Handy hits

Even if you don't have great DIY skills, you may be able to sort out common household problems without calling SPH Housing's Contact Centre:

Condensation and how to avoid it
Changing a tap washer
Heating issues

Condensation

There is always some moisture in the air, even if you cannot see it. If the air gets colder it cannot hold all the moisture and tiny drops of water appear. This is condensation. You notice it when you see your breath on a cold day, or when the mirror mists over when you have a bath.

Condensation occurs mainly during cold weather, whether it is raining or dry. It does not leave a 'tidemark'. It appears on cold surfaces and in places where there is little movement of air. Look for it in corners, on or near windows, in or behind wardrobes and cupboards. It often forms on north-facing walls.

How to avoid condensation

The following steps will help you reduce the condensation in your home.

Produce less moisture

Some ordinary daily activities produce a lot of moisture very quickly.

Cover pans and do not leave kettles boiling
Avoid using paraffin and portable flue less bottled gas heaters as these heaters put a lot of moisture into the air
Dry washing outdoors on a line, or put it in the bathroom with the door closed and the window open or fan on
Vent any tumble dryer on the outside, unless it is the self-condensing type. DIY kits are available for this.

Ventilate to remove moisture

You can ventilate your home without making draughts.

Keep a small window ajar or a trickle ventilator open when someone is in the room
Ventilate kitchens and bathrooms when in use by opening the windows wider or, better still, by running your extractor fan
Close the kitchen and bathroom doors when these rooms are in use, even if your kitchen or bathroom has an extractor fan. This will help prevent moisture reaching other rooms, especially bedrooms, which are often colder and more likely to get condensation
Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes. Avoid putting too many things in them as this stops the air circulating. Cut a ventilation slot in the back of each shelf or use slatted shelves. Cut 'breather' holes in doors and in the back of wardrobes and leave space between the back of the wardrobe and the wall. Where possible, position wardrobes and furniture against internal walls.

Some words of warning

Do not block permanent ventilators
Do not completely block chimneys. Instead, leave a hole about two bricks in size and fit a louvered grille over it
Do not draught proof rooms where there is condensation or mould
Do not draught proof a room where there is a cooker or a fuel burning heater, for example, a gas fire
Do not draught proof windows in the bathroom and kitchen.

First steps against MOULD

First treat any mould you may already have in your home. If you then deal with the basic problem of condensation, mould should not reappear.
To kill and remove mould, wipe down walls and window frames with a fungicidal wash, which carries a Health and Safety Executive 'approval number'. Follow the manufacturer's instructions precisely. Dry-clean mildewed clothes and shampoo carpets. Disturbing mould by brushing or vacuum cleaning can increase the risk of respiratory problems.
After treatment, redecorate using a good quality fungicidal paint to help prevent mould recurring. Note that this paint is not effective if overlaid with ordinary paints or wallpaper.

Changing a tap washer

If your tap keeps dripping when turned off this is a sign that the washer needs changing - this is your responsibility and SPH Housing can not do it for you.

Follow these step-by-step instructions and you should find the task much simpler than you thought!

You will need

Replacement washer: these come in two sizes - 13 mm for wash basins and sinks, or 20mm for baths

Adjustable spanner

Pliers

Screwdriver

Before doing anything, turn the water off at the stopcock! This is normally either under your kitchen sink or in the airing cupboard, depending on which tap is dripping.

Most taps are basically similar inside, and incorporate:

1 Cross handle, 2 Spindle, 3 Gland nut, 4 Dome or cover, 5 Jumper and washer

Step 1

To get at the inside of a tap, remove the handle. If you have a cross type, undo a small screw in its side and lift it off. If it is a deep knob, poke out the little plug at its centre and undo the screw under it so the knob can be lifted off.

Step 2

Remove the shield - you will find it is screwed on and is often only hand tight. Grip it through a piece of cloth and take it off. Some shields have flat surfaces on them to unscrew with a spanner.

Step 3

Unscrew the hexagonal gland nut so the inside of the tap can be removed.

Step 4

The washer is on a metal jumper and is usually held with a small nut. Remove the jumper, hold the metal part with pliers and undo the small nut with a spanner. Make sure any particles of the old washer are cleaned away before fitting a new one.

Step 5

Fit new washer, tighten nut and re-assemble tap

Heating

Safety

If you suspect a gas leak, contact the Gas Company immediately. Tel: 0800 111 999

Type of system

Check whether your heating system uses gas, electricity, or solid fuel and whether it is an individual system or a communal one.

Gas central heating systems need electricity for the pump and controls so power cuts or electrical problems can affect them.

Electrical problems

Check whether you have electricity to other appliances.
Check whether you have a credit meter and whether it is in credit.
Check whether a fuse has blown or a trip switch has been activated
If there is a complete power failure, check whether your neighbours are affected. If so contact the Electricity Company.

General heating problems

Check whether your thermostat is turned up and, if an individual heating system, that the programmer is set to come on at correct times.
Check whether the pilot light is lit on central heating boilers. If not, try relighting it.

Radiator problems (gas central heating)

If one radiator is not heating up, check whether it is turned on and, if it has a thermostatic valve, whether that is turned up high enough.

Bleeding a radiator

Radiator may need bleeding, especially if the bottom of the radiator is warm but the top is cold.

Hot Water

General

If you do not already know, check whether dwelling is heated by gas or electricity
If your property has gas central heating then the hot water will be heated by gas (although there may also be a back up electric immersion heater)
If your property does not have gas central heating then the water may be heated by electricity (an immersion heater) or by a gas water heater.

Gas

Check whether the central heating programmer is correctly set to call for hot water at the expected times. It must, for example, be reset when the clocks go forward and back.

If the room heating is by gas but you do not have a hot water cylinder (usually in an airing cupboard) then the hot water will come straight from the boiler (called a combination boiler)

Electric

Check that any prepayment meter has not run out of credit
Check that the controls are set properly