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We have an "Affordable Warmth" scheme here in NI whereby councils will pay to improve the heating/insulation in your house if you're on a low income. So when I bought the house 6 years ago, they paid a contractor to put 12" insulation in the attic, replace some blown double glazing panels etc...

I've just noticed a tiny draught when I put the back of my hand down to the corner of the sill and, as you can see, a small amount of dust blows through. when there's a strong wind. It doesn't really annoy me - can't feel it in the room - but I've had problems with other windows fitted by this...

I thought this tree would stop gaining height years ago but, as you can see, it hasn't, and I'm now worried about it damaging the foundations... Not sure what kind it is, as it was here when I bought the house - Christmas type maybe? I do know that hard pruning this kind destroys them. Do you...

Please bear with me when you read this – for the avoidance of doubt, (a) I don't know what I’m talking about, and (b) I know I should get a proper plumber to do it. Trouble is, the one we used for years let us down very badly, skimping on things, bodging etc – took us a long time to realise what...

At least I think that's what you call them... maybe MDF or something? Not wood anyway... so the doors are quite old now (maybe 30 years), and the screws holding the furniture on are very loose, so you can nearly pull the handle off the door sometimes. I've read one or two other threads here...

My fence is possibly getting on for 30 years old now, and is beginning to crumble, so I’m going to have to replace it. The wall has 5 fence sections like this in it, so there’s quite a lot to do… At the moment, they’re kind of double-sided affairs – hopefully you can see it in the photo, but...

I had some new windows fitted by a local company about a year ago. One of the frames has been badly fitted, in my opinion, as the two big mullions going from top to bottom are noticeably bowed inwards towards the room. I tried to chase them at the time, but was ignored. Unfortunately, my mental...

The two little lights above the mirror in my bathroom cabinet are falling to pieces. I replaced the bulbs with 12V LEDs a few years ago, but had to solder them to the transformer wires, as the connectors had failed. Unfortunately, they're flickering now, and the units are beyond repair now I...

Just found the bathroom floor wet, and there seems to be a pinhole leak in one of the risers to the handbasin. My mind isn't at its best under pressure, so... is the left hand pipe normally the hot one to the mixer tap? It feels slightly warm, but the hot water hasn't been on today. So I...

Last year I spent a day pressure washing my paths, made of concrete flags, which were dark and slippery. It did a great job, but 5 minutes later (OK, a few weeks) they were as if I hadn't bothered. I've read through every thread I can find, and the popular answer seems to be bleach, which is...

I bought this cheap gauge to help a friend out (I have a Watchman myself, but my generosity doesn't stretch that far), but can't figure out the best way to fit it. It has a threaded neck, but no kind of nut or anything to tighten from inside the tank. The instructions simply say it fits a 1½BSP...

Hi all, trying to help a single mother out. She let her oil tank run dry (lack of funds), and now it's locked out. She got a delivery of oil today, but it still won't fire up, even if she resets it. I'm assuming there's an airlock in the fuel pipe, and it needs to be bled? Unfortunately, though...

Morning everybody from icy N Ireland... it occurs to me that I might have to get access to the external water main stopcock, but the last time I did this was decades ago, and the big key thing I've had since then doesn't fit in the kind of cover I have at this house. Could anybody please tell...

The window in my living room was 30 year old mahogany frame (approx. 6’ x 6’), which was rotting, so I saved up and got a new uPVC replacement put in yesterday. Possibly too much information, but I suffer from a kind of PTSD, and find things like this very difficult and stressful. Anyway, job...

Having to get a 30-year-old mahogany unit (approx 6' x 6') replaced as it's coming apart in places, and has blown panels. I have blinds on the inside of the current unit, which attach to the existing unit with L-shaped brackets screwed into the frame: ...so I'm wondering about the...

OK, I realise (1) this isn't plumbing or central heating (couldn’t find anywhere more appropriate); (2) the title isn't really correct either… Anyway. For predictable reasons, we’ve started having fires – normal fireplace, traditional grate, dry wood and peat briquettes – but have discovered...

My house has 30-year-old mahogany double glazing frames, which are still pretty solid – but the little batten strips around the outside of the glass panels are starting to deteriorate. I wondered if this profile of strip is likely to be available? I think the strips are just pine. I can’t...

Morning all - the ceiling light in my girlfriend's flat is one of those that switches on and off as you move around - it doesn't have a manual switch. It's started flickering on and off, and is very annoying. I opened it and tried adjusting the on/off time with the little pot inside, but it...

So I’m going to build myself a new pine bed (what the boredom of retirement will do to a man…). I’m reasonably OK with basic woodworking, but for this I’ll need to cut some slots in the legs to fit the side pieces into, and I guess I’ll have to buy a cheap router. SF have a recon one for £40...

A couple of years ago, I fitted one of these from Screwfix. Unfortunately, it drips incessantly (cold side I think). Is it likely to take some standard sort of cartridge? I know I can take it out and have a look, but I worry there might be all sorts of subtle variations, and I'd buy the wrong...