ON TAP gives hot tips for cold bathrooms

It's one thing to soak in a warm bath during winter, but it's a whole different story getting out. If you are looking for tips on how to make your bathroom warmer this winter, ON TAP has some helpful hints for you.

Just imagine the welcoming effect a warm towel will have on your guests. ON TAP has a range of heated towel rails from Bathroom Butler that will effectively dry, warm and air towels after bathing or showering - or just keep it nice and snug for whenever you need it. Warm towels are
also aired and dried, which means that you don't have to tumble-dry so often.

Psychologically, certain colours call up certain emotions in a person. Earthy colours beckon a comforting charm and warmth to the bathroom, creating a safe refuge against the cold (even if it's only in our minds). Look into monochromatic, earthy colours to compliment your bathroom as it will create a warm atmosphere. Place fluffy rugs on the floor (but try not to over-do it), and always have sufficient towels wherever needed.

When it comes to temperature control, we have good news for you and your guests. ON TAP offers Hansgrohe Cosmo E2 range mixers for basins, baths and showers. These mixers are equipped with temperature control and allows you to regulate water temperature so that the water is neither too hot nor too cold.

Visit ON TAP for advice on how to make your bathroom warmer this winter. ON TAP is the place to go for the largest variety of mid to up-market national and international brands in quality bathroom and kitchenware - find a store near you.

ON•TAP wants you to help save water

ON•TAP supported World Water Day 2011 along with many environmentally conscious South Africans. World Water Day was a unique occasion to remind us that solutions are possible, but it also emphasised that it's up to each and every one of us to make the difference.

Statistically speaking, one out of two people live in a city, while city populations keep growing. The problem is, investments in infrastructure have not kept up with the increasing rate of urbanisation, resulting in unstable water management.

Reports have shown that domestic water usage takes up the largest percentage of daily water consumption. This, combined with irregular rainfall patterns, will have a detrimental impact on adequate water supply. This is an alarming matter, as water is the element that supports all human, plant and animal life.

The solution comes in the form of integrated urban management, starting at home so to speak. It's up to homeowners to take responsibility for their water usage and make small changes in their daily habits. Even if you're only saving a bit of water every day, remember that every drop counts!

Water saving tips:

• Aerated taps use less water
• Single lever mixers for better temperature control
• Only run water when you need it
• Regularly check for leaks and repair immediately
• Showering uses less water than bathing
• Reuse water where possible
• Limit your hot water consumption
• Flush toilets only when necessary
• Dual flush systems use less water for flushing
• Plant water wise indigenous plants
• Only water gardens before 10:00 or after 16:00
• Sweep driveways or patios instead of hosing it

To help you save water, ON•TAP offers local and international brands that are geared towards Green Living, with eco-friendly product-ranges that will benefit the customer, as well as the environment.

A breath of fresh air

Hansgrohe implements an ecological approach to hand washing by means of EcoSmart technology, found in ranges like the Cosmo E2 which is available at ON•TAP. The Cosmo E2 mixer is equipped with an aerator integrated into the spout, which infuses water with air to decrease water consumption by up to 60 % without sacrificing comfort or water flow. The Cosmo E2 range also consists of single lever mixers, allowing you to adjust water temperature quickly without wasting water down the drain.

Help save the planet, one shower at a time

It takes approximately 140 litres of water to fill a bath tub, while a normal 5 minute shower will probably use 90 litres of water. Now, imagine saving up to 60% of that water consumption regardless of the pressure, by simply using Hansgrohe's Crometta Green shower which is available at ON•TAP. Even when the shower is opened on full, a maximum of six liters of water per minute flows through the cleverly designed Crometta 85 Green Shower Unit. As warm water is usually used for showering, this saves a lot of valuable water resources and energy.

Flush away waste, not precious water

ON•TAP now proudly stocks Viega products as well. Viega actuating panels may appear in simple shapes, but the benefits of its pre-wall technology systems are hidden behind every actuating panel. Viega's dual flush system provides two buttons to flush different levels of water. The flush volume is selected by Viega's innovative rocker technology, which saves water through the integrated dual flushing mechanism. It's easier to operate than what it sounds and simply requires a gentle press: the adjustable short flush uses approximately 3 to 4 litres of water, while the adjustable full flush uses between 6 and 9 litres. Viega incorporates state-of-the-art water saving technology without limiting drinking water quality.

There are so many ways of saving water and going Green is an individual choice each and every one of us has to make at some stage for the benefit of future generations. If we conserve water today, we can enjoy it tomorrow.

Tap into the Green initiatives of local and international brands at ON•TAP. Enquire about ON•TAP's environmentally friendly products in-store and be treated to informative fast, friendly and efficient service.

Find the right bath for you

With winter in full swing, many of you will be enjoying the pleasures of a long, relaxing soak in a bath - and even some filled with bubbles. Nothing is more enjoyable than a hot soak in the tub after a cold day. This is why it’s important to make sure that the type of bath you own is perfectly suites your style and comfort.

When we look back on baths in the 20th century, we can't help but cringe. I’m sure you remember those olive green bathroom sets. Today, there are so many different types of baths on the market that we are spoilt for choice. Let ON•TAP, the specialists in bathroom retail, take you through the choices on offer:

The Free Standing Bath

This is a timeless, classic option to go for if you have a large bathroom with plenty of floor space. Purchasing the bath can be costly, but the benefits will last a lifetime. Victoria + Albert baths, available at ON•TAP, are at the forefront of freestanding bath innovations. Each V+A bath is hand crafted from 100% Quarraycast material which helps to retain heat and can be polished to remove any scratches. The current trend with freestanding baths, is that one can use it to add glamour to the bedroom, an experience in the outdoors, or even place two next to each other for romance without space limitations.

The Corner Bath

Corner baths are great for smaller bathrooms, as you can still enjoy a rather large bath without compromising on too much floor space. Libra makes great quality corner baths, available from ON•TAP, in a variety of styles. A popular idea is to install the corner bath on a raised platform with steps leading up to the bath. For even greater results, a window right by this bath gives the illusion of open spaces, perfect for even the smallest of bathrooms.

The Spa Bath

Spa baths are making a big comeback this season with the re-launch of Duravit in South Africa. Duravit, which is also available from ON•TAP, produces top of the range spa baths that even come with aroma theraphy lights to illuminate the water, thus encouraging deeper relaxation. Who needs a candle lit bath when you can change the water colour from pink to blue? The various jets and bubble options stimulate ones circulation as well as massaging the feet and lower back.

Endless possibilities

Like with all home renovation projects, the decisions you make are primarily based on the space and budget you have available, but what other factors can you look at to help you make the right decision? Firstly, look at the type of bath you would like to go with; freestanding, corner or spa? Next is style; will it be modern, classic or Victorian? And lastly, comfort. If it looks great, fits perfectly and falls within your budget, it’s time to test the comfort of the bath. This is why the specialists at ON•TAP encourage their customers to take the baths for a test! All you need to do is: visit your nearest ON•TAP, pick those you fancy and sit in them. If it’s comfortable too, you have a winner!

ON•TAP will provide free advice and information on local and international bathroom brands to help you make the right choice for your home.

How to reduce your carbon footprint at work

Be a hero and help save the planet by making simple lifestyle changes. Here are some environmentally consciousness ways that you can incorporate to reduce your carbon footprint at work:

• Always turn off unnecessary lights during the day and turn off all lights at night. Lighting an empty office overnight can waste the amount of energy required to heat water for 1000 cups of coffee!
• Shut down computers overnight and use power saving options. Turn off unused machines at the plug. Appliances continue to draw electricity on stand by.
• An initial investment in tele- and video-conferencing facilities will reduce the need for flights, saving money, time and carbon emissions.
• Print less. Always print 2 pages per sheet or print on both sides of the paper. Go to Print, click on Properties, and choose Page layout: 2 pages per sheet OR go to Print, click on Properties, click on Finishing and choose Print Style: 2-sided printing.
• Optimise paper use. Change the margins on your word documents for more words on a page. Click on File, and choose Page set up and change the margins to 2 cm.
• Only buy recycled paper or paper from FSC certified sources. The FSC label ensures that the paper comes from responsible sources.
• Clean travel. Organise a car pool to work, or even better, cycle to the office.
• Recycle your e-waste. Electronic waste is the term used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded appliances that use electricity. It includes computers, consumer electronics, fridges etc. Visit www.e-waste.org.za to learn how to recycle your office’s e-waste.
• Water wise. Don’t serve bottled water at meetings. It takes 3 litres of water to 
produce 1 litre of bottled water. Promote tap water.
• ‘Green’ procurement. As far as possible, choose eco friendly products or services that aim to have the minimum impact on the environment.

ON•TAP supports IOPSA in promoting registered plumbing practices

Recent media coverage has shown that consumers worry about the quality of plumbers in South Africa. It is frightening to acknowledge that many so-called plumbers actually don't have qualifications or experience, which tarnishes the reputation of professional plumbers that do. What’s more is that consumers are still being tricked into receiving substandard service from plumbers with a total disregard for plumbing standards. In most cases, the consumer only discovers the faults many years later, which is a concern for health and safety hazards. So how do we, as South Africans, know if the plumber we hire is qualified and registered or not?

In keeping with the proposed new labour regulations, the Water Services Act, and the requirements of local authorities, ON•TAP together with IOPSA and other parties commissioned the establishment of the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB).

The PIRB has rolled out a comprehensive registration system for all plumbers to sign up for. If your plumber is registered with the PIRB, then you know that his/her performance has been monitored to ensure plumbing practices that protect the health and safety of the community.

With ON•TAP’s experience as a merchant to supply the plumbing industry and IOPSA’s governance of ethics, the PIRB aims to raise the standards of plumbing in the public interest, as well as improve the consensus of plumbers and plumbing in South Africa.

Thanks to this initiative, more metropolitans, local authorities and insurance companies require that only qualified PIRB plumbers are allowed to do plumbing works within their jurisdiction. We urge that all consumers need to be informed about the PIRB so that they can request to see their plumbers PIRB Registration Certificate before proceeding with the job.

SA Home Renovations bangs the drum for ON•TAP Cape Town

The SA Home Renovations website featured an article where ON•TAP Cape Town is praised for their dedicated service. They said the ON•TAP consultant spent several hours crawling through the showroom... supplying prices and answering questions and, eventually, preparing a quote.

Well done, ON•TAP Cape Town! You have made us proud.

If you want to read more about how ON•TAP assisted in choosing the right products for the renovations in the article, follow this link over here.

From Germany with love

ON•TAP Pietermaritzburg has been commended for their fast, friendly and efficient service - not only locally, but abroad as well. A customer from Germany recently bought a new geyser from ON•TAP for his house in Pietermaritzburg, currently occupied by one of his siblings . The geyser started leaking, which was brought to the attention of ON•TAP Pietermaritzburg's John Becker. He immediately assessed the situation, arranged with the supplier to replace the geyser promptly and free of charge.

Now that is service, but in the client's own words, "the guys worked quick and professionally, and the [new] geyser operates well."

Now that's good service

ON•TAP Pietermaritzburg is the pioneering ON•TAP franchise that was established in 1990. Since then, ON•TAP Pietermaritzburg has prided itself on excellent service delivery.

A satisfied customer recently e-mailed us, stating that they were very impressed with the excellent service they received from ON•TAP Pietermartizburg. They visited their nearest ON•TAP to ask for advice, as they are currently building a new house - they knew what they wanted, but not exactly. The customer was assisted by a very helpful ON•TAP sales assistant, Matt Howes. He browsed through the ON•TAP showroom with the customer until ideas sparked and decisions were made.

The customer said that Matt was very patient and even in the midst of a thousand questions being asked, he still took time to find the best solution for the customer's needs and answered each question with a smile. The customer is grateful for the excellent service, which made the rather menacing task of picking new baths, basins and mixers for a new house, a total breeze.

For more information about ON•TAP, visit our website or pop into your nearest ON•TAP store.

A functional bathroom with star appeal

ON•TAP Plumbing Supplies recently teamed up with internationally acclaimed innovators of water design and technology, Hansgrohe, to create a tranquil bathroom environment for Danny K and Lee-Ann Liebenberg's stunning new home.

The expert advice of ON•TAP Northriding was called in to create a bathroom environment that projected the needs, wishes and dreams of Danny and Lee-Ann. The mission was to create bathrooms around the house with glamorous appeal that would leave any visitor star struck.

As you would know, the bathroom forms an integral part of every home. It's no longer just another room in the house, as the bathroom has moved into a dimension where it is a living space. And this living space is essential to give the bathroom a tranquil atmosphere in which one can unwind.

Space is very important in any bathroom. Careful steps were taken to make the most out of the available sapce. A bathroom shouldn't seem like a cluttered mess, as it's really hard to unwind in a place where you feel confined.

When the bathrooms were complete, it embodied exactly what Danny and Lee-Ann wanted. They could recognise themselves in the bathrooms, which is what creating a personal living space is all about. ON•TAP Northriding delivered excellent service and advice during the preparation of the, now complete, luxurious bathroom.

An ON•TAP customer is a satisfied customer

A satisfied customer recently e-mailed us, because they were so impressed by the excellent service ON•TAP Edenvale had to offer. This led them to buy all the plumbing accessories they needed to renovate their old-fashioned bathroom into a modern wet room, from ON•TAP Edenvale.

The satisfied ON•TAP customer was pleasantly surprised to find that even though ON•TAP Edenvale has been open a few months, the consultants had excellent product knowledge and plumbing know-how. ON•TAP Edenvale's expert advice helped the customer to make the right choice from the wide selection of top quality products that was on offer.

The satisfied customer was helped to purchase the shower, taps and basin, and said that they'd definitely return to ON•TAP for the sanitary ware, as well as future plumbing needs. Now you might ask yourself,

"What on earth is a wet room?"

Well, simply put: it is a bathroom, where the shower area is level with the surrounding floor. It's like having a walk-in shower.

You can turn your old-fashioned bathroom
into a very sleek finished, modern wet room.

We'll let you in on a few secrets...

• Water-resistant cement-based coatings are fancied above the traditionally used ceramic type tiles.

• Wall-mounted basins and water closets give the bathroom a spacious feel.

• Built-in flush-fitting systems will allow your bathroom the neat and sleek finish that you desire.

• Dual flush-systems save water and are easy to maintain.

When it comes to renovating a bathroom into a wet room, you must know what you want and how you plan on doing it. We suggest you visit your nearest ON•TAP branch for expert advice.