brand poll (kind of). Plus, we've got a tool hack, a brand-new quiz game, and a question for the audience that's guaranteed to start a war in the comments. We kick things off with some genuinely brilliant news: police have recovered what's believed to be the largest stash of stolen tools ever found in the UK – roughly £2 million worth, spread across 10 lorry loads seized in a raid in Ilford, East London. The discovery came after a tradesperson left an AirTag on stolen equipment and tracked it to the warehouse. Three people have been arrested, and officers are now working to reunite tradespeople with their gear. From there, we dive into Ed Miliband's £15 billion Warm Homes Plan – and why trading standards are warning it could open the door for cowboy builders. The scheme is designed to fund heat pumps, insulation, and solar panels, but past programmes like ECO4 have led to horror stories: badly sized heat pumps, botched insulation causing damp and mould, and homeowners left with higher bills instead of savings. We discuss whether mandatory licensing for installers – similar to Gas Safe – is the answer, and what it would take to actually protect consumers and taxpayers. Then we get into the biogas vs heat pump debate, sparked by a new report from Dale Vince – founder of green energy company Ecotricity. The report argues that electricity costs roughly four times more than gas, meaning heat pumps need to be about four times more efficient to break even. In reality, they're running closer to three times efficiency, pushing bills up rather than down for many households. Nearly seven in ten heat pump owners surveyed said their heating costs had increased, with most not seeing the savings they expected. On the practical side, James shares his latest hack – using car mechanic fuel filter grips (£8 on Amazon) to remove magnetic filters instead of hunting for the right plastic key every time. It's a simple, universal tool that bites onto the filter cap and makes servicing so much easier. We also debut a brand-new quiz game – Wheel of Fortune style – with Rob and James going head-to-head answering questions from categories including myths and misconceptions, plumbing fundamentals, real-world scenarios, and fault-finding. Then we reveal the results of last week's boiler brand poll – nearly 250 comments analysed by ChatGPT. The winner? Vaillant (with 38% of mentions and 46% of likes), though the top comment wasn't even about the boiler – it was people roasting James for pronouncing it "Valiant" with an extra 'i'. Worcester Bosch came second, followed by Baxi, Ideal, Viessmann, and ATAG. Ferroli mostly just got laughed at. We also react to audience comments, including: The £30-per-year gas boiler penalty charge – and whether it'll be landlords or tenants who end up paying A nightmare job where James had to rip out a gas boiler and install an electric boiler because the gas pipe was inaccessible under a car park – leaving the tenant with astronomical electric bills and no other option More reactions to the five-day plumbing course – including people getting blocked in the comments, and the realisation that the course creators are probably just scraping TikTok for training material We wrap up with a question for the audience: What's your preferred power tool brand? Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Festool, Parkside? Let us know in the comments what you use, what you prefer, and why it's better than the others. Whether you're an installer navigating the heat pump debate, a homeowner trying to understand your options, or just here for the tool hacks and trade banter – this episode delivers. Looking for Radiators or valves? Check out https://ukradiators.com/ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:00:15 Massive Tool Theft Recovery: £2 Million Stash Uncovered 00:01:46 Tool Security and Tracking Solutions 00:10:43 Tool Markets and the Stolen Goods Trade 00:12:37 Warm Homes Plan and Cowboy Builder Warnings 00:22:37 Heat Pump Debate: Dale Vince Report Controversy 00:34:02 Latest Hack: Filter Removal Tool 00:35:43 Wheel of Fortune Quiz Game 00:41:54 Best Boiler Brand Results Revealed 00:46:32 Audience Comments and Industry Discussion 00:56:33 Question For The Audience: Best Power Tool Brand

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  2. Trade price rises, Illegal gas work and the £5 Temu Tool That Delivers.

    ٣ فبراير

    Trade price rises, Illegal gas work and the £5 Temu Tool That Delivers.

    Welcome back to Piped Up – Episode 4! This time we're diving into trade price rises, illegal gas work scandals, communal heating regulation, and some brilliant tool hacks and tips that'll save you time, money and hassle on the job. Plus, we're answering your questions on balancing radiators, system pressure, and cleaning those dusty convectors. We kick things off with the 2026 price rise debate. Heating engineer Ian Briggs polled his followers on whether they're hiking rates this year – and 58% said yes. With fuel costs, materials, and overheads climbing, many are eyeing a move from £90 to £95+ for a standard boiler service. James weighs in on the psychology of pricing: why small, regular increases beat big jumps, and how waiting too long to raise your rates forces you into painful hikes later. We want to hear from installers in the audience – are you putting your prices up in 2026, or holding steady? Next up: heat networks are finally getting regulated. From 27th January 2026, Ofgem's new consumer protection rules bring communal plant rooms and HIU systems under formal oversight for the first time. For anyone working on block heating schemes, this means higher standards, better documentation, and stricter accountability. James shares his experience working on communal plant rooms – from old, knackered boilers in deprived areas to reactive callout programs keeping things limping along. We discuss what this regulation could mean for upgrades, efficiency improvements, and the admin burden on contractors. Then we get into the illegal gas work stories that just won't go away. Two separate court cases highlight the dangers: one unregistered fitter in Torquay left a home with an immediately dangerous gas leak, while a father-and-son duo in Cheshire signed off dodgy installs without proper checks – including flue defects that risked carbon monoxide poisoning. Sentences ranged from suspended prison terms to community orders and compensation, but the real question is: why is this still happening in 2025/26? James shares a shocking real-world example – servicing a friend's mum's boiler and discovering a push-fit plastic cap on a live gas pipe, left behind by kitchen fitters who clearly had no idea what they were doing. The tightness test failed spectacularly, gas was leaking behind a cupboard, and it could've been catastrophic. It's a stark reminder: gas work isn't DIY territory, and homeowners need to verify engineers are Gas Safe registered before any work begins. On the practical side, we dive into: Hack of the Week – Using SDS drill bits in an impact driver. James was sceptical at first, but this £7 Bosch bit drills into brick like a beast and saves you lugging around a heavy SDS drill for smaller jobs. Perfect for hanging rads or running pipework. Tool Tip – The underrated aircon spanner with a quarter-square ratchet port. Originally for backseat valves, it's brilliant for pump valves and drain-offs. JAVAC ones are £20, but you can grab a Temu version for a fiver. The £5 Temu Tool That Delivers – James admits he buys certain consumables and gizmos on Temu (foldable buckets, deburring tools, part cleaners) and they genuinely do the job. High-end spanners and power tools? Stick with Wera and CK. But for simple bits? Temu's worth a punt. We also tackle audience questions, including: How to balance radiators when you don't know the circuit order – James explains how to identify the closest rad to the boiler (or flying return on system boilers), the importance of opening all TRVs fully before balancing, and why towel rails are the biggest offenders for hogging heat. How to check if your heating system is low pressure – where to find the gauge, what pressure you should be aiming for (around 1 bar), and why you might be constantly topping up (hint: it's probably a flat expansion vessel causing your PRV to discharge). The easiest way to clean radiators properly – skip the TikTok hacks involving buckets of water. Just get a radiator brush, push it down between the convector fins, and hoover up the dust. Simple. Whether you're an installer navigating price rises and new regulations, a homeowner trying to keep your system running efficiently, or just here for the tool tips and trade banter – this episode delivers. Question for the audience: What's a gadget or tool that you bought that promised miracles but did absolutely nothing? Let us know in the comments! Looking for Radiators or valves? Check out https://ukradiators.com/ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:00:18 Trade Price Rises: The 2026 Debate 00:04:09 Heat Networks: New Ofgem Regulations 00:08:19 Illegal Gas Work: Recent Prosecutions 00:16:03 Hack of the Week: SDS Bits in Impact Drivers 00:18:10 Tool Tip: The Five Pound Temu Spanner 00:22:29 Audience Questions: Balancing Radiators 00:28:06 Understanding System Pressure and Gauges 00:33:53 Cleaning Radiators: The Proper Method 00:35:40 Question For The Audience

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  3. Tool Theft Justice, Energy Price Cuts and James Gets Challenged by Milwaukee

    ٢٠ يناير

    Tool Theft Justice, Energy Price Cuts and James Gets Challenged by Milwaukee

    Welcome back to Piped Up – Episode 3! We're kicking off the new year with the biggest news stories shaking up the trade, real-world installation expertise, and a brand-new segment: tool reviews. Plus, we're diving into your comments as the show continues to blow up across social media. We start with some genuinely good news for tradespeople – new sentencing laws targeting tool theft from vans. For too long, having your livelihood stolen has been treated like petty shoplifting, but this new legislation changes the game. We break down: How the law now factors in loss of earnings and the real damage caused when someone's tools are nicked James' own experiences having his van broken into twice – including the infamous Transit drill-and-pop method The organised gangs operating in retail car parks and the stolen tool markets across London Practical tips from the audience on deadlocks, alarm sensors, and parking strategies to protect your gear From there, we get into the £30-per-year gas boiler penalty charge being floated by the government – a proposed levy to fund heat pump grants and low-carbon heating. The problem? It's taxing everyone to subsidise wealthier households who are the main adopters of heat pumps. We discuss whether it's fair, where the money's really going, and how it fits into the wider net zero agenda. On a brighter note, we cover the 8% drop in the energy price cap from April – saving households around £138 per year. It's the lowest cap since September 2024, thanks to policy costs being shifted off bills and onto general taxation. We talk about what this means for installers, customers, and whether it's sustainable long-term given the grid investment still needed. Then we revisit that five-day plumbing course we flagged last episode – and it turns out the Daily Mail went undercover to expose it. The course, run by "Plumbers Gold Mine Academy," charged £395 and promised beginners could gain years of experience in under a week. What they actually got was sales tactics, pricing manipulation advice, and a jig with speedfit fittings. The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers has condemned it, reminding everyone that plumbing is a four-year apprenticeship, not a weekend crash course. We react to the footage – including the instructor in a literal cowboy hat – and discuss the dangers of fast-track "qualifications." On the practical side, James walks through: A nightmare atmospheric burner install – diagnosing ignition issues, earthing electrodes, and what it would cost to fix properly His latest installation hack – using silicone spray on valves before isolating them to stop drips and save you from having to drain down and replace leaking service valves Tool reviews – including the Monument rad key with built-in lockshield slots (£3 and a game-changer), and the Wera Joker spanner (£65-70 but worth every penny for compression work in tight spaces) We also dive into audience engagement, reacting to comments from TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram about: Heat pumps – noise complaints, MCS admin struggles, and whether they're really worth it Heating tips – timer debates, TRV confusion, and whether electric blankets or holidays are the real money savers The electric pipe cutter debate – James clarifies his stance (domestic vs commercial, arthritis considerations, and why he still prefers a Rothenberger hand cutter for most jobs) Milwaukee's National Sales Manager challenges James to compare his pipe slice with their iNox version – challenge accepted! We wrap up with a question for the audience: What's your favourite boiler brand? Ideal, Worcester, Vaillant, Baxi, Glow-worm? Let us know in the comments what you prefer fitting, what's easiest to work on, and what you'd recommend to customers. Whether you're an installer, a homeowner, or just here for the banter and real-world trade talk – this episode has it all. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:00:48 Tool Theft Justice: New Sentencing Laws 00:06:55 Gas Boiler Penalty Charge Proposal 00:09:29 Energy Price Cap Drop from April 00:12:18 Five-Day Plumbing Course Exposed 00:17:48 Nightmare Install: Atmospheric Burner Diagnosis 00:21:34 Installation Hack: Silicone Spray for Valves 00:23:32 Tool Review: Monument Rad Key and Joker Spanner 00:26:55 Audience Engagement: Comments and Reactions 00:41:22 James' Question For The Audience

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  4. Government U-Turns, Heat Pump Chaos and Heat Geek's AI Revolution

    ٢٧‏/١٢‏/٢٠٢٥

    Government U-Turns, Heat Pump Chaos and Heat Geek's AI Revolution

    Recorded before Labour’s November 2025 Budget. Since we hit record, the rumoured cuts to the heat pump grant did not happen – but the EV tax plans are very real and still coming down the road. In this episode, you’ll hear our live reaction to those rumours as they were breaking, plus a deep dive into what they would have meant for installers and homeowners. We start with the talk of slashing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to low-income households only, and what that would do to the thousands of small heating businesses that retrained, retooled and invested on the promise of long-term heat pump support. Was the UK ever really serious about net zero – or was it always politics first, policy later? From there we get into: EV pay-per-mile taxes – how road pricing could hit drivers who went electric in good faith, and why new levies feel like moving the goalposts mid-game. Digital IDs & control – joking (kind of) about a future where your car won’t even start if your tax isn’t paid, and how fast we’re sliding into an always-on, always-tracked digital world. Bill Gates’ climate “U-turn” – reacting to a viral clip where Gates plays down climate as an existential threat after years of catastrophic messaging. We unpack what’s spin, what’s fair, and what it means for public trust. Climate anxiety & developing nations – are young people being scared into hopelessness, and are poorer countries being held back by Western net zero expectations while we still burn the bulk of the fossil fuels? On the technical side, we explore: Heat pumps vs air con – why air-to-air systems (air con used for heating) are finally getting a look-in on grants, and when they make more sense than traditional air-to-water heat pumps. Heat Geek’s “Zero Disrupt” AI platform – an app that scans your home, designs a system and guarantees a real-world efficiency. We break down how it works, what it could mean for pricing, and whether it really solves the disruption problem. Of course, it wouldn’t be Piped Up without some chaos from the field: A mysteriously “screwed” pipe that might just be content bait A genuinely dangerous cylinder install that needs ripping out and redoing A radiator pipework monstrosity that should be a crime against copper James walks through what’s wrong, how to fix it properly, and what you’d realistically pay. We also react to a 5-day plumbing course doing the rounds on social media, and talk honestly about competency, qualifications and why shortcuts in training usually end up as someone else’s nightmare job. To round things off, James shares life two weeks into going fully self-employed – the freedom, the stress, chasing invoices, sourcing parts yourself, and why he still wouldn’t go back. If you care about where UK heating, energy policy, AI and the trade are really heading – beyond the headlines and marketing – this episode is for you. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Industry Updates 00:00:50 Heat Pump Grant Cuts: Rumor or Reality? 00:07:59 Electric Vehicle Pay-Per-Mile Tax Proposal 00:14:35 The Future of Energy: Nuclear, AI, and Automation 00:16:15 Bill Gates' Climate U-Turn 00:25:51 Heat Geek's Zero Disrupt: AI-Powered Heat Pump Design 00:34:14 Air-to-Air Heat Pumps Added to Grant Scheme 00:40:01 The Five-Day Plumbing Course Controversy 00:45:12 Nightmare Installs: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly 00:59:22 Life as a Self-Employed Heating Engineer 01:08:03 Behind the Scenes: Column Radiator Installation Challenges 01:13:25 Growing the Podcast and Final Thoughts

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  5. ١٢‏/١٢‏/٢٠٢٥

    Bodge Jobs, Nuclear Power and the Future of UK Heating

    Bodge Jobs, Nuclear Power and the Future of UK Heating Welcome to the very first episode of Piped Up! In this inaugural episode, we're diving deep into the heating industry with 20-year veteran engineer James, exploring everything from the biggest myths plaguing the sector to the future of UK heating.  What We Cover: We kick things off by tackling industry myths, with James sharing his controversial take on the heat pump agenda and net zero targets. Is the push towards heat pumps really viable for older UK properties? We discuss the massive conversions required, the costs involved, and whether it's all worth it - plus James reveals why he thinks we should just "frack oil and carry on using gas." The myth of "efficient radiators" gets exposed as we break down why radiators can't be efficient in isolation - it's all about the system as a whole. We also explore the misinformation rampant in online marketing and why proper system design matters more than flashy product claims.  Question of the Week: We asked our audience about heating hacks that failed spectacularly, and the answers are hilarious - from cling film on windows to shelves collapsing above radiators. Instead, we give you THREE ACTUAL TIPS for saving money on heating bills, including lowering flow temperatures, balancing your system properly, and installing weather compensation controls.  Horror Stories from the Field: James reviews some of the worst installation jobs found on the internet, breaking down exactly what's wrong with botched cylinder installations, terrible radiator pipework, and dangerous boiler setups. From missing expansion vessels to polystyrene behind radiator brackets, we cover the costs to fix these nightmares (spoiler: it's not cheap). We also discuss essential tools - including the one tool everyone thinks they need but really don't - and common mistakes when installing column radiators for the first time.  The Big Picture: The conversation shifts to the future of UK heating, covering the controversy around Octopus Energy and British Gas advertising heat pumps for £500, the reality of government grants, and whether the net zero transition is realistic for the UK. We explore nuclear power as a potential solution, discussing new SMR technology from Rolls Royce and why nuclear might be the only way to make electric heating truly viable. Plus, we touch on some wild government experiments with cloud seeding and weather manipulation - because apparently blocking the sun while investing in solar panels makes perfect sense.  Key Takeaways: • The truth about heat pump installations and hidden costs • Why radiator efficiency claims are mostly marketing BS • Real money-saving tips for your heating system • What goes wrong in botched heating installations • The role of nuclear power in the UK's energy future • Practical advice for engineers transitioning from commercial to domestic work Whether you're a heating professional, a homeowner trying to understand your system, or just curious about the future of UK heating, this episode delivers straight talk, technical expertise, and plenty of laughs along the way. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Industry Myths 00:03:33 The Myth of Efficient Radiators 00:06:38 Question of the Week: Failed Heating Hacks 00:11:43 Top Tips for Saving Money on Heating Bills 00:15:24 Bodge Jobs: Horror Stories from the Field 00:40:59 Installation Tips and Common Mistakes 00:43:44 Commercial vs Domestic Heating Work 00:50:50 Starting Your Own Heating Business 00:53:49 Heat Pumps, Grants, and Misleading Claims 01:04:03 The Future of UK Heating: Nuclear Power 01:09:01 Cloud Seeding and Closing Thoughts

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Piped Up is a UK heating and trades podcast hosted by Rob (Founder of UKRadiators.com) and James, a heating engineer with 20 years’ experience. Unfiltered opinions, debates, and real reactions from inside the trade — covering the realities of heating, business, and life on the tools. Rob brings the business perspective. James brings real-world experience. 🎥 Full episodes on YouTube 📱 Daily clips across social 🎧 Audio available everywhere Made for heating engineers, plumbers, tradespeople — and anyone who can handle honest opinions without the PR polish.

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    Rob Nezard
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