Category: diy

DIY vs hiring an expert: Should you fix your own lighting?

DIY vs hiring an expert: Should you fix your own lighting?

Hiring a professional electrician to complete electrical installations, repairs or replacements provides you with a sense of security that the job has been done properly, with lasting results. Although hiring a qualified electrician will guarantee that the job has been done perfectly, there are certain aspects of changing and updating lighting that requires a professional.

Not all lighting jobs necessarily require a qualified electrician to complete. If you feel confident in your DIY skills, there are a few minor electrical projects that you can perform yourself in your home that could save you both time and money. However, if the project you’re looking to undertake is something like wiring a ceiling light, this should be completed by a qualified electrician if you have never undertaken a task like it before.

If you’re thinking of fixing any lighting fixtures in your home, here are just a few tips to know what’s possible to do yourself, and what will require an expert.

Light fixture iconcredit

Replacing light fittings

Even if you’re not a certified electrician, replacing a simple light fitting is one of the few electrical projects you can do in your home. Fortunately, there are numerous videos and articles which will take you through step by step on how to change a light fitting. As long as you have the correct tools on hand, this is quite a simple task that does not take up too much of your time.

Outdoor lighting iconcredit

Installing outdoor lighting

If you want to brighten up the exterior of your home by adding outdoor or garden lights, this has to be completed by a qualified electrician. This project falls under the Part P of the Building Regulations in the UK, meaning that jobs that fall under this umbrella should not be carried out by anyone besides a Part P certified technician.

Illustration of an arm reaching for a light switch

Changing light switches or sockets

As functional items, most light switches tend to be basic in style, mainly made from white plastic they can look slightly plain, especially in a uniquely decorated room. Simply switching to a more decorative looking switch could be the perfect finishing touch for your home. Alternatively, you can update a current switch to one that provides multi-way control if you have a more open-plan space, or for your hallway and stairwell. Changing the light switch is a simple procedure that can be done by yourself, with the help of a few online videos if needed.

Aside from being a job that you can perform yourself, you can also purchase any parts needed from most online electrical wholesalers. Sites such as Expert Electrical provide a vast range of products from cables, switches, sockets, circuit protections and consumer units.

Illustration of an electricity socket and plug cable

Rewiring faulty sockets

The reason behind rewiring faulty sockets, and also lights is because they are tripping the fuse. Like installing outdoor lighting, rewiring faulty sockets also requires to be completed by a certified electrician. It might seem easy to ignore a faulty socket, however, if there is a more serious problem behind it, then your property could potentially be at risk of developing an electrical fire.

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How to keep your home clean during a busy family summer

How to keep your home clean during a busy family summer

Summertime is the best, isn’t it? Spending lots of time outdoors, barbecues, sea, sand, picnics… the list of fun activities you can do in the summer just goes on and on. Following in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis, when last summer was virtually ‘cancelled’, we have all the more reason to have a blast this year.

While summer is all fun and games, it can be hard to keep your home clean during this busy season; especially if you have kids or pets – or both! Your home can quickly become a dumping ground for toys, sand, grass, wet towels and other summertime debris! So, how can you keep on top of your home chores without sacrificing fun days out in the sun? In this post we’ll take a look at how to do just that. Strap in for a summer of fun, here we go!

Cleaning products

Clean during the evenings

Most of us think of cleaning as a daytime ritual, right? We set aside a few hours during the day to clean up the house, tidy, do laundry and generally set things straight. However, during the summer, you may find that your weekends are filled with fun social engagements that require you to soak up the sun at every opportunity – and you shouldn’t miss out on that!

An easy alternative is to change your cleaning ritual so that you mainly clean during the evening. This allows you to spend as much time as you want having fun outside during the day, and still helps you to keep up with your indoor chores.

Robot vacuum cleaner

Get an automated vacuum cleaner

Another way to keep your home clean during the busy summer months is to let your tools do all the work. An automated vacuum cleaner will clean up your floors without you having to lift a finger. Your only responsibility is emptying and charging the vacuum cleaner, while your new machine does the rest while you are out having fun! This is a perfect summer solution to the grass and sand that will inevitably make its way onto your floors this year.

Room full of clutter

Minimise your home’s clutter

If you want to keep your home clean with minimal effort, then it’s time to get minimal! The less clutter you have lying around the house, the easier it will be to give the place a once-over at the end of a long summer’s day. Clutter gathers dust, gets in the way and can generally increase the feeling of having a dirty or over-filled home.

So, before summer really begins, make sure you spring clean your home and get rid of any unwanted belongings. You could give them to charity, auction them off or recycle them – just ensure you don’t go into the summer of 2021 with excess baggage in your life.

Final thoughts

Summer is built for fun, not chores. If you want to reduce your chores while keeping your home a clean, clear and healthy environment for all, use this guide to help you achieve that harmonious balance this year.

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Must-have tools for renovating your home in 2021

Must-have tools for renovating your home in 2021

When you decide to renovate your home, it often feels like there are a million & one tasks that need attention, all at the same time. We sympathise; we’ve been in that precise situation ourselves on a few occasions!

When in this position, you naturally want to ensure that you’re doing the best job as possible, which often requires specific tools. None more so than if you’re undertaking somewhat specific jobs. The last thing you want is to encounter obstacles further down the line, due to being unprepared.

Fear not, we’re here to help! We’ve set out a short list below, detailing some of the must-have tools for renovating your home and what they’re used for in each case. Read on for inspiration, budding builders.

Illustration of a brown ladder against a purple wall

Ladders

This may seem like a glaringly obvious suggestion, but we feel it’s worth mentioning all the same. The worst nightmare when renovating or undertaking any job like this is to find that you need to reach something inaccessible and don’t have the means of doing so safely.

Whilst we can recognise that some jobs can be done without the need for a ladder, it’s always best to have one to hand anyway, to minimise the risk of injury when stretching. Whether you opt for a small stepladder or have one that can extend out to a taller level, the choice is entirely yours. Whatever makes you feel comfortable, and whatever brings value to the job that you’re tackling.

Illustration of a red drill

Drills and associated components

Naturally, many construction tasks require drilling into various parts of your property, so it’s another must-have tool when renovating your home. Not to mention, additional parts are also required to complete jobs like these, including the likes of drill bits & attachments and cowling kits.

If you’re unfamiliar with what these are, they’re provided by businesses like Tool Smart WA. They can protect you from any debris, dust and foreign bodies when drilling to fit a down-light or boring into a plasterboard ceiling.

The cowling kit slots onto your existing drill and can save the job of cleaning up after yourself once you’ve completed the job.

Silhouette illustration of a variety of hammers

Hammers

Another seemingly obvious tool suggestion, but one that includes a variety of versions. Along with standard hammers that we’re used to seeing both in person and in the media, there are other, more specialised hammers, which are used for particular jobs when renovating.

A Japanese cat’s paw is an example of a specific hammer and is specially used to remove nails from wood easily and effectively. This would come in handy when wanting to recycle timber beams or floorboards or to safely remove a wall within your property without any nails potentially causing harm to yourself and others in the vicinity.

While these are but some of the many must-have tools for renovating, we’re confident that they’ll make a drastic difference to the progress of your renovations. Ensuring that you’re as prepared as possible for your building project can make certain that you’ll complete the job in good time!

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Tumble dryer troubleshooting

Tumble dryer troubleshootingcredit

Tumble dryers might not be among the most important appliances in the home, but they are indeed very useful. Today, more and more people are turning to dryers to get their laundry dried, and, certainly, the number of users will only keep growing. However, it’s not uncommon to see this home equipment malfunction occasionally. Luckily, you don’t have to call a technician every time your dryer fails. There are many problems that you can correct yourself. Simple knowledge of common tumble dryer issues and their solutions may be all that’s needed to save you money and time. This post breaks down how to troubleshoot dryers and fix common problems.

Common dryer problems and their solutions

Below are some of the problems you may encounter while using your dryer:

  • Dryer fails to start

If your dryer fails to start, the first thing to check is the power source. Confirm that you’ve plugged it in properly. If you did, then make sure the circuit breaker is intact. Also, check the fuses. If the breaker is tripped, flip it back on. If the fuse on the plug is burnt out, replace it. However, if the power source is OK, check the dryer’s fuse and also the start button. Confirm from the back panel that the start button is appropriately engaged. If the fuse is in place and the start button is engaged correctly, then the only thing left is the door latch. Remove any lint in the latch and clean it to make the door close properly.

  • Dryer suddenly stops after starting properly

If your dryer suddenly stops working in the middle of a drying cycle, then the power was probably cut off by a protection mechanism. The first things to check are the fuses. If every fuse is in working order and the circuit breaker isn’t tripped, check the thermostat and the thermal resistor. You can use a multimeter to check if all these are working correctly.

  • Dryer won’t stop once you open the door

Opening the door should automatically stop the dryer, but if it fails to stop, then check the door switch to confirm it’s intact. A failing timer or start button may also be the cause. Confirm that all these are working properly.

  • Dryer makes too much noise

You should be accustomed to the sound produced by your dryer when it’s working. If it makes abnormal noise, then something may be wrong. Check if your dryer is standing level on the floor. If not, adjust the balancing of your machine, but if it is balanced perfectly, then it may be that you have a loose object inside the drum. Check to confirm coins, keys or any other noise-producing objects haven’t been accidentally loaded into the dryer. Remove all the clothes and check the drum properly and reload the dryer, checking each item carefully before reloading them. The dryer can also make unusual noise if a roller or belt has failed. Check these and also check the idler pulley.

  • Dryer dries too slowly

The most likely problem here is that something is stopping the dryer from circulating damp air. There may be a clogged vent, so clean the vent. It could also be a result of lint build-up. Check the lint filter and clean it if necessary. Also, ensure you didn’t overload the dryer. You may need to remove some of the clothes to allow air to circulate properly.

  • Dryer not heating up

This could be due to a blown fuse or a failed heating component. Check the internal fuses to be sure all of them are fine. If one fuse has blown and the other is working, your dryer will start but won’t heat up. Also, if the thermostat or thermal resistor failed, there will be no heat. You can detect a blown fuse easily by doing a physical examination, while you can use a multimeter to check if the thermostat and the thermal resistor are functioning correctly.

  • Clothes don’t dry

If you’ve completed an automatic cycle, but the clothes are still damp, then it may be that the moisture sensor is failing, or it doesn’t connect properly with the clothes. Try to clean the sensors with cotton wool dampened with surgical spirit. The load may also be too small for the sensors to work effectively. If you’re only drying a couple of items, avoid using an automatic drying cycle, use timed drying instead.

  • Dryer doesn’t spin

You can see that your dryer is powered, but it doesn’t move, or it doesn’t spin properly. This is usually caused by a failing belt. It could also be as a result of a failed idler pulley or glide. Check all of these. If the belt is broken, you can remove it, order a new one and replace it. Note that it’s essential to take photos of your dryer before you remove any component so that when you want to replace it, you’ll know exactly where it was positioned before you removed the part. A problem with spinning could also be due to the motor; although, that’s not a very likely cause.

Washing machine and tumble dryer

 The take-away

You don’t have to call out a technician each time your dryer has a problem. Most of the time, you’ll be able to fix it yourself. All you need to do is work out the likely cause and correct it. Common problems that can arise when using a tumble dryer include failure to start or stop, a slow rate of drying or the dryer failing to heat up. Your dryer may also make a strange noise or struggle to spin.

In any case, make sure you take a photo of the layout of your dryer part and position before you remove it for fixing or replacement. If you need to clean any part of your dryer, do so with a cotton swab moistened with surgical spirit and, if you need to order any component, ensure you order from a place where you can trust the quality of their product.

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