There are several reasons why you might want to take a central heating radiator off the wall. Maybe you are fed up with struggling to wallpaper behind it or perhaps it is rusty, and you need to replace it. You might find that it no longer gets hot at the bottom even though you bleed […]
Essential Advice and Tips for Replacing a Bathroom Suite Yourself
Most people have enough skills to replace a bathroom suite themselves. Sometimes you do not need a complete overhaul of the room, but the furniture may be past its best, or a horrible colour. Whatever the reason, most people will need new items at some point. I hope you find this guide useful, and it […]
How Clean is Your Water? How to Fit Under-Sink and Whole-House Water Filters (videos)
Whenever we are at home and we are feeling a little thirsty, one of the quickest and simplest things to do is to grab a glass and drink some tap water. After all, the tap water in our homes is clean, and it’s one of the healthiest things we could ever drink, right? Without wanting […]
Plumbing Supplies - What do you Need?
Every homeowner should possess the necessary plumbing tools in order to perform emergency do-it-yourself tasks around the home. Sometimes, there is simply no way to predict when a plumbing project or emergency might arise. And, with the plumbing supplies and knowledge at your disposal, you could very well save hundreds of pounds that you would […]
Electric Shower too Hot or too Cold?
I recently received a call from a friend whose electric shower unit had suddenly stopped working correctly, even though the water flowed it was not reaching temperature, and I assumed the heating elements in the shower water tank must have failed. After testing the elements and checking connections etc, I could not find any fault, other than […]
Replacement Parts for PVC Roof Gutters and Downpipes
Roof gutters need to be cleaned out and in good condition to do the job they were designed for, namely redirecting water from your roof to a drain. If the gutter is blocked or damaged water can build up and / or overflow down walls creating a risk of damp occuring in your property. Fortunately replacing PVC […]
How to Install PVC Gutters and Downpipes
Do you need to install a PVC gutter or downpipe? Read on. This article is for you. Start by measuring the length of guttering and downpipe you need for the project. Make a list of any connectors, stop ends, set angle pieces of gutter, gutter outlets, clips/brackets (usually spaced around 30″ (760mm) apart) and fixings […]
How to Unblock a Toilet
This surprisingly, does not come very high on my favourite DIY jobs to do list, but it is a job that has to be carried out every now and then. Tools required: Plunger, flexible drain spring or chemical solution. Safety tip: Wear rubber gloves when unblocking the toilet, safety goggles too if you are using a chemical drain/toilet […]
Plumbing with Push Fit Fittings
Tools required :- Marker pen and pipe cutter. Push fit fittings are one of the better inventions to come on the DIY market in recent years, the time they save on plumbing installs or repairs is invaluable. You don’t need a blowlamp which takes away the risk of fire or burns, and they can be […]
How to Remove a Radiator
Before removing a radiator, switch off the heating system and allow enough time for the water to cool down. Have a radiator bleed key (fig 1), plenty of old towels/absorbent cloths and a container/tray for water collection to hand. The water and sludge that can come out of a radiator can stain and ruin floors and carpets […]
Why a Radiator Doesn’t get Hot at the Top
If you find that the top half of a radiator is not as hot as the bottom, the cause is most likely to be trapped air in the heating system. This can be easily remedied by bleeding the air from the radiator. Tools required: Radiator bleed key and an old towel or cloth. First of all, […]