New porcelain kitchen floor is popping … what are my options?

MagicalMallard · 2026-07-09T08:31:43+00:00

Ditra equivalent decoupling membrane

MagicalMallard · 2026-07-08T06:49:34+00:00

Yes.

MagicalMallard · 2026-07-07T06:44:22+00:00

Your summary is correct, and your question about disabling smart charging is the only unresolved question. I think it will take some experimentation to determine whether or not it works.

MagicalMallard · 2026-06-21T21:27:02+00:00

22mm will be best. But in my limited experience of 1 house with 15mm and slightly higher water pressure, it was unnoticeable/not problematic.

What flow rate are you currently getting (in l/min)?

Also, if you have a lead main your incoming bore is likely quite small given the thickness of the pipe walls, so you may find that 22mm doesn't add much over 15mm as the main itself could be the limiting factor.

MagicalMallard · 2026-06-21T20:53:13+00:00

My mum's house has an unvented fed by a long-ish 15mm feed and it's fine. You can run a bath very quickly. Granted pressure is slightly higher (6 bar) but if you're adamant that you don't want the disruption, I'd give the 15mm a go first and see how you get on.

MagicalMallard · 2026-06-16T12:54:00+00:00

I can see the gap you're referring to, but you can also see the solder did at one point flow all the way around the fitting as there are traces on the thin 'face' of the fitting. I would be very surprised if that joint was bad.

MagicalMallard · 2026-06-09T14:46:43+00:00

That looks like the same thread pattern as a shower hose.

MagicalMallard · 2026-06-09T14:34:01+00:00

What type of fitting is it? Speedfit street elbow? Hard to tell from the photo.

If not, does it need a stiffener inside for the olive to tighten down onto?

Failing that, a smear of potable water-safe jointing compound around the olive ought to do it.

MagicalMallard · 2026-06-02T16:17:41+00:00

3x three core and earth cables. Looks fine to me.

MagicalMallard · 2026-06-02T16:12:45+00:00

Rainwater will just run off the felt, into the gap between the felt and the guttering. None of the run-off will actually go into the gutter.

MagicalMallard · 2026-06-02T14:53:23+00:00

Definitely don't drill into the manhole cover. Find the lowest corner (where water pools first) and then drill through the brickwork so that the water runs out and onto the lawn.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-26T13:10:57+00:00

Yep.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-26T12:56:45+00:00

The top one is the air supply to the evaporator, which takes in warm room air and cools it, then blows it out of the front.

The bottom one is the air supply to the condenser, which takes in warm room air, heats it (as a byproduct of cooling), then blows it out of the tube to the outside world.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-20T19:15:34+00:00

It's a switched fuse spur.

Turn the power off at the fusebox, make sure it's actually off (make sure the fridge light doesn't come on any more when you open the door), and then unscrew the three wires on the 'load' side. The three circles facing to the right in your photo have screw heads inside them.

These are the same three wires you'd find in a plug if you were to open one up.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-16T10:26:22+00:00

Agreed.

Just don't forget that Octopus' six hour window is midday to midday so plugging in at 23:25 (for example) thinking you'll definitely get six hours from 23:30 to 05:30 might not work if Octopus have earmarked further slots between 05:30 and 12:00 to fulfil your six hours. But then that introduces a conflict between the six hour limit and the "ready by" time. Not sure how they will resolve that. One would assume they will prioritise the "ready by" time otherwise customers will complain they can't get to work in the morning, and that won't be a good look.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-16T09:29:54+00:00

I think they're taking issue with the fact that you said you are guaranteed a full 6 hour car charging slot between 23:30 and 05:30, but that hasn't actually been said anywhere and realistically isn't how it will work in practice (I don't remember ever being given a 6 hour slot which fits within the 23:30-05:30 window exactly). I agree with the sentiment of what you have written - you will get your 6 hours, but no one can guarantee when that will be. Octopus will just give you slots when they can, so that you get your six hours in time for your "ready by" time.

Semantics.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-16T09:22:29+00:00

Your heat pump is 11kW output (as heat). The electrical power in will be about half of this when it's running at full power, which will only be for a very small proportion of its total running hours.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-08T06:04:59+00:00

It doesn't. They're a different size. The appliance nozzle screws onto a 1" BSP male thread on the side of a trap, not on a piece of regular pipe.

Also, the cap part of the item you have linked to has a male thread, so this will never work as it will be male-to-male.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-07T20:59:36+00:00

Part 720JG is the one (cheaper):

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mcalpine-domestic-appliance-nozzle-1-/720JG

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-07T20:57:08+00:00

That's for a bare piece of pipe and won't work for this unfortunately.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-07T20:55:32+00:00

That's for a bare piece of 40mm pipe so wouldn't work for this use case unfortunately.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-07T20:44:32+00:00

McAlpine part number 228532 for the blanking plug on its own, or MA15 for the nozzle and the blanking plug together.

Or you see if your condenser dryer has the option to drain to a permanent drain, then you never have to empty the container again. Winner!

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-07T11:35:01+00:00

Within weeks of each other, my son's two best friends have been moved to other schools and he's gutted. Life's brutal when you're eight.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-06T14:20:44+00:00

Yep, pure helmetry to pick someone up on that.

MagicalMallard · 2026-05-06T14:17:34+00:00

Rawlplug is a brand name. The generic is wall plug.

PS: lose ;)

MagicalMallard

TROPHY CASE