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Looking After Your Home – Handy Hints And TipsThis section tells you about:

• Howtosaveonfuelandheatingcosts.

• Preventingcondensation.

• Electricity.

• Water.

• Gas.

• Heatingandhotwater.

• Smokedetectors.

• Fixings.

• Sanitaryware.

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How To Save On Fuel And Heating Costs

Heating

• Unlessyouhavebeenadvisedotherwise,switchoffwhennotinuseorsettheprogrammetocomeononlywhenneeded.

• Useextraclothingratherthanturnuptheheating.

• Keepdoorsclosedandturnyourthermostatdown–evenasmallchangewillsavefuelandcost.

Lighting

• Useenergysavingbulbs

• Turnofflightsinunoccupiedorbrightrooms.

• Cleanthefittingsregularlytogivemorelight.

Electrical and Electronic Equipment

• Usesaverplugsforfridgesandfreezers.

• Don’toverfillkettles–onlyheatthewateryouneed.

• Don’tleaveTV’sandvideosonstandby–switchthemoff.

• Fittimers.

Water

• Reduceusageasmuchaspossible.

• Useashower,ratherthanabath.

• Installawatermeter.

• Don’tusehosepipesorsprinklers.

• Usebucketsofwaterwhenwashingcars.

• Usewateringcansforgardens.

• Don’tletthetaprunwhenbrushingyourteeth.

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Preventing CondensationCondensationiscausedbysteamorwatervapourturningintowateroncoldsurfaces.Itcandamageclothes,bedding,floorcoverings,decorationsandthehomeitself,ifmouldgrowthtakesholdonwallsandceilings.

Homesthatareheatedandventilatedintermittentlyaremorelikelytosuffercondensationproblemsthanthosewhicharecontinuallyoccupied.

Ordinarydailyactivitiesproducealotofmoisture.

Tohelpdealwithcondensationyoushouldtakethefollowingsteps:

• Coverpanswhencookinganddonotleavekettlesboiling.

• Donotdryclothesonradiatorsoronclothesdryers.

• Ifyouinstallatumbledrier,ensurethatitiseitheracondensertypeorisdirectlyventilatedtotheoutsideair.

• Unlessyouhavebeenadvisedotherwise,keepyourhomewellventilated.Keepwindowsopenwheneverpossible.

• Avoidputtinglargeitemsoffurnitureagainstexternalwalls.

• Donotuseparaffinorbottledgasheaters.

• Neverblocktheventsinwallsorwindows.

• Keepyourhomewarmincoldweather.

• Mostmoistureisproducedbycookingandbathing–keepyourkitchenandbathroomdoorsclosedtominimisethespreadofmoisture.

• Alwaysensurethatanyextractorfansareworkingproperlyandkeepallventsandgrillscleanandnotcovered.

Do’s and don’ts

4Do ventilateyourhomeproperly.

4Dodryyourclothesoutside.

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4Do closethedoorwhencookingorbathingtorestrictmoisture,butventilatebyopeningawindowwhilstcookingandafterbathingunlessyouhavebeenadvisedotherwise.

6Do not useyourroofspaceforstorage.

4Dowipedownkitchenandbathroomsurfacesafterusetoremovesurpluswateretc.

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ElectricityInmostpropertiestheelectricitymeterislocatedinanexternalmetercupboardatthefrontoftheproperty.Youwillhavebeenprovidedwithakeyforthecupboard.Ifyouarenotsurewhereyourmeteris,pleaseaskus.

Themeterandthecableleadingtoitbelongtotheelectricityproviderandmustnotbetamperedwithinanyway.

Yourelectricitysupplycanbeturnedoffattheconsumerunit,whichisusuallylocatedinthehall.Ifyouarenotsurewhereyourconsumerunitislocated,pleaseaskus.

For your safety

Always unpluganyappliancebeforeworkingonit.

Alwaysensurethatappliancesarefittedwiththecorrectfusesasrecommendedbythemanufacturer.

Alwaysfollowthemanufacturer’sinstructionsforwiringappliances.

Neveruseaportableelectricfireoranelectrichairdryeroranyotherportableelectricapplianceinthebathroom.

Neverattempttorepair,alterorextendelectricalinstallations.

Keepatorchhandyforemergencies.

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Circuit Breakers

Yourhomewillhaveaconsumerunit(previouslyknownasthe‘fuseboard’)whichcontrolsthepowerinyourhome.Thisisfittedwithcircuitbreakers.Ifyoustillhaveonewhichusesfusewireorcartridges,pleasecontactus.Circuitbreakersareswitcheswhichautomaticallyswitchoffwhenafusewouldhaveblown.Thesebreakersareeasytore-setbyflickingtheswitchbacktothe‘on’position.Don’tforgettounplugtheappliancethatyouthinkcausedthefaultfirst.

Circuitbreakersaregenerallymoresensitivethanfusesandmaytripoutwhenalightbulbfailsorifyouareusinganappliancewithanelectricalfaultorfaultyplug.

Plugs

Thesocketsinyourhometakesquarepinplugs.Eachplugwillhaveafuseinsideit.Alwaysmakesurethatyouhavethecorrecttypeoffuseforeachelectricalappliance.

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Simple Fault Finding

Power Sockets

Ifapowerpointisnotworking,checkthecircuitbreakerandresetifnecessary.

Ifittripsagain,unplugtheappliance,resetagainandtryadifferentsocket.

Ifthisalsotrips,itistheappliancethatisfaultyandyoushouldcontactaqualifiedelectrician.

Ifitisthewiringthatisatfault,contactus.

Lighting

Ifanareaoflightisnotworking,e.g.livingroom,checkthecircuitbreakersandresetifnecessary.

Ifaparticularlightisnotworking,checkwhetherthebulbhasblownandreplaceifnecessary.

Ifyourhomehasafluorescentlight,checkthetubeaswell,asthestartermayhaveblown.(Ifthelightflickersbutwillnotstartitisprobablythestarterthatneedsreplacing).

Don’t forget, if you have an emergency relating to your electricity supply, please contact us immediately on 029 2025 9100.

Remember that electricity can kill.

Do notattempttodoanyworkonanelectricalcircuitorappliance,unlessyouaresuitablyqualified.

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Water

Stop Tap

Yourwatersupplycanbeturnedoffatthestopcock.Thisisusuallyinthesinkunit.Inolderhousesitmaybesituatednearthefrontdoor.Ifyoudon’tknowwhereitis,youshouldfindoutnow.

Washing Machine Connections

Youwillalsofindtheconnectionsforawashingmachinelocatedwithinthekitchensinkunit.

Werecommendthatyouemployaqualifiedengineertorepairorinstallyourwashingmachine.

Dealing with Leaks

Minor Leaks

Minorleaks,suchasadrippingtaporradiatorvalve,canusuallybedealtwithwithoutisolatingthewholeofthewatersystem,butagainitisimportantthatyoucontactusimmediately.

Major Leaks

Intheeventofamajorleakonanyofthewaterservices,thestopcockshouldbeturnedoffandyoushouldcontactusimmediately.

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Water Emergency Number

Outsideofficehours0800 052 0130

Tips To Remember During The Winter Period

If youintendtoleaveyourhouseformorethanadayortwointhewinter,youshouldleaveyourheatingsetonalowleveltoavoidfreezing.

Ifthereisariskthatpipesarefrozen,donotrunthehotwatertapsasthiswillemptythehotwatercylinder,whichcouldthencollapse.

Do notallowtapstodrip,asadrippingtapmaystainthebathorbasinandcouldresultinfrozenwastepipesinwinter.

Remembertodisconnectyouroutsidetapatthevalvelocatedwithinthesinkunitduringthewintertopreventitfreezing.

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Gas

Meter

Inmostproperties,thegasmeterislocatedinthebrownboxatthefrontofyourhouse.Ifyouarenotsurewhereyourgasmeteris,pleasecontactus.

Ifyourpropertyhasagassupply,thenagaspointhasbeenprovidedwithinthecookerspace.

Donotalterortamperwithanygaspipelineorappliancewhichhasbeeninstalledbyusinyourproperty.

In an emergency, turn off the supply by turning the handle inside the box and contact us immediately.

Gas Emergency Number – 0800 111 999.

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Heating And Hot Water

Boiler

Thegasboilerisnormallylocatedinthekitchen.Ifyouarenotsurewhereyourboileris,pleasecontactus.

Pleasereadtheuserguidecarefully.Ifyouneedanyassistance,pleasecontactyourBuildingSurveyororEstatesAssistant.

Yourboilerwillrunthecentralheatingandhotwatersystemandiscontrolledbyaprogrammer.

Theprogrammerwillallowon/offtimesfortheboilertobesettoyourindividualrequirements.

Room Thermostat

Yourroomthermostatisusuallylocatedintheloungeandcanbeadjustedtomeetyourpersonalrequirements.

Programmer

Yourprogrammerisusuallylocatedwithintheboileritselfbehindthepulldownflap,oronthewallneartheboiler.

Forinstructionsonhowtosettheprogrammer,pleaserefertotheuserinstructions.

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Radiators

Thereisaradiatorineachroom.MostradiatorshavebeenfittedwithaThermostaticRadiatorValve(TRV).ThisTRVisusedtocontrolthetemperatureofeachradiator.Asmallradiatorisusuallyprovidedintheairingcupboard.

Hot Water

Inmostofourproperties,acombi-boilerprovidesyourhotwater,andassuchnostoragetankisrequired.

Failure

Shouldtheheatingorcontrolsceasetofunctionoryouarenotsureaboutcorrectoperation,turnofftheheatingsystemboilerattheboilerthermostat,thenswitchofftheelectricalsupplyattheswitchnexttotheboilerandcontactusimmediately.If a gas leak is suspected turn off the gas supply at the gas meter and contact NATIONAL GRID on 0800 111 999.

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Before Calling Us Please Check The Following:

Problem - Boiler not functioning/firing:

• Istherebothelectricandgastotheboiler(checkthegasandelectricalmeters).

• Hastherebeenapowercut?Ifthisisthecase,seeboilerinstructionstore-lightthepilot.

• IstheprogrammersettoONperiod?

• Istheroomthermostatsettoolow?Ifso,theboilerwillnotcomeon.

• Hastheroomtemperaturebeenreached?(i.e.theboilershouldnotneedtocomeonifithas).

• Isthepumprunning?

Problem – Room too cold:

• Aretheboilerorroomthermostatssetcorrectly?

• IstheprogrammersettoONperiod?

• Istheradiatorturnedon?

• Isthepumpturnedon?

Problem – Hot water too hot:

• Isthecylinderthermostatsettoohigh?(Ifso,turnittoalowersettingoralternativelycontactus).

Servicing of your central heating system

Servicingisimportantinordertoensurecontinuinghighefficiencyandlonglifeforyourboiler.Wewillarrangeayearlyserviceforyourboiler.Pleaseensurethatyouallowaccesstotheengineertoensurethatthisimportantworkcanbeundertaken.

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Smoke DetectorsYourhomehasbeenfittedwithsmokedetectorswhichareusuallylocatedontheceilingofthehallandlanding.Theseareusuallymainswiredwithabatterybackup.Thebatteryisspecifictothesmokealarmandisnotsuitableforuseelsewhere.

Theyarethereforyoursafety.

Think about escape routes now!!

Thesmokedetectorsaresensitivetodustandyoushouldperiodicallyremoveanydustwiththenozzleofyourvacuumcleaner.

Ifthedetectorstartsbleepingintermittently,thebatterybackupinsidethedetectorneedstobechanged.

ImportantTesttheoperationofthesmokedetectoronceeverymonthbypressingthetestbuttonharduntilthesoundergoesoff.

Ifthedetectorfailstotestproperly,contactusimmediatelyon02920259100.

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FixingsBecarefulwhennailingordrillingintofloors,wallsorceilings,toavoidcontactwithanyelectriccablesorpipeswhichmayliebeneaththesurface.

NEVER ATTEMPT TO DRILL OR NAIL A FITTING DIRECTLY ABOVE OR BELOW ANY SOCKET OUTLET OR SWITCH.

Plasterboardpartitionsneedthecorrecttypeoffixings,notjustnails.ConsultyourBuildingSurveyorforadviceifinanydoubt.

Onlylightweightobjects(wallmirrorsandsmallpictures)maybefixedtopartitionwallsunlessadviceissoughtfromyourBuildingSurveyor.

Sanitary WareBaths,basinsandsinksshouldbecleanedwithrecommendedproductstoavoiddamagingthesurfaces.Donotusescouringorgrittycleaners.Bleachshouldnotbemixedwithlavatorypowdersnorallowedtostandinstainlesssteelsinks.Donotflushunsuitableitems,suchasdisposablenappies,downthetoiletasthismayleadtoadrainsblockageandarecharge.

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