Octavia Housing

Handy hints

Sometimes people want to solve simple issues for themselves. We have provided some handy hints below to guide you.  If you are unsure at all, please call us to help you. Do not risk your safety.Fuller advice can be found in your Repairs Handbook.

Blockages

Blockages in basins, sinks or showers are usually caused by the build-up of waste in the trap (cooking oil, fat, tea leaves etc). To stop this happening you should flush wastepipes and traps with hot water regularly and us e a cleaning product at least once a month to clear them (do not use caustic soda as it destroys modern plastic fittings).

If more than one fitting (bath, shower or sink) is blocked, the blockage may be in the soil stack or main drain. This will need to be cleaned by a contractor. Please contact us to arrange this.

Blocked toilets are usually caused by unusual objects (nappies, toys etc). Do not use toilets to get rid of rubbish.

You will need:

• bowl / bucket
• jug or cup
• wet cloth
• plunger
• rubber gloves

To unblock a bath, basin or sink:

• scoop out as much water as possible;
• hold the cloth tightly over the overflow opening;
• place the plunger over the plug hole and pump it up and down quickly.

To unblock a toilet:

• if the pan is already full, take out some of the water using the jug or cup and put it into a bucket;
• push the plunger (or toilet brush) to the bottom of th pan;
• pump it up and down quickly about 10 times. This should shift the blockage;
• flush the toilet to see if the blockage has gone;
• you may need to repeat this process several times before the toilet flushes normally. If there is no improvement, please contact us.

When you have finished, thoroughly wash your hands and all the items you have used.

Resetting a trip switch

If you r lights or power go off your trip switches are not working properly. You can find your trip switches in the consumer unit, which can usually be found near the front or back door.

Modern electric circuits are protected by miniature circuit breakers. If there is a problem with a circuit, one or more of these will trip out and isolate that circuit.

• If there is a problem with one of your electrical appliances, leave it unplugged and get a qualified electrician to check it;
• if there is a problem with a alight, keep it switched off, put some tape over the switch and contact us immediately;
• always make sure your hands are dry when you touch electrical appliances.

Trip switches usually operate because:

• there are too many fittings or appliances on a circuit (you have too many things plugged in to one socket);
• a power leas to an appliance is damaged or badly connected;
• water has leaked to a circuit or split ont a plug;
• a light bulb has blown;
• there is a problem with your immersion heater.

To reset a trip switch:

• open the cover on the consumer unit;
• check which switches have tripped to the OFF position;
• switch off all the lights and appliances on the circuit;
• flick the trip switches back to the ON position.

If the trip goes again:

• This usually means one of your appliances are faulty. You need to find out which circuit is being affected and which appliance on the circuit is causing the problem
• unplug all appliances on the circuit and switch off the immersion heater;
• switch the tripped switch to the ON position;
• plug in one appliance at a time until the trip goes again. Do not use adaptors when testing appliances;
• do not carry on resetting it if it keeps tripping off. Contact us . Do not risk your safety.

Condensation

What is it?

• Condensation can occur in any home. You can prevent it;
• moisture or steam is produced by cooking and washing or drying clothes indoors on radiators;
• this moist air turns into water (condenses) on cool surfaces such as walls, mirrors, windows etc and mould can form.

If mould forms

• wipe it off immediately with water. Do not use washing up liquid or bleach; and 
• apply special solution to the wall. You can get this from a hardware shop or DIY store and always read the instructions.

Control excess moisture

• close kitchen and bathroom doors to prevent steam going into other, colder rooms;
• open kitchen and bathroom windows when cooking or bathing so steam can escape or use an extractor fan if you have one;
• do not use bottled gas heaters – the gas produces a lot of moisture;
• wipe down surfaces where moisture settles to prevent mould forming; and
• never block air vents.

Produce less moisture

• dry clothes outdoors whenever possible;
• cove pans when cooking;
• vent any tumble dryers outside; and
• cover any fish tanks and remember that any houseplants and pets also produce moisture.

Keep your home warm

• reduce places where heat can escape; and
• keep heating on all the time at a low setting when the weather is cold or wet. This does not necessarily cost more than switching it on and off.

Saving energy, water and money - top tips

Use less energy

• Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and typically saves around £55 per year, so turn your thermostat down.
• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
• Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
• If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
• A dripping hot water tap wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so get leaking taps fixed and make sure they're fully turned off!
• Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb.

Saving water

• Turn taps off when cleaning your teeth, shaving or washing your face. You can save up to 9 litres a minute.
• Fix dripping taps. 90 litres a week can be wasted, which will cost a lot more than what might just be the price of a new washer.
• Only use the washing machine and the dishwasher when you can put on a full load.
• Keep cold water in the fridge so you do not run water down the sink to have a cold drink.
• Fit a water saving device in your cistern; this can save you 3 litres a flush.
• Re-use water, for example cooking water can be reused to feed plants.
• Have shorter showers. Baths use up to 400 litres more a week.
• When boiling the kettle, only fill and boil what you need, this will save you money on your energy costs too.
   

Find out more through the Energy Saving Trust.