Recent content by Harry Bloomfield

Volt sticks detect the 'field' around a live cable. If the cable is screened, or armoured, they cannot detect anything. They are not allowed to use plastic pipe indoors, for gas pipes. Plastic can melt, if there is a fire.

I was very busy at the time, mostly working away from home, and so never really took much interest in the case, at the time. The first I knew about it was, me homeward-bound, at my usual brisk rate, along a narrow country road, just 1/2 mile from home, I crested a hill, and there ahead of me -...

If a power cable, it will be armoured, and the armouring earthed. A none contact wand will not work through earthed metal armour. Does the OP have gas in the house? Check the colour of the pipe, at the meter.

Yellow is gas!

Isn't that inevitable, if the capacity exceeds the demand of the house? If I fitted one, our demand is 100 to 300w, an 800w panel, on a good sunny day would generate a surplus of 500 to 700w, where would that go, assuming no storage.

I've not had much appetite recently, and my weight has declined too. We usually only eat one meal per day, and that's dinner - maybe a toasted teacake, in the morning. Today, I did rather well, food wise. Sausage, egg, fried bread, and tomato, for breakfast. Then a starter of prosciutto and...

Once in there, you have your base. Spend an absolute minimum on it, until the work has been done, and you know where you are. They may end up moving you permanently, to another flat, to enable the work to be done.

I finally managed to finish a very detailed book, I bought and began reading, a few weeks ago - described as a 'novel' which detailed a series of three local murders, potentially more, in the village where I live. It all began, years before I relocated here, but the bodies were being found, and...

A single hole, with a suitable self-tapper screw - but as a last resort. Tackling it from below, if you DIY, could be cost free option. Likely, all that has happened is the pop-up mechanism is jammed with hair and detritus. Get it out, clean it, and you are back in business.

It could be interpreted either way.

It's a foot in the door/a reliable roof over your head, and a big step-up, towards a more stable life. It would be a shame to turn it down. How extensive is the asbestos? It might just be a single panel in a room, or throughout the flat.

Asbestos isn't a problem, if it is left undisturbed, or covered over, or painted. Even if not, it is still quite low risk, many of the older members on here, will have suffered serious exposure to asbestos, I know I certainly was. You would be at much greater health risk, living out on the streets.

Under the sink, is what is known as a trap. Just a U shape in plastic. The trap, is fixed on with screwed collars. Just unscrew and release the collars, and the trap - you will then be able to poke something up from below, to push the stopper up, and out.

Does that mean you have actually tried the suggested methods?

Perhaps, but the other side of the coin is that they will have no reason to hurry completing the job. If you supply the materials, you take responsibility should any parts prove to be faulty, or be unsuitable, and the pay for the time needed to replace.