Search results

Needed a new doorbell to replace my old skool push with chime so I've order a Ring Video Doorbell Wired. The existing wiring is still in place - I've removed the box that contained the chime and connected the wiring from the transformer to the bell push side directly. The transformer is...

Been in the loft today and noticed on one gable end a long crack in the breeze block inner skin. The crack goes through the middle of some blocks, not just down a joint. On one side of the crack I can move the blocks (about 3 or 4 courses worth) just by pressing with my finger. I don't think...

Had this problem before with a Drayton acl 3-way valve - the type that doesn't have the removable head. HW works but CH doesn't. Can force CH on by pushing the lever to the right to the CH setting. In the past, changing the motor has fixed this issue. This time it hasn't. I've checked the...

I would imagine this question has been asked before but I couldn't find one. In my bathroom, the window reveal is tiled on all 4 faces. It's been grouted on all joints. However, the joint between the tiles on the sill and the window has started to crack and bits of grout have come out. I...

I'm replacing a couple of door handles and their latches. They're the privacy type, where a thumb turn stops the lever from moving. Wanting to buy half decent ones so I'm looking at Carlisle Brass DL55 WC. Are they OK (as in, are they better than what I'd get in the usual sheds)? Also want...

I have a wood effect bathroom unit, I guess it's called a vanity unit - one that's under the washbasin - and the surface is starting to peel off the edge of the door along the vertical join with the back face. Pretty sure all it needs is gluing back down (or at least, that's all I intend doing)...

Hi, I need to replace the flex on my hair dryer and I'm trying to work out the current rating. Can someone explain to me how the existing flex, which is 1.8m twin core oval pvc 0.75mm2, is OK for a hair dryer of 2200W? Doesn't that work out at 9A (2200 / 240)? I've found similar flex on the...

Hi, I had a new wash hand basin installed about a year ago and it has a click clack waste plug. When it was first installed the mechanism was very smooth but now it's starting to feel rough as I press and release. It's not actually sticking in the up or down position, but if it gets any worse...

The walls in our house are what I believe is called dot and dab. I'm pretty sure the plasterboard has been lined with lining paper and then painted. I'm not sure if this is normal, or whether plasterboard is normally skimmed first. Either way, I have some holes that I need to make good. They...

Not sure if this is the right forum but it's the nearest I could find. I have a new bath, one with a bulge at one end, and a curved glass shower screen with the usual rubber strip along the bottom. Unfortunately, when I'm using the shower and the bath lip gets wet, the shower screen falls...

I recently replaced the felt on my pent shed roof. It was looking the worse for wear and also there were damp patches on the inside of the roof. I was reasonably happy with my re-felting at the time - I used 3 strips of felt, overlapped them properly and clout nailed them. Over the last few...

I've just discovered a leak in the connection between the isolation valve and plastic thread on the inlet to my toilet. I've disconnected enough to see that the fibre washer in the connection has split, so I'm assuming that was the problem. Is it normal for a fibre washer to split like this...

Finally got round to looking at the dripping cold tap in our bathroom, assuming the washer needs replacing. Should be an easy job, I've looked up videos etc. I screwed the "C" off, undid the screw underneath, pulled the cross-head off and went to remove the shroud (I think it's called that)...

I have a hollow door in my house that's been fitted the wrong way round i.e. with the lock block at the hinge side. This was not done by me, I hasten to add. Consequently, the handle has never been very secure and finally it's come off altogether. I'm looking for a permanent solution and come...

Hi, My kitchen mixer tap is dripping and driving everyone in the house nuts. First problem is working out how to get into it. There's no H and C indicators covering screws, or anything obvious that I can see. Any suggestions? Also, can anyone identify the make of this tap? It's very...

I've just got to the point where I need to reconnect the water supply to my close coupled cistern and I'm a little confused regarding washers. I made the mistake of not making a note of the washer arrangement when I disconnected the supply. There's the plastic thread that comes out the bottom...

Hi there. I've just replaced the siphon in my close coupled toilet. Unfortunately the joint between the siphon and the cistern is leaking. I've used the washer that came with the siphon (on the inside of the cistern) and tightened the big plastic nut to hand-tight plus a quarter turn, as...

Hi again, After my problem of a few weeks ago, where my boiler wouldn't fire at all, it's now behaving strangely - I think. It's an Ideal Classic, and I had the fan replaced and a service done after my previous issue. Now, what I notice is that, when heating is required, the boiler fires for...

Typical. Coldest day of the winter and our CH/HW boiler isn't firing. When I turn HW or CH or both on, with the room stat on, the pump starts but the boiler doesn't fire. I'm suspicious of the fan on the boiler because it was noisy yesterday, as if the bearings were going or something. My...

Hi, Turned on the CH today but the boiler didn't fire. Thermostat is OK I think, because it clicked "on". I'm suspicious of the ACL mid-position valve 679H340-30L0 - could it prevent the boiler from firing? I can sort of force hot water into the heating circuit by turning on the HW as well...