Mary, Cavan

A While it's not illegal, I would recommend that rather than house the old board in a cupboard which you will have to pay someone to make and fit for you, it would be better to employ a RECI (www. reci. ie) or ECSSA (www. ecssa. ie) registered contractor to change the old board to a new fuse board with RCDs and MCBs fitted . . . more commonly known as trip switches. These will trip when there is a problem on the electrical circuits and can be reset when the fault has been rectified. These fuseboards can be purchased as a complete enclosed unit which is pleasing to the eye and are unobtrusive. Also if you want to add any electrical work to your system, it is a legal requirement on the part of the electrical contractor employed by you to change the fuse board before any work can be undertaken. Why not 'post a job' on my website www. tradesmenireland. com and we will send the job to all the electrical contractors in your area. They will contact you directly.

Q Further to your recent article regarding the Cremin Tank, I would be grateful if you could let me know if this tank has been tested, validated and its performance verified by an independent body?

Deborah Dwyer, Athlone

A Upon receiving this question I passed it directly onto Tim Cremin the inventor of the Cremin Tank, who gave this reply: "The relevant government bodies do not have the facilities available to test, or the standards required for The Cremin Tank as it is a pressure vessel. The Cremin Tank is a new fully-patented invention and there is no other product in the world with its distinguished characteristic. This is why Oxyvent obtained a German TUV certification on the tank which is recognised worldwide as one of the highest standards available. There were independent tests carried out by two completely impartial and independent bodies which confirmed an increased flow rate throughout the system and greater heat transfer resulting in a significant fuel saving. Oxyvent has undertaken six years of research and development, as is normal with all companies who are introducing a new product to the market. The only difference was that our tests were carried out in real homes in real live situations and the response was overwhelming. In fact we have been informed by customers that the fuel saving in their underfloor heating systems has been as high as 70% and in radiation systems in excess of 30%.

Customers also informed us that they have extra heat in their homes and extra domestic hot water. You may have seen Show Me The Money on RTE on Sunday 6 May 2007 where a test was witnessed on national TV showing the temperature difference between the top and bottom of a radiator to be only one degree. In ordinary heating systems without the Cremin Tank installed, this temperature difference is normally 11 degrees. This one degree temperature difference has never been achieved before and can also be seen on www. oxyvent. com It is a tribute to the Cremin Tank to be able to display a test publicly in a manner that is understood by all, and shows why The Cremin Tank is proving to be an essential component in all heating systems.

Bearing in mind Ireland's need to keep fuel consumption to the absolute minimum, anybody who installs a Cremin Tank will be helping to achieve this and will see a substantial saving on their heating bills while also having extra heat and hot water.

Q I've had a hairline crack in a white sink for a few years, but it's become quite discoloured and noticeable. As the sink is oval shaped, matches the rest of the bathroom suite, and is fitted into a vanity unit, it might be difficult and/or costly to replace. I've had it seven years and have no idea where the developer sourced it. Are there any re-enamelling services that could repair it in-situ or should I replace it?

Garry, Stillorgan

A While it is possible to make repairs to sanitaryware, this is best done straight away rather than after seven years. If you really want to fix it, try contacting the builder or developer who will give you the number of the plumbing contractor who fitted out the houses. If this does not prove fruitful then it would be best to contact a company that specialises in re enamelling baths (Renu 01-450 0433; www. renubathireland. com). However, do your research and get quotes from a few different companies. Fitting a new sink could work out cheaper than getting your old one repaired, so maybe shop around for prices for a new sink too, just to compare.

WRITE TO US

If you have a building-/renovation-related query that you'd like Steve to help you with, email: horstepdoctor@tribune. ie

Steve Guerin is managing director of www. tradesmenireland. com, the one-stop website that will help you find a tradesman, a site for sale, a property to rent or buy and all the plant hire and machinery you need to complete your house build or renovation