Looking after a property
Practical guides for the problems that come up most, and what to do before you call anyone out.
Seasonal maintenance
Most expensive repairs start as something small that nobody looked at. Four checks a year prevents the majority of them.
Autumn
Clear the gutters before the leaves fall properly. Bleed the radiators and run the heating for an hour to find faults while it is still mild. Check the roof from the ground for slipped tiles.
Winter
Keep the heating on low during a cold snap, even in an empty property, to stop pipes freezing. Know where your stopcock is. Check for condensation on cold walls.
Spring
Check the exterior for damage from winter storms. Clear drains and downpipes. Service the boiler. Cut back growth away from the walls and gutters.
Summer
Repaint exterior woodwork while it is dry. Check fences and gates. Deal with any damp patches now, while they are easier to trace.
Common problems and what to check first
No hot water or heating
Check the boiler pressure gauge, it should sit between 1 and 1.5 bar. Check the thermostat and the timer. Check whether the gas has run out on a prepayment meter. If the boiler shows a fault code, note it down before calling.
A dripping tap
Usually a worn washer or cartridge. Cheap to fix and worth doing quickly, because a dripping hot tap wastes heated water continuously.
A blocked sink
Try a plunger and hot water first. Avoid pouring caustic drain cleaner down repeatedly, it damages older pipework and makes the eventual repair worse.
Damp patches
Trace where the water is coming from before treating the surface. A patch high on a wall usually means the gutter or roof. Low down usually means rising damp or a failed damp course. Around a window usually means condensation.
A tripping fuse
Unplug everything on that circuit, reset it, then plug items back one at a time to find the faulty appliance. If it trips with nothing plugged in, stop and call an electrician.
Draughts and cold rooms
Check trickle vents, door seals and loft insulation depth. A cold room is often an insulation problem rather than a heating problem.
Three things everyone should know before there is a problem
Where the stopcock is. It is usually under the kitchen sink or in a downstairs cupboard. Turn it once a year so it does not seize.
Where the consumer unit is, and which switch controls what. Label them.
Where the gas meter and emergency control valve are. If you smell gas, leave the property and call 0800 111 999 before anything else.
When to stop and call someone
Plenty of things are worth a look yourself. These are not.
Anything gas
By law only a Gas Safe registered engineer can work on gas appliances. There are no exceptions and no shortcuts.
Anything electrical beyond a fuse
Replacing a fuse or resetting a trip is fine. Opening a consumer unit or altering wiring is not.
Anything structural
Cracks that are widening, sagging ceilings or bowing walls need looking at properly rather than filling.
Anything that might be asbestos
Common in properties built before 2000. Do not drill, cut or sand it. Get it tested.
Rather have us look at it?
Tell us what is happening and we will come back with a clear, free quote.