Make sure you're covered with a good premium!

Take a look at the Healthy Hideout’s top 8 factors that will affect your car insurance bill:

• Profession – Some insurance companies will treat certain professions with more caution, so if your travelling long distances, working anti-social hours or carrying passengers your premium is bound to be higher than normal.
• Job title - Without  pre-judgement about your work environment heirachy, it’s important to note that certain job titles will equate to a higher premium. People who are more inclined to stay indoors with less travelling are bound to have lower price tags.
• Driving History – One of the most important factors – If you’ve been involved in many accidents or convicted for a serious motor offence you’ll almost certainly have to pay a much higher price for your cover. No-claims bonuses can really play importance with situations such as this.
• Drive time – The more time you spend driving your vehicle, the more chance you’ll be involved in an accident. If you can commit lower mileage on your policy, your premium will of course be lower.
• Car type – Many people don’t seem to realise that the type of car they drive actually effects the price of your policy. Brand new, popular or even classic cars can usually cost more to insure as they are considered more vulnerable to theft or repair.  Engine size and power also affects your policy negatively.
• Where you keep your car – If your car is secure over night, your insurance cost will be greatly improved. If you keep your car locked in a garage, you’ll pay less than someone who parks their car on the street.
• How you pay – If you choose to pay your annual insurance policy in one lump sum rather than monthly installments, it will cost significantly less. Insurance providers will charge you interest for the privilege of spreading payments.
• Credit rating – Your credit rating will almost certainly come into play when purchasing an insurance premium. If you are in any way a liability for the provider to take on board your business, it’s more than likely that you’ll charged for the luxury.

The price and sophistication of steam showers and saunas has meant that the market is full of attractive and competitively priced options. David Taylor, photographed below  is a sales director for a hotel chain and says: “I’ve got a fairly stressful job. I’m a director of 18 spas so I’m familiar with saunas and the benefits that they bring. But I’d never thought about having one at home, but then a colleague told me about the recent advances in technology, which sparked me to think about a sauna as a domestic product. And after a bit of Googling, I found Divapor.com.” The two person infrared sauna that David bought from Di Vapor was installed with his son in less than an hour and doesn’t need any drainage; just a standard 13 amp wall socket.

Director of 18 Spas - David Taylor enjoys his Di Vapor sauna

David goes on to explain: “The sauna is my little sanctuary, where I go two or three times a week to sit with a book or to listen to music – it’s got a CD player. I read the papers every Sunday morning in there. It’s just a great way to chill out. And during the winter months, they’re obviously very warming and great for lifting the mood and spirit.”

An infrared sauna creates a less stifling heat where sweat is induced at lower operating temperatures. This can make the experience preferable for people who find traditional saunas a little uncomfortable. Furthermore, David Taylor notes that the infrared sauna has made virtually no impact on his electricity bill.

It seems that the bathrooms and homes of the future may often be furnished with a steam shower and/or infrared sauna as a common, standard piece of equipment. For more information please see the Telegraph story: Full Steam Ahead. What luxury items do you have in your house that you think will be common place in the near future?

The dictionary describes the noun “Tea” as a black drink consumed extensively in Britain. However, if you’re not a fan of the typical tea drink, remember that there are many different types to choose from. Here are some of the Healthy Hideout’s most beneficial tea favourites:

• White Tea – The least processed of all teas contains the highest concentration of antioxidants, which have been known to help bodies fight free radicals and even cancer. With a smooth, delicate sweet taste, white tea has also been known to help aid in weight loss.

White Tea is high in antioxidants!

• Black Tea – Black tea contains less antioxidants as it is process through fermentation. As the darkest member of the tea family, black tea has the highest levels of polysaccharides – A carbohydrate shown to slow down the absorption of glucose in the body.

Black tea is high in polysaccharides!

• Green Tea – Kept in the original tea leaf state, the leaves are steamed by freshly boiled water before drinking. This helps to keep antioxidants locked away longer than black tea, making it a useful addition when fighting illness. Green tea extract is also used to reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Green tea helps with rheumatoid arthritis!

• Oolong Tea – During processing, oolong undergoes a small amount of fermentation making it rich in polyphenol. Some research also suggested that this tea can help with metabolising fat.

Oolong tea helps metabolise fat!

• Camomile Tea – Research suggests that intake of this tea on a regular basis promotes the release of glycine (an amino acid), releasing a slight sedative effect. This makes the tea perfect for individuals suffering from insomia, stress or anxiety.

Camomile tea helps ensure a restful nights sleep!

• Peppermint Tea – Associated as an effective way to help settle the stomach and aid digestion, whilst alleviating nauseating feelings. Peppermint is also a strong diuretic and can be used as a mild decongestant for illness. Some restaurants even use it as a “amuse-bouche” to cleanse the palate.

Peppermint tea helps settle the stomach!

Why not try changing your daily tea rituals and see what effects the above have on you. All of us here at the Healthy Hideout have incorporated these wonderful teas in a our daily lives.

We’d love to hear about your tea experience?

A calculator may be able to function with just one solar panel but a car would  need several thousand. Furthermore, if the solar panels are not at the correct angle to the sun then their efficiency can quickly drop. For us, one of the biggest draws to solar power has to be the ability to generate your own electricity supply!

Saving money with solar panels

How do solar panels work?

A solar panel, also known as a photovoltaic panel is a collection of interconnected photovoltaic cells. Solar panels generate electricity by absorbing the energy from the suns photons. Let’s take a quick trip back to our chemistry lessons for a brief explanation as to what is happening.

The key element used is pure silicone that has been stripped of all its impurities, which makes it ideal for the transmission of electrons. These silicone plates have a neutral charge so must be combined with other elements, such as phosphorous and boron to give them a charge, which encourages electrons to flow between the two plates. Conductive wires are sandwiched between the plates. Now, the solar part of the panels comes into effect: when at the correct angle to the sun, photons from the sun bombard the solar panel and knock electrons from one plate to the other creating an electrical flow.

What is the typical cost of installing solar panels?

Tests have shown that 90% of existing solar panels will last for about 30 years. Dr Ossenbrink was quoted in 2009 saying that 40-year panels would soon be on the market. A 2009 conference predicted that installing and owning solar panels will be cost effective against grid-power for half of the homes in Europe by 2020. Unfortunately, for cloudy northern countries like the UK, “grid-parity” may not be reached until 2030. However, Derry Newman, CEO for Solarcentury recently suggested that with the large recent increase in energy prices and drop in silicone a grid-parity may be possible as early as 2013! In fact, Italy may reach “grid-parity” this year where high electricity prices and high levels of sun make for the perfect conditions for home solar power installations.

Solar panels for your homes roof. picture: solarpowerwindenergy.org

As popularity increases manufacturing costs are coming down, which makes this power option more desirable. Dr Ossenbrink goes so far as to say “What I would like to see is the finance sector saying solar power is a product like financing a house – except they can predict the value of the solar panel much more safely than they can predict the value of the house in a volatile market.”

“Electricity will never be given away free. Banks should offer mortgages on people’s solar panels like they do on homes – the bank should own the panel, then it would transfer to the householder when the loan has been paid off. It would be perfect for life assurances.”

The typical cost of installing and owning solar panels will range anywhere between £3,000-£20,000+ with many robust installations closer to the more expensive end. The price will vary depending on the type, size of solar installation and location.

Hong long will it take before I start seeing a net benefit of using solar panels?

Derry Newman, CEO for Solarcentury says that once grid-parity has been reached then you may be able to pay off the solar panels in 8-10 years. On the flip side, Rics suggested that given a 30 year maximum lifespan, solar panels are never likely to recoup the original £3,000-20,000 outlay.

If you are looking to save money on your homes energy bills then the best short term option may be extra cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. Cavity wall insulation may recoup its costs in as little as 3 years and extra loft insulation could pay itself back in 5 years. It looks like solar power has a bright future but maybe give it a few years for costs to come down further.

What things have you recently done to save money on your homes energy bills?

Best of both

For those of us who enjoy both, you always have the added luxury of having 30 minutes in the dry conventional sauna, followed by 30 minutes in the soothing steam sauna. Finish with a nice cooling drench from the overhead shower and you can consider yourself official rejuvenated. You don’t even have to get out of the cabin to jump between the two either – Simply use the internal sliding door to go from one side of the cabin to the other.

The Berkeley Combination unit

Originally sourced from Belgravia Bathrooms, the sauna side of the cabin is finished in Hemlock sauna wood panelling complete with window. The steam shower section of the cabin is made from materials that meet all of Di Vapor’s quality reassurance guidelines, backed up with the 2 year parts guarantee supplied with all Di Vapor cabins. These materials include fibreglass reinforced acrylic, 6mm tempered safety glass and a steel supporting framing throughout the tray.

Conventional sauna hot stove! Turn up the heat!

The best part is that Di Vapor currently have this cabin in their Heat for Health sale in limited stock numbers. The original listing price is £3995.00 including VAT and Delivery. The price on Di Vapor as of today is £2995.00 including VAT and Delivery. That’s a massive saving of £1000 – Money that can be spent on other parts of your project.

Head on over to Di Vapor and see for yourself!

Hamat Bathroom Tap

You may say a tap is simply a functional device for mixing and controlling the flow of water in your bathroom. However, I implore you not to underestimate the impact that a well chosen tap can have on your finished bathroom. A designer or cleverly crafted tap is sure to leave a lasting impression on all your guests and visitors.

Like myself, you can probably recall luxury bathrooms where the taps have stood out in your memory. Quick Tip: Choose an appropriately sized tap for both the bathroom and basin itself. Small taps will best suit a small basin. Tap into the following ideas and let your chosen design evoke positive kudos while maintaining an easy to use functionality!

Is going single best?

A mixer tap will blend the hot and cold water together. Mixer taps tend to provide extra space on your basin and often provide a contemporary feel. Mixer taps can be a safer option when fitted with a thermostatic valve. The thermostat will restrict sudden changes in the water temperature that can occur due to demand elsewhere in your home. Separate taps, sometimes referred to as pillar taps, often complement traditional styled bathrooms well. Do you want a single mixed feed or separate hot and cold water feeds?

Pressure to choose right…

Bristan Quadrato Mixer Tap

Shower mixer taps often require a minimum supply pressure. Likewise, to get the best use out of your chosen taps make sure that the supply pressure in your bathroom is adequate. It is far easier to alter pipework or the boiler system at the start of your project when you are in the planning phase. If you have poor hot water pressure then a variant to the mixer tap is the dual flow tap where the hot and cold water is kept separate within the tap.

Mono basin mixers

The next progression in mixer taps is to combine the hot and cold water controls into a single tap. The so called mono basin mixer is fitted using just a single hole giving an uncluttered finish, less cleaning surfaces and more basin space. Water temperature and pressure are all controlled from the one top dial such as with the pictured Bristan Quadrato.

Water saving ideas

Looking after the environment is important and become an increasing concern for many homeowners. Tap manufacturers have started to follow suit with water saving taps. For example, the Bristan Quadrato has a switch to make the tap more water efficient. The switch can cut water use from 10.5 to 3.9 litres per minute at full pressure!

So, what are your most important buying concerns when choosing new bathroom taps?

1. What’s my Space, Size & Situ?!

Varedo Walk in Bath from £1494

Needless to say, small bathrooms give you little choice, whereas a large bathroom will have the space to fit pretty much any bath. Make sure you have ample room to get into and out of the bath. Be careful that the bath does not make the bathroom feel overly cramped. If you have a sloping roof and plan to have a shower over your bath then you may be restricted as to which wall the bath can sit alongside.

A traditional bath will be rectangular and approximately 1700mm x 700mm/750mm. If you have space restrictions consider differently shaped baths that hug the shape of your bathroom. For example, think about a quadrant corner bath, baths tapered at one end or a deeper bath, such as a walk-in bath where you can sit-up when inside.

2. Warm acrylic, Eco-wood or Classy Brassy?

I remember visiting my grandparents and using their old cast-iron bath. Its cold touch made you think twice before getting in but the bath was still in excellent condition after many years of use. The material of a bath will tell people about your tastes and style. Make sure the bath complements the other colours and materials in your bathroom. Popular options include:

• Acrylic – A popular option due to its low cost, light weight and warm feel when you get into the bath. Make sure the bath is fibreglass reinforced with a steel frame for longevity and rigidity.

• Cast Iron – These baths will be capped with porcelain enamel to give a clean finish with a long life. Cast-iron baths are cold to the touch and are also heavy so make sure your floor can support this extra weight.

• Copper – These baths will heat up quickly and can be extremely light. Copper baths can be more costly but offer a striking finish that will stand out in any bathroom.

• Natural & Composite Stone - These options are more pricey and will be very heavy so you will need to check flooring constraints. Beautiful, organic styles are timeless.
  

  Wooden bath by Designer Lisa Dinge

• Wood – A natural material such as teak, mahogany, cedar or walnut is both intrinsically traditional yet modern. Wood is warm to the touch and is not easily affected by scratches. Make sure the wood is well treated and sealed for longevity.

3. Why take a while to style?

The final piece to the jigsaw lies is the type of bath you opt towards. Options include:

• Single or double – Will you be sharing your bathing experience with a partner? Does your bathroom have sufficient space for a larger tub. Larger tubs hold a lot more water so make filling time a consideration.

• Free-Standing or Sitting – A popular trend is to have the bath elevated from the floor using claw styled feet. These free-standing baths can sit away from the wall as they are finished on all sides. Free-standing baths are well suited to larger bathrooms.
  

  Novara whirlpool bath with tiled surround

• Recessed Baths – A bath can be recessed into your floor or built into a bespoke platform. This option allows for elegant, matching tiles or stone that surround the bath giving a distinguished finish.

Consider your options carefully and think that you are unlikely to upgrade your bathroom again for at least 5-10+ years.

Of course the size of your bathroom will dictate your primary choice of tub. Larger bathrooms tend to swallow large corner tubs whilst small rectangular shaped rooms require more standardised shaped. However, standard shape doesn’t mean standard features. Many designs now incorporate luxury features such as underwater hydro massage jets and pulsating air massage within standard shaped baths, making the prospect of having your own spa very possible.

When looking at materials of your new bath, acrylic is the most common as it’s good for heat rentention and relatively light weight, whilst being affordable at the same time. Some other designs incorporate other materials such as glass, tin, steel, cast iron, copper and even stone producing real show pieces that sell themselves.  These other materials tend to be more expensive so it’s important to shop around.

Di Vapor offer a number of different bath designs to suit the sizes and style demands of most. The Varda offers a simple standard bath look coupled with the added luxury of hydro massage water jets, air massage jets and headrests on each end. To meet the needs of a high end bathroom, Di Vapor offer the Cosmo – A single person bath complete with hydro massage jets, air massage jets all finished with a 17inch television. What more could you ask for?

Head on over to Di Vapor today to see what’s on offer.

Voice is produced by many different workings in the upper body. To form the sound of voice that we are familiar with, the muscles of the abdominal wall and rib cage squeeze the lungs, making them exhale breath. When airflow comes up the windpipe it passes through the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate creating a buzzing noise. At the same time, the larynx – or voice box as it commonly known – adjusts the tension of the chord producing pitch.

As you get older, these vital tissues become tired. But something as simple as singing in the shower every day can help decrease the speed of the ageing process.  This is one of the best ways to help preserve your voice, as it keeps the laryx muscles strong whilst the steam lubricates the voice box.

“Singing is gymnastics for voice” states Dr Andrew McCombe. “The control and neuro-muscular co-ordination you need means the voice is being used in a good way.” Joining a choir is one of the best ways to preserve a youthful tone, says Dr McCoombe. “Professional singers voices take longer to age as they muscles strong.”

So maintaining your youth may be as easy as belting out a few power ballads in the shower, just before your start your day.