Frequently Asked Repair Questions

Please see below some help and advice to help you take care of your home.

My home is damp - what can I do?

If left untreated, damp can cause mould on walls and furniture. There's always some moisture in the air, even if you can't see it. If the air gets colder, it can't hold all the moisture and tiny drops of water appear. This is condensation.

Condensation isn't the only cause of damp. It can also come from:

leaking pipes, waste and overflows
rain penetrating gaps in the brickwork, roof, window frames, and around doors.
rising damp due to a faulty damp proof course.

If your home is damp for any of these reasons it may take weeks of heating and ventilation to dry out. You also need to tackle the cause of the problem to stop it coming back and damaging your home even more.

How can I get rid of mould?

Wipe down walls and window frames with a fungicidal wash - make sure it carries a Health and Safety Executive approval number. Follow the instructions carefully. Dry-clean mildewed clothes and shampoo carpets.

After treatment, redecorate using a good quality fungicidal paint. Don't paint over with ordinary paints or wall papers.

Top tips to beat condensation

1. Produce less moisture

Some ordinary daily activities produce a lot of moisture very quickly. So to help produce less moisture, try to

cover pans and don't leave kettles boiling
do not use paraffin or portable bottle gas heaters
dry washing outdoors if you can
vent tumble dryers to the outside of your home

2. Ventilate to remove moisture

keep a small window slightly open or use a ventilator if you have one, when someone is in the room
open kitchen and bathroom windows to let steam out - use the extractor fan if you have one
close kitchen and bathroom doors when the rooms are in use, even if you have an extractor fan, to stop moisture reaching other rooms
don't put too many things in wardrobes and cupboards - it stops the air circulating
don't block ventilators or chimneys

3. Insulate, draught proof and heat your home

Keep your home warm, and help cut fuel bills. When the whole home is warmer, condensation is less likely. So:

insulate your loft - but don't block the openings or under the eaves
in cold weather, keep the heating on low all day - even when there's no one at home
draught-proof windows and doors - but get rid of mould and condensation first. Don't draught-proof bathrooms, kitchens or rooms with a cooker or gas fire.

I'm worried the cold weather may cause my pipes to burst. What can I do?

Winter weather can burst your pipes and ruin your home. Follow these tips to keep the warmth in and the plumber out!

Freeze out trouble: when it's icy outside keep your pipes warm to avoid bursts

Find your stopcock - the tap that turns off the main water supply. Find it now! It's probably in the kitchen near the sink.

If you have central heating use the thermostat to keep the temperature comfortable. During the day a good setting is between 18°C and 22°C. If it's freezing outside set the heating to stay on continuously, but turn the thermostat lower for the night. Remember, the higher the thermostat the more fuel you use.

If you've got central heating and you're away in cold weather, leave the heating on continuously with the thermostat right down to 6°C. This will stop your pipes freezing, but it won't cost much. If you haven't got central heating turn the water off at the stopcock and drain off all the cold water. Then turn off the immersion heater. If you have a solid fuel boiler, let the fire die out. Then drain off all the hot water.

What do I do if my pipes burst?

Turn the water supply off at the stopcock tap. It's probably near the kitchen sink.
Turn the cold taps ON. Make sure the sink and bath plugs are out. And save some water for drinking.
Turn the immersion heater and central heating OFF if you have them. If you have a solid fuel boiler, let the fire die out.
Turn the hot taps ON.
If there's water near the lights or sockets, turn the electricity off at the meter.
Catch leaks in basins and soak up water with towels to prevent water damaging your home.
Phone Twin Valley Repairline on 01254 269 100 or Text 07781 47 27 11
Keep warm and dry