Latest Articles - avtechnical.co.uk

Person placing a log into a lit wood-burning stove in a cosy living room with firewood stacked nearby.

Wood briquettes vs firewood: how compressed wood briquettes deliver up to 300 per cent more heat

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

With electricity and gas prices continuing to fluctuate, many households are turning back to the fireplace or wood-burning stove. But...

Young man checking a shopping list in front of an open fridge filled with fresh vegetables and fruits.

Fridge Door Seal: Why It Matters for Energy Use and Food Freshness

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

The fridge door seal is easy to ignore, yet it has a direct effect on how well your refrigerator keeps...

Person holding a steaming croissant near a mirror with a basket of sliced bread on a wooden surface.

Soft bread crumb: the gentle cleaning trick for micro-glass and delicate surfaces

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

People who want to clean glass, antique paintings or delicate wallpaper often reach for pricey products from the chemist. Yet...

Person cleaning a white radiator with a brush in a bright living room with a sofa and plants.

The 1‑Minute Trick That Makes Your Electric Radiator Warmer for Less

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Across Europe, the cost of heating is climbing, and electric radiators in millions of homes are being pushed to their...

Person cleaning a window with a cloth and spray bottle on a wooden windowsill in natural light.

Glycerin in your window-cleaning water: the autumn trick for cleaner glass all winter

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

A tiny, almost unremarkable addition to your cleaning water can keep your windows clearer for most of the winter. Anyone...

Man wearing light blue shirt working on a desktop computer in a bright modern office with plants and mask on desk.

Can air conditioning make you sick?

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Air conditioning can feel like a blessing on sweltering summer days. By keeping rooms cooler and managing humidity, it makes...

Person cleaning open oven door with vinegar and water spray and sponge in bright kitchen

How to Clean an Oven with Natural Methods and Practical Habits

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

A domestic oven sits at the heart of many kitchens, so it quickly picks up grease, food splashes and burnt-on...

Person adjusting a white device on a coffee table with a tablet, open book, and spilled snacks in a cosy living room.

Pellet heating ban: the date that changes everything and what to do next

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Messages began ricocheting around WhatsApp chats. Neighbours started knocking on doors. And, all at once, those tidy sacks of pellets...

Person adding white powder detergent into a modern front-loading washing machine in a bright kitchen.

Kitchen Staples for Laundry Without Detergent: Vinegar, Bicarbonate of Soda, Lemon and Salt

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Washing a lot soon shows its effects: colours fade, fibres feel rougher, and some favourite items shrink or lose their...

Two men adjusting a standing fan on a balcony of a modern apartment on a sunny day.

How to Deal with a Noisy Fan and Avoid Issues with Neighbours in a Condominium

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

When summer arrives each year, rising temperatures once again turn many homes into stuffy spaces with hot air and little...

Person holding energy bills between two wood-burning stoves in a bright kitchen with firewood and calculator nearby

Wood vs. pellets: which really costs less year after year?

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

In the corner of his sitting room, an ageing cast-iron wood stove glowed a deep orange, the logs snapping and...

Hand wiping a coffee spill on a kitchen counter with cleaning supplies and lemon nearby in sunlight.

How to Remove Stubborn Countertop Stains Without Chemicals

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

The coffee mark has been there long enough to feel like part of the kitchen. A washed-out brown ring sits...

Young man adding salt to water while testing a home radiator in a bright living room.

Bleeding Radiators: A Quick Way to Remove Air in the Heating System and Save Energy

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Winter creeps indoors and, all of a sudden, the radiator starts sounding like an aquarium. Cold at the top, scorching...

Person cleaning a window with a spray bottle and cloth during daylight with cleaning supplies nearby.

Simple homemade glass cleaner with warm water, white vinegar and neutral washing-up liquid

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

A homemade glass cleaner made with warm water, white vinegar and the smallest possible amount of neutral washing-up liquid helps...

Person adjusting a portable electric heater on a carpeted floor in a cozy living room.

Stylish Space Heaters Are Transforming Winter Interiors

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Winter interiors are evolving quickly, with heating gadgets quietly becoming statement items that can hold their own alongside your favourite...

Hand adjusting a white microwave with a kitchen sponge inside on a wooden countertop near a sink.

Microwaving a Damp Sponge: The Simple Kitchen Hygiene Trick

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

The sponge was already giving me doubts before it even slipped from my hand. That faint grey, musty whiff. The...

Person holding remote control aimed at wall-mounted air conditioner in bright living room.

How to Use Cool Mode, High Fan Speed and Recirculation to Lower Air Conditioner Bills

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Summer temperatures keep climbing, but your electricity bill does not have to rise with them - not if you adjust...

Person cleaning a glass shower door with a blue cloth and cleaning spray bottle nearby.

How to Clean a Bathroom Glass Shower Screen with Vinegar

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Keeping a bathroom glass shower screen crystal-clear can be a real challenge in many homes. Soap scum, body oils and-above...

Person lighting a fire in a wood-burning stove next to stacked bags of wood pellets by a window.

Pellet prices in 2026: how to make your pellet stove use fewer bags

Oliver Hartwell • October 6, 2026

Pellet prices have crept up again this winter, and that once-comforting stack in the garage is suddenly looking worryingly thin....

Person holding a white t-shirt with various colourful laundry detergent bottles and measuring cup on table in laundry room.

Best Liquid Detergents: Ariel Original, Carrefour Expert and Epsil Tested

Oliver Hartwell • October 5, 2026

Every laundry day tends to begin with the same question: will this detergent really remove the stains, or will the...

Man standing on a stepladder in bedroom cleaning a ceiling fan blade with a pillowcase.

The Pillowcase Trick for Ceiling Fan Dust

Oliver Hartwell • October 5, 2026

You haul yourself up towards the ceiling with a damp cloth in one hand and your phone torch in the...