Emergency Services

 If homeowners pay special attention to safety and local building regulations, it is possible to wire a room with lights and sockets for electricity yourself. Tackling do-it-yourself projects like this requires careful planning and the right tools. Working with electricity carries the inherent risk of injury and fire, so make sure you have thoroughly researched the process before tackling it. Getting started Check local regulations and building codes Before you start, make sure you comply with local building regulations and use the correct materials for your work. In addition, many regions require permits or licensed electricians for major electrical work. Check compliance with local rules and regulations. Planning the layout Decide in advance where to place lighting and sockets and mark them appropriately. When determining lighting and socket requirements, consider the size and use of the room you are wiring. Install electrical boxes Once you have determined where to place the socket

 Besides helping you stay fresh and clean, the best part of a shower is the water pressure. It helps relieve stress, reduces aches and pains and gives a fantastic feeling. What is not pleasant is when the pressure suddenly drops to a trickle for no apparent reason. The reality is that there is usually an obvious reason for low water pressure. Here are the main factors that can cause low toilet water pressure and how to solve them: Check the water pressure regulator   The pressure regulator is a valve that ensures that the water entering the house is not so pressurised that it damages the pipes. If the valve is not working properly, the plumbing may not work. If this is the case and you hear a thumping sound inside the walls, the pressure regulator is the likely culprit. The pressure regulator is usually located at the point where the main water line enters the house. Replacing the water pressure regulator is best left to professionals. A licensed plumber can find the correct brand and

  YOU HEAR A HISSING SOUND Whether you live in a brand new house or a century old one, your plumbing can make a multitude of noises, from clanking to gurgling and more. Whistling is usually a sign that a valve is not closing properly somewhere in the plumbing system: homeowners often notice the sound in the toilet tank or coming from the water heater. If the sound is coming from the toilet, put a couple of drops of food colouring in the tank, then observe the bowl to see if the colour is coming out of the water. If so, it is a leak. YOU NOTICE MOULD, MILDEW OR OTHER SIGNS OF WATER DAMAGE Mould and mildew develop due to excessive moisture, humidity and standing water, so if there is a leak in your home that causes one of these, mould and mildew are a sure sign. You should also look at dark stains on the ceiling (especially if they are getting bigger), wallpaper that is peeling, paint that is peeling or floors that are warping: any of these things could be caused by water damage from a

 If a leak occurs in an upstairs bathroom, it is important to locate the source of the leak and stop the flow of water as soon as possible. Otherwise, your home will be at risk of serious water damage. When a water leak occurs from the floor of an upstairs bathroom and you are not sure where it came from, you should check three plumbing systems: the toilet, the tub/shower and the sink. WHAT TO CHECK IN EACH SYSTEM: Toilet - The seal between the toilet and the floor is called a wax ring. A defective or worn wax ring can allow water to leak into the subfloor and ceiling every time you flush. Symptoms of a defective wax ring are water on the floor near the base of the toilet and an unpleasant smell of sewer gas. If you do not see water on the floor around the toilet, it is possible that a leakage around the wax ring is causing water to leak directly into the subfloor. Shower - If the leakage occurs while the water is running, the problem is probably a damaged tile in the shower or the

 Faucets are one of the essentials of a home, used for everything from cleaning dishes to washing hands. However, as they are among the most used appliances in a home, it is not surprising that some of their parts become loose or deteriorate quickly. This can lead to the dreaded dripping faucet . Hearing this constant sound is annoying enough, not to mention the fact that all the leaking water is money that literally goes down the drain. It is important to take the right measures not only to stop the leak, but also to repair it once and for all. ASSEMBLE THE NECESSARY TOOLS To tackle the job yourself, you will first have to gather all the materials needed to repair the leaking tap. Typically, a leak occurs when the washer or seat assembly needs to be replaced because the faucet cannot create a strong enough seal to counteract the water pressure. You will most likely need a flathead screwdriver, an adjustable spanner, replacement washers and O-rings. These items are readily available at

  Electricity is an essential resource that has become an integral part of our lives. We are so dependent on electricity that it is impossible to imagine even one day without it. Lighting, cooling, heating or recharging our household appliances: suffice it to say that electricity does it for us. However, in the midst of all these benefits, we forget that, if not managed correctly, this extraordinary resource can potentially cause injury. Therefore, it becomes essential to take some safety measures to keep your home and office safe. Here are some electrical safety tips to follow to avoid the risks of electrical damage : Install safety switches If you are going to renovate your home, keeping the same old electrical circuits is never a complete renovation. It is a good time to call an electrician and have safety circuit breakers installed on the main electrical panel. If your home is equipped with ceramic wire fuses, switching to safety circuit breakers will protect you and your family fr

 Plumbing is one that you don't think much about until a fault occurs. Then you realise how essential plumbing is to maintaining the quality of life you have become accustomed to. Everyone has plumbing problems from time to time; even if the job has been done well, there are many chances for things to go wrong. This is due to the multiplicity of elements and factors involved in plumbing.  Pressure problems This is easily the most common problem people face when it comes to plumbing. The reason why this problem is so common is that it can be caused by several factors. Perhaps one of the pipes is leaking. Perhaps a washer has come loose. There could be something stuck in the filter. The fact that there are so many different problems that all cause a reduction in pressure makes the problem more difficult to diagnose for anyone but an experienced plumber. Do not entrust your plumbing to an amateur, as he or she could end up damaging all the pipes in the house. Dirty water If the water

 When was the last time you flushed your water heater? If the answer is more than a year or, worse, never, it is time to give the tank a clean. Removing old water and accumulated mineral deposits is one of the few maintenance requirements for the water heater. Here are five important reasons why it is necessary to flush the water heater about once a year. More efficient heating Calcium and magnesium build-up in the water heater can affect the efficiency of the appliance. Heating the water may require more energy. If you have not flushed the tank for a long time, you may notice that the water is not as hot as before. You may also notice a difference in your gas or electricity bill, as more energy may be required to heat the water. Sediment can cause slower heating When sediment accumulates in the tank of a water heater, it creates an insulating layer between the water and the heating element. This means that the water takes longer to heat up. If you run out of hot water, the water heat

  Check if the vent is damaged When drains are not working properly, it is likely that there is a problem with the vent. This vent is a system that allows air to push waste down as it flows through the pipes. When it gets clogged, the drains slow down or even stop working. Sometimes what might look like a clog is actually a damaged vent pipe. Pipes protrude from the roof and wind, falling branches or pieces of ice can break the PVC pipe. Before attempting to remove a clog , check that the pipe is still solid. Position the ladder against the building Using a ladder, place it against the building close to where you will be working on the drain pipe. Make sure that the ladder is properly anchored and that there is someone to hold the bottom as you climb up. Position of the ladder on the roof If your roof has a steep slope, you will need to use a roof ladder to be able to work without worrying about falling. Before climbing onto the roof, tie a rope to the top rung of the roof ladder. Usin

  Types of tub drain The first thing to do is to determine the type of bathtub drain you intend to work with. Once this is done, you can move on to the more specific aspects of the job. To find out which type of bathtub drain you are working with, you will need to look for a release lever. This is a sealing mechanism that stops the water. It is located just above the actual drain. Other types of drains include pedal drains that lift and turn and ball drains. The lift-and-turn drain, as the name implies, requires the actual drain to be lifted and turned. Foot and ball drains require the drain to be pushed down. Pipe installation Whichever type of drain you buy, it more than likely comes with the necessary parts to do the job. It is necessary to purchase a set of PVC pipes. This is a tub drain kit. The longest part of the kit rod will be used to connect the drain plug to the fitting. The entire assembly will be inserted into the actual overflow pipe. Make sure you know the overall lengt

  Do not test voltage    Even if you turn off the electrical circuit, you must use a voltage tester to be 200% sure that everything is off before you start work. You can buy a voltage tester at any home improvement shop.  Do not use GFCI sockets near water Simply put, water and electricity don't mix. This is why it is important to install GFCI (ground fault circuit interruption) sockets in rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom. GFCI sockets protect you and your family from electric shocks by interrupting the power supply when they detect an overheating or power failure .  For example, if you drop a hairdryer into a sink full of water, the GFCI will detect the change in current and cut the power. GFCI sockets can be difficult to install and only provide protection if they are installed correctly.  Reversal of hot and neutral wires Also known as reverse polarity, this is one of the most dangerous mistakes homeowners make. The mistake occurs when homeowners reverse hot and neutral wi

 What are the most common reasons for a hot socket? Socket overload It is possible that the socket draws too much power due to too many connected appliances. Unplug the plug and let the socket cool down before using it again. Circuit overload While it is true that excessive demand on a socket can overheat that socket, it is also possible that too much power is being drawn from the entire circuit. To remedy this problem, an electrician may have to rewire the circuits so that there are fewer plugs per circuit. Short circuit A short circuit occurs when two wires touch. This not only makes the plug hot to the touch, but can be hot enough to leave burn marks and melt the surrounding plastic. The possibility of fire is high in the event of a short circuit and should be dealt with immediately by a professional electrician. Damaged or loose wires As a home's wiring ages, it is possible for wires or terminals inside a socket to become loose or frayed, allowing heat to build up due to elect

 Carry out routine home electrical inspections Homeowners should periodically check their home's electrical system. Inspect all the things you can see in every room of your home to make sure they are working properly, including: Plugs and switches work and plugs fit perfectly into sockets. Sockets fit perfectly in the wall Bulbs match the wattage of the lamps. Fuses are plugged in and not broken Large appliances are plugged into wall outlets, not into extension cords or surge protectors Wires and cables are not damaged or crushed No electrical appliances or cables come into contact with water. Know the warning signs of potential problems If you know the warning signs of electrical problems in your home, you can avoid many problems before they become disasters. If you notice any of the following signs, call a professional electrician to fix the problem as soon as possible. Buzzing noises from electrical appliances, lamps, wiring or walls Heat from switches, sockets or ceiling ligh

 Sometimes homeowners do not realise the importance of plumbing until a plumbing problem occurs. Plumbing emergencies are more common than people think and can have a devastating impact on important structures in the home, such as furniture and even health.  Blocked toilet If you have tried all the right things to unblock a toilet without success, you may have one of the most common plumbing emergencies on your hands. Blockages that are difficult to remove are often caused by foreign objects, such as toys or too much toilet paper at once.  Blocked sink Another candidate for the most common plumbing emergencies is the blocked sink. Just like its bathroom counterpart, sinks usually get blocked when we use them for other than their intended purpose. If the pipes are full of potato peels and onions, the water can only flow back into the sink. Burst pipes Burst pipes are plumbing emergencies that require immediate action. If you have a pipe that has burst, it is important to shut off the w

  As a homeowner or as a viewer of old detective movies, you probably know that water and electricity don't mix. What you may not know is that modern domestic electrical sockets are specifically designed to protect you and your property from electrical accidents.  Sockets in the bathroom and kitchen, or anywhere else where electricity and moisture are in close proximity, are ground fault circuit interrupters (or GFCIs) and are equipped with 'test' and 'reset' buttons. What exactly does this mean and what are these buttons used for? What is a GFCI? First of all, let's look at what GFCIs are. In our article GFCIs or AFCIs: what they are and which is the right one for you, we went into more detail.  The basic thing to know is that electric current always follows the path of least resistance to earth. When electricity deviates from its intended path because it finds a better conductor, such as water, a GFCI device protects against an earth fault. It does this by aut

  If you have ever had an electrical appliance stop working right in the middle of its use, you know how frustrating it can be to have electrical problems in your home. Electrical faults can be caused by something as simple as a tripped circuit breaker or as complex as faulty or outdated wiring. Electrical troubleshooting is a carefully planned elimination process that helps determine the root cause of a problem. Because a home's electrical wiring system is complicated, an electrician may be needed to solve the problem. However, if you want to try to find the source of the problem yourself, there are some simple techniques and questions you can ask to solve the electrical problem. Remember: safety first! Always make sure that you are not confronted with live wires. 1. Does the device work?  First of all, make sure that the device is connected or that the bulb is not burnt out. Plug another working object into the socket to check if there is current. 2. Is the problem local or wide

 Prepare Start by shutting off the water to the mains in the house, rather than simply turning off the tap. Locate the main switch and turn it off, then run water through the tap until it dries. This will prevent fountains from forming when the tap is turned on. Close the tap again. Accessing the valve unit Before any other operation, insert the filter or plug into the drain. This will prevent small parts of the kitchen sink tap from flowing down the drain and being lost. Next, it is necessary to remove the decoration from the top of the leaky sink tap. You need to pry it off with a flathead screwdriver or a knife. Set it aside to put it back on later. You will now be able to see the fixing nut, which will have to be loosened with the adjustable spanner. Use adhesive tape on the jaws of the spanner to avoid scratching the sink tap. Turn the spanner anti-clockwise until the retaining nut is removed and set it aside. Now you have reached the valve. Using the spanner, pull the valve out o

 Installation of non-watertight insulation Step 1 - Installing gravel and plastic sheeting First, place 7.5 cm of gravel at the bottom of a 75 cm trench. Then, line the trench with heavy plastic sheeting. Step 2 - Install foam board insulation Cut the rigid foam insulation into 30 cm wide strips. Lay several of these strips, to a depth of 10 cm, over the plastic sheeting. Next, lay the water pipes on top of the insulation. Add insulation, again to a depth of 10 cm, on both sides of the water pipes.  Step 3 - Tape the sheet Fold the plastic sheeting so that the sides completely cover the insulation and tape it down. Next, use another 60 cm wide piece of plastic sheeting and wrap it around the top of this package. Tape the edges along the sides of the insulated package to prevent moisture from penetrating it. Step 4 - Filling the trench with soil Finally, fill the trench with soil. Although this method of insulation works well, remember that if water penetrates the trench, it will seep i

  Wondering how to keep your home electrically safe this winter? As the cold months arrive, we tend to consume more electricity. Limited sunlight, shorter days and cold temperatures make us spend most of our time indoors. All this leads to greater electricity use, thus creating more electrical risks . It is necessary to prepare the house for the cold winter days. Some electrical problems can cause serious problems in winter. Therefore, care must be taken when it comes to electrical work. Hiring a professional electrician can give you the peace of mind of knowing that everyone in your home is safe during the winter. A reliable electrical service is all you need to keep your electrical system working at its best. Here are some key tips for keeping your home electrically safe. Tip No. 1 - Additional power sockets As already mentioned, the need for electricity is greater in winter. This means that you may end up overloading your existing sockets. Therefore, call in an experienced electrici

  Having electricity certainly increases your quality of life, but do you know what you should do about electrical maintenance ? Home security is definitely one of the most important tasks for homeowners. Home should be the safest place in the world for your family, and therefore everything that contributes to home security should take priority. One of the main steps towards home security is electrical maintenance. You must always make sure that electrical connections are free of defects. Faulty electrical connections have become the main cause of fires all over the world. If connections are bad, electronic gadgets and appliances can also be damaged. It is necessary to look for signs that signal a problem in the electronic connections in the house. There are particular signs of possible problems with electrical services that may force you to request an electrical repair. Re-wiring or checking the electrical service should be done by a professional electrician . These are some of the si

  Do you have a leaking pipe in your house? Don't panic. Although pipe leaks can be serious, there are some things you can do to minimise the damage and solve the problem quickly. In this article, we will explain what you should do if you notice a pipe leak and how a licensed plumber can help you. Turn off the water supply If you notice a leak in your home, it is important to shut off the water supply. Depending on where the leak is located in the home, there may be a shut-off valve for that particular appliance and/or pipe. If not, the water supply must be shut off at the main shut-off valve. It is best to know the location of your home's main shutoff valve before an emergency occurs. This way, you can close it quickly in the event of an emergency. Dry and protect the area After closing the main water line, try to dry out the water. You can also place a basin or bucket under the leak to collect residual water. Also be sure to carefully remove any electronic devices and/or val

  If an electrical socket emits buzzing or sparks, the problem must be corrected immediately to avoid the possibility of an electrical fire. Although correcting this type of problem in sockets is a fairly simple operation, it is one that should not be put off.  Worn contact blades If, when connecting a device, the socket emits a buzzing or sparking noise, this is a good sign that there is a problem with the contact blades inside the socket. Over time, the blades holding the poles of the electrical plug may wear out or loosen. If this happens, go to the main switch box and turn off the circuit that powers the socket. To check that it is not the device itself, you can try plugging another device into the outlet. If the plug is not secure or if it falls out again, the problem is with the socket and not with the electronic device. There are some types of sockets that allow you to tighten the contact slats within the socket assembly. However, in most cases, it is much easier and safer to r

  When installing a new sink or replacing a tap , the plumbing connected to the kitchen sink drain must also be changed. Replacing kitchen sink plumbing is simpler than you might think and usually takes about an hour. Using some basic household tools, you can replace the pipes and water pipes under the kitchen sink in no time at all.  Turn off the water First, shut off the water supply going to the kitchen sink. You need to locate the valves. They are usually located under the water lines leading to the hot and cold water taps. Turn the valve handles to the right. Empty the water pipes Release the water from the hot and cold water taps by opening them so that the water still in the pipes can drain out of the lines. The flow should decrease and eventually stop. If this does not happen, it means that the water has not been shut off completely. Disconnecting the water pipes Using the adjustable spanner, remove the hot and cold water pipes from the tap. Then repeat the operation for both w

 If there is a leak under the bathroom sink, there is probably a problem with the supply connector. The connector is the piece of pipe that connects the tap to the hot and cold water supply. Leakage can be caused by several factors, which must be determined promptly to solve the problem. Below is a guide on how to solve the problem yourself. Leak inspection Turn off the tap, but not the water supply. Under the sink, check where the leak is coming from. It can be directly under the tap or the handles. If the leak does not come from any of these points, it may come from the connection between the connector and the water supply lines. Close the water supply Close the water shutoff valve located under the bathroom sink or next to it. Never work on the connections under the sink if the water supply is still on. If the shut-off valve is blocked, shut off the water supply to the entire house. Repairing the leak If the leakage occurs where the water supply lines are connected, try tightening

  There are many reasons why you might be looking for another bathroom sink. Perhaps it has started to show signs of wear and tear. Removing a chipped, cracked or simply outdated bathroom sink can be a time-consuming process for an amateur, but once you have mastered the basics, it will no longer seem so daunting. This is a job you can do yourself. With the right tools and this guide, you will be able to replace your bathroom sink. Measures To replace a bathroom sink, the first and most important requirement is to get the measurements right. To begin with, measure the bathroom sink in length, width and depth. Measure the worktop to check the dimensions of the area on which the sink will rest. Turn off the water Before replacing the bathroom sink , you will need to cut off the water supply to the sink. You will have to remove the tap and the drain so that water does not enter the system. Disconnect the pipes Disconnect the plumbing from the existing sink. Before removing it, make sure t

  Toilet tank leaks can cause a very annoying hissing sound that continues even after flushing. If you hear such a noise coming from the toilet tank even when it is not in use, it means that your toilet has a leak somewhere. If water from the tank drips into the bowl, there is probably a problem with the flush valve. Step 1 - Lid Remove the lid from the toilet tank so that you can see inside. Step 2 - Water Before proceeding, locate the isolation valve under the toilet pipe and turn off the water. Flush the toilet to expel the water in the tank. After shutting off the water, the tank will not fill up. Step 3 - Flush valve Watch carefully as the water descends through the flush valve as you flush the toilet. The discharge pipe below is the pipe where the water flows back into the tank. Above it, you should see a rubber ring and a valve that fits into the hole at the bottom of the tank. Remove the drain valve and check the rubber washer. It may have shrunk, which is partly the cause of

 Water and electrical equipment do not get along well, so if you want to protect your electrical cable from water damage, you need to know the best way to waterproof it. To waterproof an electric cable, three methods are available. You can waterproof electrical cables with a liquid tape, with a self-fusing silicone tape, or with heat shrink tubing. Cable waterproofing involves working outside, on the roof, and inside, near the electronic units. Switching off the power Whenever working on electrical equipment, the power must first be switched off. This is a basic safety precaution that helps prevent electrocution . If you do not know how to switch off the power, the process is quite simple. First, you need to locate the circuit breaker box in your home. This is usually a silver box full of circuit breakers that is located in an electrical room, a maintenance closet or a garage. All the switches in the box should be labelled so that you know which switches cut the current to which room.

  As a homeowner, sooner or later you will find yourself needing or wanting to replace an outdoor tap. It may be because one of your taps is leaking or because you have another tap that suits your aesthetic tastes better. But when the time comes to replace the tap, you will either have to hire someone to do the job, or you can do it yourself. If you choose the latter solution, you will need some tips, such as those below. Turn off the water To stop the potential flow of water that will occur when you work on your tap, you will need to find the main valve that shuts off the water. Most probably, this valve is located near the street. You may need a long, specialised spanner to reach the valve. Once the valve is closed, drain the water remaining in the pipe by opening one of the water taps. Remove the existing tap It is necessary to unscrew the tap from the water pipe that feeds it. To do this, it is necessary to keep the pipe from rotating. It will most likely only be possible to do thi

 Locating the toilet leak If there is water on the bathroom floor, the toilet leak is due to a defect in the bowl. If, on the other hand, the toilet flows continuously, it is possible that there is a leak in the tank. Lift the lid of the leaking toilet tank and put a few drops of food colouring in the water. Do not flush the toilet. You will see coloured water leaking into the bowl, which will confirm your suspicions that the leaking toilet is due to a problem in the tank. A leaky toilet It is extremely rare that the porcelain toilet bowl has cracked. If this is the case, it will be necessary to replace the entire leaky toilet bowl. However, it is more likely that the seal that joins the base of the bowl to the flush throat is defective. In this case, it is possible to repair the leaking toilet bowl by interrupting the water supply and cleaning the surfaces to be joined. Simply replace the sealant and wait for it to set before restoring the water supply. Toilet leakage from the tank I

 Electricity is an impressive thing if you stop and think about it. It is truly amazing how man has developed this unique power system. Yet it remains an incredibly delicate and dangerous system.  Signs of trouble There are a few simple things to look for when trying to determine if the power socket is faulty or broken. The first, of course, is external evidence that the socket might be broken. The front of the socket is made of plastic, so it can crack or chip over time. Also, if the socket looks burnt or has burn marks on it, it is time to change it. In addition to the visual problems of a socket, there are a few things to look out for when connecting an appliance or light. Inside each 'slot' of the socket are two pieces of copper between which the tips of the electrical cable slide when plugged in.  Switching off the power The first step when replacing an electrical component is always to turn off the power to the socket at the main panel switch. Turn on the voltage tester a

  Toilet bowl If the wax or other material used to seal the base of the toilet bowl is defective, a leak can occur and the bathroom floor can become damp. Before attempting this repair, the water supply to the toilet must be turned off. Once the system is dry, remove the bowl and clean the pipe. Then put the bowl back in and close it carefully. If the seal is in place and the bowl continues to leak, it is possible that there is a crack in the porcelain. This is extremely unlikely. In this case, however, repairing the toilet is impossible and the entire bowl will have to be replaced. Toilet tank The most common toilet repair problem is a continuously flowing tank caused by a leak somewhere in the tank. The best way to check if your toilet is suffering from this toilet repair problem is to put a few drops of food colouring into the tank and see if the water in the bowl turns the same colour. If the water in the cup contains the food colouring, it means that there is a leak. Spare parts