Looking After Your Home – Handy Hints And Tips This section tells you about: • • • • • • • • •
How to save on fuel and heating costs. Preventing condensation. Electricity. Water. Gas. Heating and hot water. Smoke detectors. Fixings. Sanitary ware.
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How To Save On Fuel And Heating Costs Heating • Unless you have been advised otherwise, switch off when not in use or set the programme to come on only when needed. • Use extra clothing rather than turn up the heating. • Keep doors closed and turn your thermostat down – even a small change will save fuel and cost.
Lighting • Use energy saving bulbs • Turn off lights in unoccupied or bright rooms. • Clean the fittings regularly to give more light.
Electrical and Electronic Equipment • • • •
Use saver plugs for fridges and freezers. Don’t overfill kettles – only heat the water you need. Don’t leave TV’s and videos on standby – switch them off. Fit timers.
Water • • • • • • •
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Reduce usage as much as possible. Use a shower, rather than a bath. Install a water meter. Don’t use hose pipes or sprinklers. Use buckets of water when washing cars. Use watering cans for gardens. Don’t let the tap run when brushing your teeth.
Preventing Condensation Condensation is caused by steam or water vapour turning into water on cold surfaces. It can damage clothes, bedding, floor coverings, decorations and the home itself, if mould growth takes hold on walls and ceilings. Homes that are heated and ventilated intermittently are more likely to suffer condensation problems than those which are continually occupied. Ordinary daily activities produce a lot of moisture. To help deal with condensation you should take the following steps: • Cover pans when cooking and do not leave kettles boiling. • Do not dry clothes on radiators or on clothes dryers. • If you install a tumble drier, ensure that it is either a condenser type or is directly ventilated to the outside air. • Unless you have been advised otherwise, keep your home well ventilated. Keep windows open whenever possible. • Avoid putting large items of furniture against external walls. • Do not use paraffin or bottled gas heaters. • Never block the vents in walls or windows. • Keep your home warm in cold weather. • Most moisture is produced by cooking and bathing – keep your kitchen and bathroom doors closed to minimise the spread of moisture. • Always ensure that any extractor fans are working properly and keep all vents and grills clean and not covered.
Do’s and don’ts 4 Do ventilate your home properly. 4 Do dry your clothes outside.
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4 Do close the door when cooking or bathing to restrict moisture, but ventilate by opening a window whilst cooking and after bathing unless you have been advised otherwise.
6 Do not use your roof space for storage. 4 Do wipe down kitchen and bathroom surfaces after use to remove surplus water etc.
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Electricity In most properties the electricity meter is located in an external meter cupboard at the front of the property. You will have been provided with a key for the cupboard. If you are not sure where your meter is, please ask us. The meter and the cable leading to it belong to the electricity provider and must not be tampered with in any way. Your electricity supply can be turned off at the consumer unit, which is usually located in the hall. If you are not sure where your consumer unit is located, please ask us.
For your safety Always unplug any appliance before working on it. Always ensure that appliances are fitted with the correct fuses as recommended by the manufacturer. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for wiring appliances. Never use a portable electric fire or an electric hair dryer or any other portable electric appliance in the bathroom. Never attempt to repair, alter or extend electrical installations. Keep a torch handy for emergencies.
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Circuit Breakers Your home will have a consumer unit (previously known as the ‘fuse board’) which controls the power in your home. This is fitted with circuit breakers. If you still have one which uses fuse wire or cartridges, please contact us. Circuit breakers are switches which automatically switch off when a fuse would have blown. These breakers are easy to re-set by flicking the switch back to the ‘on’ position. Don’t forget to unplug the appliance that you think caused the fault first. Circuit breakers are generally more sensitive than fuses and may trip out when a light bulb fails or if you are using an appliance with an electrical fault or faulty plug.
Plugs The sockets in your home take square pin plugs. Each plug will have a fuse inside it. Always make sure that you have the correct type of fuse for each electrical appliance.
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Simple Fault Finding Power Sockets If a power point is not working, check the circuit breaker and reset if necessary. If it trips again, unplug the appliance, reset again and try a different socket. If this also trips, it is the appliance that is faulty and you should contact a qualified electrician. If it is the wiring that is at fault, contact us.
Lighting If an area of light is not working, e.g. living room, check the circuit breakers and reset if necessary. If a particular light is not working, check whether the bulb has blown and replace if necessary. If your home has a fluorescent light, check the tube as well, as the starter may have blown. (If the light flickers but will not start it is probably the starter that needs replacing). Don’t forget, if you have an emergency relating to your electricity supply, please contact us immediately on 029 2025 9100. Remember that electricity can kill. Do not attempt to do any work on an electrical circuit or appliance, unless you are suitably qualified.
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Water Stop Tap Your water supply can be turned off at the stopcock. This is usually in the sink unit. In older houses it may be situated near the front door. If you don’t know where it is, you should find out now.
Washing Machine Connections You will also find the connections for a washing machine located within the kitchen sink unit. We recommend that you employ a qualified engineer to repair or install your washing machine.
Dealing with Leaks Minor Leaks Minor leaks, such as a dripping tap or radiator valve, can usually be dealt with without isolating the whole of the water system, but again it is important that you contact us immediately.
Major Leaks In the event of a major leak on any of the water services, the stopcock should be turned off and you should contact us immediately.
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Water Emergency Number Outside office hours 0800
052 0130
Tips To Remember During The Winter Period If you intend to leave your house for more than a day or two in the winter, you should leave your heating set on a low level to avoid freezing. If there is a risk that pipes are frozen, do not run the hot water taps as this will empty the hot water cylinder, which could then collapse. Do not allow taps to drip, as a dripping tap may stain the bath or basin and could result in frozen waste pipes in winter. Remember to disconnect your outside tap at the valve located within the sink unit during the winter to prevent it freezing.
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Gas Meter In most properties, the gas meter is located in the brown box at the front of your house. If you are not sure where your gas meter is, please contact us. If your property has a gas supply, then a gas point has been provided within the cooker space. Do not alter or tamper with any gas pipeline or appliance which has been installed by us in your property. In an emergency, turn off the supply by turning the handle inside the box and contact us immediately. Gas Emergency Number – 0800 111 999.
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Heating And Hot Water Boiler The gas boiler is normally located in the kitchen. If you are not sure where your boiler is, please contact us. Please read the user guide carefully. If you need any assistance, please contact your Building Surveyor or Estates Assistant. Your boiler will run the central heating and hot water system and is controlled by a programmer. The programmer will allow on / off times for the boiler to be set to your individual requirements.
Room Thermostat Your room thermostat is usually located in the lounge and can be adjusted to meet your personal requirements.
Programmer Your programmer is usually located within the boiler itself behind the pull down flap, or on the wall near the boiler. For instructions on how to set the programmer, please refer to the user instructions.
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Radiators There is a radiator in each room. Most radiators have been fitted with a Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV). This TRV is used to control the temperature of each radiator. A small radiator is usually provided in the airing cupboard.
Hot Water In most of our properties, a combi-boiler provides your hot water, and as such no storage tank is required.
Failure Should the heating or controls cease to function or you are not sure about correct operation, turn off the heating system boiler at the boiler thermostat, then switch off the electrical supply at the switch next to the boiler and contact us immediately. If a gas leak is suspected turn off the gas supply at the gas meter and contact NATIONAL GRID on 0800 111 999.
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Before Calling Us Please Check The Following: Problem - Boiler not functioning/firing: • Is there both electric and gas to the boiler (check the gas and electrical meters). • Has there been a power cut? If this is the case, see boiler instructions to re-light the pilot. • Is the programmer set to ON period? • Is the room thermostat set too low? If so, the boiler will not come on. • Has the room temperature been reached? (i.e. the boiler should not need to come on if it has). • Is the pump running?
Problem – Room too cold: • • • •
Are the boiler or room thermostats set correctly? Is the programmer set to ON period? Is the radiator turned on? Is the pump turned on?
Problem – Hot water too hot:
• Is the cylinder thermostat set too high? (If so, turn it to a lower setting or alternatively contact us).
Servicing of your central heating system Servicing is important in order to ensure continuing high efficiency and long life for your boiler. We will arrange a yearly service for your boiler. Please ensure that you allow access to the engineer to ensure that this important work can be undertaken.
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Smoke Detectors Your home has been fitted with smoke detectors which are usually located on the ceiling of the hall and landing. These are usually mains wired with a battery backup. The battery is specific to the smoke alarm and is not suitable for use elsewhere. They are there for your safety. Think about escape routes now!!
The smoke detectors are sensitive to dust and you should periodically remove any dust with the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner. If the detector starts bleeping intermittently, the battery backup inside the detector needs to be changed. Important Test the operation of the smoke detector once every month by pressing the test button hard until the sounder goes off. If the detector fails to test properly, contact us immediately on 029 2025 9100.
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Fixings Be careful when nailing or drilling into floors, walls or ceilings, to avoid contact with any electric cables or pipes which may lie beneath the surface.
NEVER ATTEMPT TO DRILL OR NAIL A FITTING DIRECTLY ABOVE OR BELOW ANY SOCKET OUTLET OR SWITCH. Plasterboard partitions need the correct type of fixings, not just nails. Consult your Building Surveyor for advice if in any doubt. Only lightweight objects (wall mirrors and small pictures) may be fixed to partition walls unless advice is sought from your Building Surveyor.
Sanitary Ware Baths, basins and sinks should be cleaned with recommended products to avoid damaging the surfaces. Do not use scouring or gritty cleaners. Bleach should not be mixed with lavatory powders nor allowed to stand in stainless steel sinks. Do not flush unsuitable items, such as disposable nappies, down the toilet as this may lead to a drains blockage and a recharge.
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