On this page you will find some useful tips on looking after your home.
Condensation is a common form of dampness found in homes. You can recognise condensation by:
- water collecting on windows and walls; or
- black mould growth on walls and curtains.
What do I do if I have condensation?
If there is condensation in your home there are a number of things you can do:
- Wipe down walls and windows regularly.
- Provide a constant low heat in all rooms during cold weather.
- Make sure windows are opened to allow fresh air into the room.
- Do not block air vents or air bricks.
- Keep internal doors closed.
- If your windows have trickle vents at the top, open them
- Use extractor fans where they are provided in kitchens when boiling saucepans and kettles
What not to do
To try and stop condensation there are a number of things you should try and avoid doing:
- Do not boil saucepans and kettles without lids on and without having opened the windows.
- Do not air or dry clothes in an unheated and unvented room.
- When bathing, make sure the extractor fan is working, windows are open and left open until all moisture has gone.
Heating and hot water can account for a large part of your fuel bill. It also has a negative effect on the environment.
There are lots of things you can do to:
- Make sure your house has no drafts - this can cut your heating bill by up to 10%.
- Turn down your thermostat by one degree centigrade and it is equal to turning it off for two hours
- Turn off heating when it is not needed at night or if your home is empty.
- In very cold weather keep a low heat going to prevent frozen pipes at night, or if your home is empty.
- Try setting the heating to come on just before you get up or get home from work
- Set the heating to go off before you go to bed.
- Turn down radiator thermostats.
- Close the curtains when it gets dark outside or use thick curtains with linings.
- Use draught excluder strips around external door frames and window frames.
- Keep doors closed
- Avoid using bar and fan heaters as they use a lot of electivity
- Turn lights off when you leave a room.
Finally, be aware that bar fires and fan heaters use up a lot of electricity. When you leave a room, don't forget to turn off light!
To prevent a blocked toilet, do not flush sanitary towels or nappies. Put them in the bin instead.
If your toilet does get blocked then follow the instructions below:
- Fill a container with water.
- Pour the water into the toilet pan until the blockage is cleared.
If you still cannot unblock your toilet please do not use it again, instead report the repair to us.
Here you will find useful information on what emergency action to take if your pipes freeze or burst. Remember to report the repair to us.
Frozen pipes
- Turn off the water at the main stopcock - this is usually where the mains water pipe enters the house, or near the kitchen sink.
- If the hot water system is frozen, turn off the water heater.
In very cold weather, you may want to open the loft hatch to allow heat into the loft and help prevent pipes from freezing.
Burst pipes
- Turn off the water at the main stopcock and turn off any gate valves from the water tank.
- Run all your taps to drain water from the system.
- Turn off any water heaters.
If electrical items or wiring are wet do not touch them. Turn off the electricity at the mains.
If water is leaking and making the ceiling bulge, place a bucket under the bulge and pierce a hole to let the water through. This could prevent the ceiling from falling down.
Prevention is the best way to make sure you don't have problems with pests in your home such as insects and mice. There are some simple things you can do:
Ensure
- all food is kept wrapped up where possible or sealed in an airtight container;
- keep worktops and floors clean and free of items of food
If you have pests in your home you should do one of the following:
- use pest control brand names available from local stores;
- contact the Environmental Health Officer at your local council for advice.
Please note that we only deal with pests in shared areas.
Possible types of pests:
Ants - We do not assist with the removal of ants. You should buy a suitable insecticide from general stores and garden centres. Always follow the instructions given and keep the insecticide out of the reach of children.
Bats - Bats are a protected species so you should not disturb them. Instead, contact your local Environmental Health Department who will take appropriate action.
Bees and wasps - If you discover a nest you should contact your local Environmental Health Department who will arrange for their removal.
Cockroaches - if you discover you have cockroaches then you should contact your local Environmental Heath Department who will arrange for their removal.
You should test your smoke detector at least every three months and make sure the vents are clear. You should change the battery in your smoke alarm on a regular basis.
If you would like more advice on fire prevention in your home, please contact your local fire brigade.
To reset a trip switch you will need to:
- unplug all appliances;
- Open the cover on the consumer unit to expose trip switches;
- Reset the trip by pushing in or pushing up the trip switch;
- Plug the appliances back one at a time to check if any are faulty and tripping the switch again; and
- Replace the trip cover.
If the switch keeps moving back to the off position then you need to report it to our repairs team who will arrange inspection by an electrician.
Never tamper with the electricity board's fuse and seals.
In the event of a gas leak or flood do not switch on lights or appliances.
To help prevent blockages do not pour fats and grease down the kitchen sink. It is advisable to clean waste pipes with hot water and soda crystals at least once a month.
To clear a blockage:
- Bale out most of the water.
- Hold a rag tightly over the overflow opening and place the plunger over the drainhole.
- Pump the plunger up and down rapidly to clear the blockage.
- After clearing the blockage, it is advisable to rinse out with a household blockage cleaner.
