Hints

Handy Hints Section

"a stitch in time..." - avoid having to wait

Drains and water

Type Of Problem	Possible Causes	You Can Try	Who Can Help
Toilets	Items down the loo, such as personal hygiene items, loo rolls or toys etc.	Put personal hygiene items in a bin, avoid letting anything other than loo paper go down	Our plumbers will unblock WCs. Report the problem early to the Housing Repairs Call Centre on 635100 before it gets worse!
Toilets	Unforeseen fault with the WC, such as a broken part of it.	None.	Request that a inspector visits before the plumber calling. Report early!
Bathroom sinks and baths	Possibly can be caused by a build up of soap and hair down the plughole.	Fit a small plug hole cover to catch hair etc. Try using a plunger to clear.	We will unblock plug holes, but on a 'B' category, as a 'Right To Repair'. Ask the Housing Repairs call Centre on 635100 for details
Burst water pipe		Turn off the water at the stop valve. Switch off the central heating system. Switch off the electricity at the mains. Switch off any water heaters. Turn on all taps to sinks and baths to drain all the water from the pipes.	Contact the Housing Repairs Call Centre on 635100 to report the problem.
Kitchen waste gully	Possibly food/ oil products/build up of soil or leaves.	As above, and if possible clear any surface obstructions using a mop or plunger	Ring the Housing Repairs Call Centre on 635100, usually a 'B' category repair
Blocked / overflowing inspection chamber	Could be related to waste from property including unsuitable objects put down WC, or could be broken pipes	Avoid flushing WC or running taps until it has been tended to	Ring the Housing Repairs Call Centre on 635100, it is 'A' category repair or ring Emergency Repairs (521500) if out of hours. If its a break in the sewer pipe repair may take longer.
Blocked gutter or rainwater gully	Could be caused by build up of soil of leaves.	Fit a drainpipe cover around lower neck of pipe to enclose gully area.	Contact the Housing Repairs Call Centre on 635100, possibly will need an inspection. Job usually under "C" category.
Highway or pavement flooding	Road gullies silted up	None	Contact 01792 843330

Damp and condensation

-These causes of damp often leave a tidemark around your walls. Damp -These causes of damp often leave a tidemark around your walls.	- Leaking pipes, waste or over flows. - Rain seeping through the roof either through where a tile or a slate is missing, spilling from a blocked gutter, penetrating around window frames, or leaking through a cracked pipe. - Rising damp due to a defective damp-course or because there is no damp-course	If your home is newly built then it may be damp because the water used in its construction (i.e. in the plaster) will still be drying out. If your home is damp for any of these reasons then it may take weeks of heating and ventilation for your home to dry out. If you do not think that the damp comes from any of these causes then, the damp will probably be as a result of condensation.	Contact the Housing Repairs Call Centre on 635100 and request an inspection to check for possible causes.
Condensation	Too much moisture in the air within your home causes condensation. When the moist air meets a cold surface such as a wall or window, the air cools down and turns into droplets of water. If this happens regularly mould can start to grow. If your home suffers from this then you should reduce the amount of moist air in your home:	- Covering boiling pans, and not leaving kettles boiling - Drying washing outside where possible. Venting tumble dryers outside - Keeping your home warm. Avoid using paraffin or portable gas heaters. - Ventilating your home when cooking and washing. - In winter, open windows slightly if they are misted up. - Keeping all air vents un-blocked	Get free advice on keeping your home more warm from the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre telephone number 01792 652457 or 0800 1830292.
Mould Growth	Damp and Condensation. If you deal with the basic problem of damp and condensation then the mould should not reappear.	- To remove mould, wipe down walls and windows. Dry-clean any mildewed clothes and shampoo carpets. - Do not brush or vacuum clean the mould away, as this can increase the risk of respiratory problems. - Remember the only way to permanently avoid severe mould growth is to eliminate damp within your home.

Safety In Your Home

Preventing Fires

All our properties are fitted with smoke detectors. You should test them regularly to ensure they are working properly. If your detector is battery-powered replace the batteries on an annual basis. Replacement of smoke alarm batteries is the tenant's responsibility.

Currently, the Department also has a rolling programme to install hard-wired smoke alarms into properties, which means the smoke alarms will work without the need for batteries. Contact your Local District Housing Office to find out when it is likely that your property will be fitted with one.

Before going to bed at night or when you go out:

- make sure all fires are out or have a guard

- make sure all cigarettes are extinguished and don't throw them into bins

- do not dry clothes over heaters

- never leave chip pans unattended

Electrical Safety:

- Unplug appliances when not in use

- use the correct fuses in plugs

- do not use any faulty switch or socket

- do not touch exposed wires

- do not touch wet fittings

- don't overload sockets. Avoid double adapters-use only one appliance at a time in a socket.

Electrical Problems

When you move into a property make sure that you know where the mains switch is, and how to turn off the electricity in an emergency. The mains switch is usually found in a cupboard along with the meter and fuse box or circuit breaker.

Problem	Things You Can Do	Who Can Help
In The Event Of A Fire That You Cannot Control	Close the door of the room where the fire is located. This will help to contain the fire, and prevent the spread of poisonous smoke Warn the other people in the house and leave quickly. Do not stop to collect anything If your exit is cut off, close the door of your room and seal it with either a blanket or rug to prevent the fire or the smoke spreading Call for help from a window Remember your escape route can be cut off very quickly Don't go back into your home for any reason	CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE ON 999
If You Have Switched On A Light / Appliance And Power Fails	Check the trip switches in the consumer unit If one of the switches is at 'off', unplug the appliance or switch off the light and reset the trip switch Switch on the light and plug the appliances back in one at a time to check if one is faulty and tripping the switch	If the switch trips again, contact the Housing Repairs Call Centre on 635100. If you are concerned or unsure about electrical fittings sockets, turn off the electricity and contact the Housing Repairs Call Centre on 635100.
What To Do If You Smell Gas	Open doors and windows to get rid of the gas Check to see if the gas has been left on and unlit or if a pilot light has gone out Turn off the gas at the meter Do not light any matches or lighters Do not use doorbells or other electrical switches	CALL NATIONAL GRID - 0800 111999
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Fumes	Keep rooms well ventilated Make sure vents are not obstructed or closed Sweep chimneys at least once a year Buy officially approved appliances:-marked with the "British Standard Kite Mark" Always use CORGI registered gas installers	Check and service gas appliances regularly: We must, by law, carry out a gas safety check on all appliances once a year. You must allow us into your home to do this check We will service and repair all appliances we have installed. If you want to fit your own gas fittings, you must get permission from your DHO. Remember this is for your safety.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Police, Fire, Ambulance 999

Gas Escapes 0800 111999

Power Failure 0800 0520400

Out Of Hours

Emergency Repairs For Council Tenants 01792 521500

This page last updated on December 7 2007