Maintaining Your Home

Caring for your home

Regular cleaning and checking around your home can help prevent serious problems occurring.

Cleaning windows

Wipe down cills to remove condensation puddles

Waste pipes

Clean through sink, bath and basin wastes with a suitable solution from a DIY or general store

Lime scale

Remove lime scale from kettles and taps with a de scaling solution or vinegar

Gullies

Clear any leaves or debris from covers

Hinges and locks

Ease with a little lubricating oil

Roofs

Check whether there are any tiles or slates loose or missing

Gutters and down pipes

Are any leaking or blocked?

Gas appliances

Have they been serviced or had a safety check in the last 11 months?

Taps

Are they dripping or loose?

Checking stop tap and gate valves

Can you turn them freely?

Check for other repairs that we should know about

If you can smell gas:

• Open doors and windows
• Check to see if the gas has been left on unlit or if a pilot light has gone out
• Turn off the gas at the meter
• Don't operate anything electrical including phones and light switches
• Do not use the phone inside your home, not even a mobile, as it may cause a spark which could cause an explosion
• Call 0800 111 999 immediately
• Use a phone outside your home
• Turn off the gas at the mains and open doors and windows
• Do not smoke or use naked flames

Preventing fires

We are fitting smoke detectors in every home. You are responsible for testing and cleaning it regularly to see that it works.

• Don't dry clothes over heaters
• Don't leave the kitchen when using chip pans
• Prevent carbon monoxide fumes
• Keep rooms well ventilated and make sure vents are not blocked or closed
• Buy appliances marked with the British Standard Kite Mark
• Use an approved gas installer to connect and service gas appliances

We carry out a gas safety check once a year on any appliance we have installed

Electrical safety

• Unplug appliances when not in use
• Isolate any faulty switch or socket. Turn off the supply at the consumer unit. Unplug appliances and call us
• Don't touch bare wires or wet fittings. Turn off the supply at the consumer unit
• Don't overload sockets. Use a multi-plug rather than an adapter
• Don't install new electrical fittings, e.g. showers, without our permission