Getting Handy in 2013 - Man Skills

[EvilPie]

Stop cock is by far the most important thing to know the whereabouts of.

Get to grips with your heating / hot water system as soon as possible. Whatever you do don't wait until it starts to get cold before finding out whether your boiler's going to last through next winter.

Fuse box isn't overly important. As long as you know how to switch something back on you'll be fine.

Is it a reasonably new house?

[DaveShoelace]

Stop cock is by far the most important thing to know the whereabouts of.

Get to grips with your heating / hot water system as soon as possible. Whatever you do don't wait until it starts to get cold before finding out whether your boiler's going to last through next winter.

Fuse box isn't overly important. As long as you know how to switch something back on you'll be fine.

Is it a reasonably new house?

No it's 1930s. We had a homebuyers survey done and are getting a few small things fixed based on the recommendations (damp proofing a wall and wall ties for the back wall) all courtesy of the vendors

[vegaslover]

Do you know how to turn on/off the gas boiler if needed. also worth getting fire service to check your house and advise on escape routes in case of a fire etc

[Mohican]

Have a intermittent flushing toilet in my house. hasn't flushed for ages(down stairs loo so not used much) and had to use a bucket to get rid of waste. Yesterday it flushed fine. Do I need to replace the valve's inside the cistern?

[outragous76]

Have a intermittent flushing toilet in my house. hasn't flushed for ages(down stairs loo so not used much) and had to use a bucket to get rid of waste. Yesterday it flushed fine. Do I need to replace the valve's inside the cistern?

likely the diaphragm/piston is split/damaged in the syphon. Usually requires to replace whole syphon arrangement inside the cistern. Easy job for a plumber (30 mins)

[outragous76]

Have a intermittent flushing toilet in my house. hasn't flushed for ages(down stairs loo so not used much) and had to use a bucket to get rid of waste. Yesterday it flushed fine. Do I need to replace the valve's inside the cistern?

likely the diaphragm/piston is split/damaged in the syphon. Usually requires to replace whole syphon arrangement inside the cistern. Easy job for a plumber (30 mins)

or to replace youself, isolate water supply, empty cistern (flush), remove cistern, buy new syphon arrangement, install then refit and connect water and open value again

ez

[Mohican]

Have a intermittent flushing toilet in my house. hasn't flushed for ages(down stairs loo so not used much) and had to use a bucket to get rid of waste. Yesterday it flushed fine. Do I need to replace the valve's inside the cistern?

likely the diaphragm/piston is split/damaged in the syphon. Usually requires to replace whole syphon arrangement inside the cistern. Easy job for a plumber (30 mins)

tx

Have a intermittent flushing toilet in my house. hasn't flushed for ages(down stairs loo so not used much) and had to use a bucket to get rid of waste. Yesterday it flushed fine. Do I need to replace the valve's inside the cistern?

likely the diaphragm/piston is split/damaged in the syphon. Usually requires to replace whole syphon arrangement inside the cistern. Easy job for a plumber (30 mins)

or to replace youself, isolate water supply, empty cistern (flush), remove cistern, buy new syphon arrangement, install then refit and connect water and open value again

ez

Tx, was planning on doing it myself. Just needed confirmation before i purchased valve thingymebob.

Await thread on how to best clear up flooded toilet.

[Mohican]

Not from me swapping the value thingymebob over but there was a bulge in the kitchen ceiling this morning. Found leak under bath fittings. Removed and going to replace. Quick question- is it necessary to use a sealant when fitting one of these or will the rubber seal do the job-

or as I suspect whoever fitted it last has used summat that's gone brittle and that has caused the leak.
I'm sure when I removed this at the last house, the rubber seal was sufficient.

[leethefish]

Not from me swapping the value thingymebob over but there was a bulge in the kitchen ceiling this morning. Found leak under bath fittings. Removed and going to replace. Quick question- is it necessary to use a sealant when fitting one of these or will the rubber seal do the job-

or as I suspect whoever fitted it last has used summat that's gone brittle and that has caused the leak.
I'm sure when I removed this at the last house, the rubber seal was sufficient.

I would always use clear silicone to seal .....however I only do this cos seen a plumber doing it !

[outragous76]

Yep with lee

Clear silicone between outlet and fitting always

[Mohican]

Yep with lee

Clear silicone between outlet and fitting always

In laymans terms,the  hole in the bath and the new plughole?

[Mohican]

Thoughts please. Below is the bathroom I inherited when I moved into this house. Next weekend, I'm just going to give the room a quick freshen up. So the cork floor tiles are getting replaced and a bath panel fitted. Just need ideas on what to use to panel around the sink and toilet. Eventually, I'll do  a proper refit but, money being rarer than me buying a round,I just wanna make it look usable.
Tx,
Mohican.

Click to see full-size image.

[outragous76]

Yep with lee

Clear silicone between outlet and fitting always

In laymans terms,the  hole in the bath and the new plughole?

didnt see this, but yes

[outragous76]

Thoughts please. Below is the bathroom I inherited when I moved into this house. Next weekend, I'm just going to give the room a quick freshen up. So the cork floor tiles are getting replaced and a bath panel fitted. Just need ideas on what to use to panel around the sink and toilet. Eventually, I'll do  a proper refit but, money being rarer than me buying a round,I just wanna make it look usable.
Tx,
Mohican.

Click to see full-size image.

what are you doing to the floor?

personally, id take off panelling, plasterbaord/mdf or marine ply the surface then, white tile or cheap lamintae finish

Guess it depends how much effort you want to go to and when you intend to do the full refit? I imagine both these will impact on your choices

[Mohican]

Vinyl tiles,there's already a backing board under cork ones so it'll just be a case of swapping them over. I've also seen a bath panel for £20 on line so that's that bit solved.
Just the toilet and sink surround to do.