How to identify a repair

Here are some handy tips for treating common repairs in your home. If you have reported the repair this page will also give you some advice on how to remedy the problem until a repair person arrives. 

Handy hints on blockages
Handy hints on leaks to toilets
Handy hints on leaks
Handy hints to restore water
Handy hints to ease/adjust a door/window

• When attempting to clear with a plunger ensure the overflow outlet is covered. 
• Never flush a blocked toilet. 
• A blocked outside gully may simply be a dirty grid, ensure grid is clear. 
• Traps can leak when an appliance is blocked, ensure a bowl is placed underneath any such trap. 
• Do not use hang on type air fresheners on toilet bowls as they are prone to falling inside the bowl and causing a blockage.

• If the flush pipe is leaking, do not flush toilet as this only leaks when flushed. 
• If toilet is leaking from the outlet, wrap an old towel around it until repair can be carried out, this will only leak when flushed. 
• If the cistern itself is leaking turn off the supply if possible. You can do this if an isolating valve is fitted to the pipe work going to the cistern, normally fitted within one metre of the cistern.

• If possible isolate the supply by using the inline valve if fitted. 
• To turn off the supply turn off the stopcock or gatevalve, this is normally found in the airing cupboard or loft. Turn the valve clockwise to turn off. A gate valve is recognised by having a wheel like handle normally coloured black or red. 
• If you suspect a leaking tank, turn off the main supply ( by using the stopcock next to the tank if possible ) turn on all taps, this will empty the tank. This will not affect your hot water tank and will not damage the immersion heater although it is advisable to turn the immersion off. 
• A leaking radiator can be isolated by turning off the valves at each end, you will need to remove the cap at the non turning valve end, and turn this off with an adjustable spanner. 
• A leaking overflow can be contained by turning on one of the taps (not drinking water tap) to just a trickle until a repair can be carried out.

• Check with a neighbour to ensure that you are the only one with no water. 
• If you only have drinking water this could be a sticky ballvalve, if you can access the tank wiggle the ballvalve up and down, old ballvalves are prone to stick from time to time. Once the ballvalve is allowing water back into the tank wait 10 minutes before checking the taps, this will allow the tank time to refill. 
• If you have no water at one tap only, this indicates that a new tap washer could be required. 
• No water to the toilet cistern could indicate a new ballvalve may be required, if possible you can use a bucket of water to flush the toilet until a repair can be carried out. 
• If your tank is full of water but you have no supply to your taps, this could indicate an airlock, place a hose on the drinking water tap, place the other end on one of the affected taps, with both taps open the drinking water should push any air back out the system. As the pressure can be great it is advised that one person is at each end of the hose and that it is firmly attached to the spout of the tap.

• If you find locks and handles on your doors or windows are hard to operate, attempt to free and ease them by using a lubricator and gently ease their movement. If the problem still persists check all screws and fixings are secure and tight. If this does not resolve the problem, contact the repairs service. 
• Do not paint or varnish windows in the closed position. If you paint or varnish them in the open position make sure that it is dry before closing. 

 

If you have a repair that requires urgent attention, please call the emergency repairs line on Freephone 0800 028 2 028.