All posts by Gareth Jones

plumbing-maintenance

Tips to Help Avoid the Plumber

Plumbing & Drainage, , , ,

There will always arise a situation in which you’ll need to fork out for a plumber, but many homeowners could delay the inevitable (and costly) by heeding the following tips:

Avoid these toilet products: bleach tablets, blue toilet deodorizers and those odour removers which you place inside your toilet. While they may deter from those iffy smells, they are powerful chemicals that can also break down your toilet’s rubber fixtures – which can eventually lead to your lavatory ceasing to function.

Toilet clogged? If the plunger fails you, try pouring hot water into the toilet’s tank, and repeat if necessary until you’ve resolved the issue.

Listen to your pipes. Do they squeak, hum and rattle? Just follow the exposed pipes and tighten them where possible, ensuring that they are tightly fastened. Obviously, a plumber may be required to fix any noisy piping that is difficult to access.

During the cold months, keep your living space warm to prevent frozen pipes. Even if you aren’t home, your property’s plumbing will benefit from being kept above freezing – frozen pipes can burst, which is expensive to repair.

Use a strainer over your kitchen sink and bathtub to prevent food and substances from clogging your drains. Be sure to clean the strainer regularly and thoroughly. Similarly, frequently cleaning your dyer’s lint trap will not only help your dryer work better but prevent fires and stop lint from clogging your pipes.

Triple glazing

Is Triple Glazing Worth the Cost?

Glazing, , , ,

Homeowners are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to saving money in the long term. And with rising energy bills predicted to hit most households this winter, many will be encouraged by glazing companies to improve their home’s insulation.

One of the most current energy-saving additions many homeowners will soon be considering is triple glazing, the new window technology in which promises noise and draught reduction and superior insulation.

As double glazing offers such noticeable thermal improvements over its singular ancestor, it’s easy to understand why so many homeowners will naturally assume that triple glazing offers similar insulation and long term savings.

But will triple glazing actually save you money?

Yes, particularly with homes that have a lot of small windows. Although, there are more cost effective ways to insulate your home, including adding a coating to the glass that will prevent heat escaping, and filling the cavities in double glazing windows with inert glass.

Such measures will prove more sensible than triple glazed windows, which are up to 40% more expensive than their double glazing counterparts due to their larger and heavier frames, and the difficulty in installing them. Furthermore, many glaziers in the UK do not yet stock triple glazed windows.

Also, consider the other parts of your home that might also be improved. Wall and roof insulation may be cheaper and less hassle to install. It is also important to consider the sealing of your windows, as poorly sealed triple glazing would prove a redundant modification.

Car wiring pest control

Soy-based Car Wiring Attracts Pests

Pest Control, , , ,

Modern manufacturers are forever looking to implement environmentally-friendly materials into their latest products, but the new biodegradable car wiring which several car brands are now using in their vehicles has had an unexpected consequence.

Unfortunately, pests such as mice, rats and squirrels can’t get enough of the soy-based insulation. Car owners are discovering that their automobiles are suddenly ceasing to start, and opening the hood to find chewed wiring and unforeseen lodgers.

This is mainly a problem for cars that are being stored in garages over the cold months, as rodents are being attracted to the tubing’s scent and subsequently using the car engines as a nest.

But before you call pest control, know that there are several simpler (and cheaper) solutions you should try first. Some automakers, such as Honda, now sell anti-rodent tape, and some car owners are apparently finding that bags of mothballs or a product called Rodent Repellent are effective deterrents.

But as ever, it’s a matter of making your home unattractive to unwanted guests from the offset, and in a home (or attached garage) that already has a rodent problem, pest control might be the only viable resort.

Should You Attempt Your Own Plumbing Repair?

Should You Attempt Your Own Plumbing Repair?

Plumbing & Drainage, , , , ,

In these trying financial times we are all looking for ways to cut costs, and many homeowners are choosing to learn to repair their property damage rather than hire a professional to do the job. Taking a DIY approach to home repairs and decorating has the potential to not only save you money but also provide a sense of satisfaction from learning and implementing new skills.

However, plumbing is one area which people are definitely advised to leave to the professionals. Homeowners are increasingly taking on work that, if not handled properly, can lead to extreme property damage and prove far more expensive in the long run.

If you do find yourself facing plumbing problems, first consider the following before you attempt to take on any home plumbing jobs yourself:

Do you have the experience? Unless you’ve attend any plumbing courses and have some knowledge of plumbing fittings, the answer is probably no.

Do you have the correct tools? Do you own the correct plumbing supplies and know your drain snake from your basin wrench? If not, best leave it to the pros.

Do you have insurance? A professional plumber should have insurance to cover any possible accidents or damage. Should your own attempts at plumbing prove disastrous, not only will you likely face higher costs than you would have had you hired a tradesman to begin with, but it’s unlikely that the damage done to your home will be insured.

Rats - pest control

Breckland Council Stops Free Pest Control Services

Pest Control, , ,

A Norfolk council will soon be ending their free service dealing with domestic rodent infestations, as part of an initiation to save taxpayer money.

The move by Breckland’s cabinet, which could potentially save the authority £46,100 per year, has come under fire from fellow councillors. The service, which allowed homeowners free rat and mouse pest control, will now be handled by commercial suppliers instead. The council will now signpost residents to where they can access pest control services.

But a recent commission report has voiced concerns that “people would be troubled by rats from a neighbouring property where the neighbour was not willing to pay to have the problem treated. It would be incumbent on the council to take action and therefore unlikely that money would be saved.”

There is also the concern that people will try to deal with the pests themselves, which might encourage the use of unsuitable poisons being used, and children and pets being put at risk.

DIY electrian accidents

DIY Responsible for Half of Electric Shocks in the UK

Electrical and Energy Saving, , , ,

We currently live in a DIY culture, with many homeowners being encouraged by television shows and financial circumstance to “have a go” at home maintenance and repairs rather than paying for a professional.

A study by the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) has found that half of all serious electric shocks in the UK are caused by DIY mishaps.

The study reveals that many people are taking on what they consider to be simple DIY jobs, instead of calling in someone qualified. Not only do such DIYers risk their lives by doing so, but many will eventually need to call out an electrician to repair their errors. 82% of the 2,000 electricians questioned claimed that dodgy DIY results in more extensive work and therefore higher costs in the long run.

Potentially fatal gaffes included cutting through power leads, drilling into the electrical wiring in walls and attempting to repair electrical items without first switching them off.

Many of the people surveyed stated that they would consider online video tutorials to be adequate training, while half of the men surveyed said that they felt that DIY was their responsibility.