Household Repairs

HOUSEHOLD REPAIRS you should be able to do WIRING A PLUG The UK mains electricity supply is about 230V and can kill if not used safely. Never attempt to wire a plug while it is inserted in a socket. ... PLUG PINS TOP TIP FUSE Make sure the cable clamp is gripping the outer sleeve of the cable, not the coloured wires. 2) There is an easy way to remember where to connect each wire by taking the second letters of the words blue, brown and striped: CABLE CLAMP • blue = left • brown= right striped = top YOU WILL NEED SMALL TERMINAL PEN CRAFT KNIFE SCREWDRIVER NEUTRAL A mains electricity cable contains three inner wires that are colour coded: EARTH LIVE The three pins are made from brass, and each cable core is made from copper. Both are good conductors of electricity. There is a fuse between the live terminal and the live pin that breaks the circuit if too much current flows. THE PROCESS Hold the cable down the centre of the plug and mark it with a pen just below the cable clamp (this will leave enough spare to trim the cores later). E Make sure the neutral wire is on the left and the live is on the right. Tighten the cable clamp and position the neutral wire beside the neutral pin. Using a craft knife, gently score the surface a Repeat this process for the earth (green/ of the cable all the way round. Be very careful not to cut all the way through as this will damage the inner copper wires. yellow) wire and the live (brown) wire. (7 Strip back 5mm of sleeving from each wire and give the ends a twist ready for A Bend the cable where the score line is to tear it cleanly, and turn over to bend the other way so it tears all the way round. Inspect the inner cable cores to make sure they are intact. termination. O Using a small terminal screwdriver, loosen the screws on the top of the plug pins and insert the wires. Insert the fuse and check the wires will not become crushed when the cover is replaced. Replace the cover and tighten the screw. Loosen the two retaining screws on the bottom of the plug, then feed in the cable. BLEEDING A RADIATOR If a radiator feels cold at the top and warm on the bottom, it is likely that the problem is being caused by trapped air. Bleeding a radiator is a fairly simple, safe and quick process and should be done Once a year to keep your central heating system in good condition. TOP TIP (1) Wrap bare hands in a cloth to shield them from any water that escapes from the radiator. (2) If there are multiple radiators that are cold or lukewarm, there is probably a bigger issue with the heating system. Contact a heating professional. YOU WILL NEED RADIATOR KEY CLOTH SMALL BOWL THE PROCESS Before you bleed a radiator, it's very important to turn off the central heating at the main controls, as this will prevent more air from entering the system. A Insert the bleed key into the valve and carefully turn it anticlockwise. The air trapped in the radiator will begin to escape with a hissing sound. Water will begin to dribble out the valve when the air has escaped. O Find the bleed valve; this usually has a small red handle and is located on one side of the radiator. Tighten the valve back to its original position. Use the cloth to clean up any spills. (3 Place a small bowl underneath the bleed valve to catch any leaking water. This may be very hot. Your radiators should have a radiator bleed key, although these are also available to buy at DIY shops. O Switch the central heating back on. After a couple of hours, check the radiator to ensure that it has an even temperature all over and that no water is leaking from the bleed valve. REPAIRING A LEAKY TAP The drip, drip, drip of a leaky tap is an annoyance that does not need to be endured. Just think of the water that can be saved by fixing it. TOP TIP (1 Put the plug in the sink so that none of the tap parts fall down the plug hole. O Have a selection of washer sizes on hand to ensure that the repair can be competed quickly. YOU WILL NEED SCREWDRIVER ADJUSTABLE SPANNER/ PIPE GRIPS THE PROCESS Check if there is an isolation ball valve on the pipe under the sink. Turn it off by turning the scrow head or handle on the valve so it's at a right angle to the flow of the pipe. If there is no isolation ball valve, turn off the supply at the stopcock. The washer sits in the jumper and is either pressed in place, often over a small button or retained by a nut. If necessary. unscrew the nut holding the washer in place with an adjustable spanner. JUMPER .---- * WASHER O-----J Turn on the tap to drain the remaining water from the pipe. 3) Remove the tap head. 8) Prize out the old washer. Undo the head gear nut with an 4) adjustable spanner or pipe grips. Insert a new washer and push it into the 9) jumper. Reassemble the tap according to previous directions. If it's tight, protect the tap with a cloth 5) and prevent it from rotating whilst undoing the nut. 10 Turn the isolation ball valve back on, or the stopcock if required. Test the tap for any more leaks. 6) Remove the headgear assembly. CLEANING GROUT Discoloured grout can make any wall or floor look dirty, even when it has just been cleaned. A simple selection of ingredients can banish stains and make grout gleam. TOP TIP To lift extra-dark stains, squeeze lemon juice onto the stain, let it soak in, then scrub, wipe clean and let the grout dry. Use lemon juice sparingly, since it can damage some tile finishes. Bleaching agents like chlorine bleach can discolour and harm the coloured grout. Fortunately, oxygenated bleach does not contain corrosive chemicals and is safe to use on all grout. YOU WILL NEED NO HARSH FUMES NON-TOXIC COLOUR AND FABRIC-SAFE ШШ WARM WATER OXYGENATED BLEACH TOOTHBRUSH (OLD) LEMON TOWEL GROUT SEALER THE PROCESS Clean the surface thoroughly. removing any residue or debris. Let the grout dry fully. 4 Wipe clean, then let dry. Dissolve two tablespoons of oxygenated bleach in two cups of warm water. Wet the brush in the mixture and apply it to the grout. Spray the tiles and grout with an eco-friendly cleaning spray and wipe them clean. Let the grout dry fully before deciding whether this is sufficient. Damp grout looks darker than dry grout, so patience at this stage can save time and effort. Let it soak in, and then scrub the grout in a circular motion, which will loosen the stain. The solution may be applied Apply grout sealer after the grout has fully dried to avoid any future stains. Be sure to reapply it each year. multiple times as it soaks in. :--..