Home Advice Hub

How to Turn Off Your Water Supply

Know where your stopcock is before you need it. A burst pipe can cause thousands of pounds of damage in minutes.

Quick Steps:

1. Find your internal stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink)
2. Turn clockwise to close
3. Open a tap to release pressure
4. If stuck, don't force it - call us

What To Do If You Smell Gas

Gas leaks are serious. Know what to do immediately to keep your family safe.

Immediate Actions:

1. Don't turn on lights or anything electrical
2. Open windows and doors
3. Turn off gas at the meter if safe
4. Call National Gas: 0800 111 999
5. Leave the property

Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping?

A tripping RCD is annoying but it's protecting you. Here's how to find the cause.

Troubleshooting:

1. Unplug all appliances on that circuit
2. Reset the breaker
3. Plug appliances back in one by one
4. The one that trips it is the culprit
5. If it trips with nothing plugged in - call us

Boiler Losing Pressure?

Low pressure is the most common boiler problem. Often it's an easy fix.

How to Repressurise:

1. Check the pressure gauge (should be 1-1.5 bar)
2. Find the filling loop (usually underneath)
3. Open valves slowly until pressure reaches 1.5 bar
4. Close valves and check for leaks
5. If it drops again quickly - you have a leak

Frozen Condensate Pipe

The most common cause of winter boiler breakdowns. Here's how to thaw it safely.

Safe Thawing:

1. Find the condensate pipe (white plastic, outside)
2. Pour warm (not boiling) water over the frozen section
3. Use a hot water bottle or heat pack
4. Reset the boiler once thawed
5. Consider lagging for next winter

Bleeding a Radiator

Cold spots at the top of your radiator? There's air trapped inside. Easy fix.

Step by Step:

1. Turn off the heating and let radiators cool
2. Find the bleed valve (top corner)
3. Hold a cloth underneath
4. Turn the valve anti-clockwise until air hisses out
5. Close when water appears
6. Check boiler pressure (may need topping up)

Dripping Tap DIY Fix

A dripping tap wastes thousands of litres per year. Often it's just a worn washer.

What You'll Need:

• Turn off water supply to tap
• Remove tap handle and cover
• Unscrew the headgear
• Replace the washer (take old one to match)
• Reassemble and test

Note: Modern mixer taps need cartridges, not washers - call us for these.

Unblocking a Toilet

Most toilet blockages can be cleared with a plunger and some patience.

Plunger Technique:

1. Use a flange plunger (with extended rubber)
2. Create a seal over the outlet
3. Push down slowly, then pull up sharply
4. Repeat 15-20 times
5. If no luck after several attempts - call us

Never use chemical unblockers in toilets!

Annual Boiler Service

Why you should service your boiler every year - even if it's working fine.

Benefits of Annual Service:

• Maintains manufacturer warranty
• Catches problems before they're expensive
• Keeps efficiency high (lower bills)
• Required for landlords (legal)
• Safety check for carbon monoxide
• Extends boiler lifespan