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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