 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||
|
 |
Contact Us
Head Office
01392 273462
Emergency Repairs
01392 424344
repairs @ cornerstonehousing.net
Post
Cornerstone, 18 Southernhay East, Exeter, Devon. EX1 1QD
Useful Tips
Helpful Hints to Help Yourself!
Blocked Toilets
Unless the blockage is caused by a drain problem, which in our experience is rare, the usual cause of a blocked toilet is that sometimes tenants expect too much of the available flushing power of the toilet pan. Typically we have known people dispose of all manner of rubbish ranging from vegetable peelings and paper to sanitary towels and even nappies! We have also seen a bleach bottle and, in one case, a toilet roll, block the pan. The problem is then compounded when someone tries to flush the problem away only to find that the pan fills up alarmingly quickly. The toilet should only be used for its intended purpose and the Association will charge tenants who abuse the waste system in their homes.
If you find yourself with a blocked toilet the easiest solution is to employ a toilet plunger, which is a worthwhile gadget to keep in the house. They are available in most DIY stores, builder’s merchants and hardware shops and are inexpensive. Failing that you can try dislodging the blockage with a wire coat hanger bent into a suitable shape but be careful not to scratch the porcelain enamel. You can also try putting your hand and arm into a plastic bin liner and then clearing the blockage manually. Another bin bag can also be used as a makeshift plunger by compressing the bag into a ball shape but be careful not to let go of the bag otherwise you will make a disaster out of a problem.
Sometimes a cistern can develop a fault making it unable to deliver a full flush of water. This is certainly not an emergency. If this happens you can try filling a bucket with water and then rapidly pouring the contents into the toilet pan.
Blocked Sinks
Sinks can block from time to time if you are not vigilant. Hot soups can “set solid” when cold, effectively blocking the water trap beneath the sink. Sand and silt resulting from the washing/peeling of vegetables, the mineral content of wall surface fillers from tools and mixing trays, and accumulations of soap and fat will also contribute to the problem. We have even found candle wax in one blocked kitchen waste trap.
In both bath and bathroom basin wastes human hair is usually the main contributor to blockages along with soap residue.
The answer is to try the following:
Most supermarkets sell sink un-blocking chemicals. Look for a red bottle labelled “Mr Muscle”. Harpic market a similar product called “sink and plughole un-blocker” in a purple bottle. Every home should have one but, as they are chemicals, make sure you read the label and store in a safe place out of reach of children.
You could also try dismantling the trap (which is designed to be undone from time to time) under the sink and clearing the blockage. In the case of sand or silt you may have to do this in any case, as chemicals will not affect them.
Why do my light bulbs keep failing?
There are two main causes for this problem the usual one being that cheap light bulbs are being bought. Tungsten, the material from which bulb filaments are made, is expensive. Consequently the manufacturers who want to sell their attractively priced bulbs make their filaments from a thinner gauge wire from that used by better makes. Not everyone knows that a glowing filament wire actually gets gradually thinner the longer it is used.
Additionally the cheaper bulb makers are not too concerned about how well they fill the glass globe with the inert gas necessary to prevent the filament burning away (or may even not bother at all). Result – short bulb life!
There is a rare second reason for failing light bulbs that is due to the spring loaded pins in the bulb holder, which are designed to make contact with the base of the bulb. If one of these fails to make proper contact then electrical arcing can occur. This is effectively like switching the bulb off and on extremely rapidly causing repeated shock waves to travel along the filament thus ageing it prematurely. If there is one particular bulb holder in which bulbs do not last long, then report the problem to the maintenance depot. If on the other hand light bulbs are short-lived generally, try buying better bulbs.
My heating system is not working.
First of all read and be conversant with the boiler manual.
If you notice that your boiler is not igniting then first check to make sure that the boiler is switched on (you will be amazed at the number of homes we are called out to following a repair request only to find that the boiler has been switched off), secondly that the main and/or room thermostat is set to require heat, and that there is sufficient boiler pressure. The pressure gauge on the boiler should be in the green or above 1 bar when cold depending on the boiler type. If everything appears normal check the reset button. Do not attempt to bleed the radiators as this will drop the pressure in the system and the boiler will cut out.
If you notice that your boiler is not igniting then first check to make sure that the boiler is switched on (you will be amazed at the number of homes we are called out to following a repair request only to find that the boiler has been switched off), secondly that the main and/or room thermostat is set to require heat, and that there is sufficient boiler pressure. The pressure gauge on the boiler should be in the green or above 1 bar when cold depending on the boiler type. If everything appears normal check the reset button. Do not attempt to bleed the radiators as this will drop the pressure in the system and the boiler will cut out.
I have no electricity
If you have a modern consumer unit just very occasionally you may experience a power cut due to the sensitive nature of the “earth leakage circuit breakers” otherwise known as “trips”, or “trip switches”. These sometimes react to surges in the mains electricity voltage known as “spikes”. These are rare and all you will need to do is check and reset the trip switches.
If whilst using an appliance e.g. vacuum cleaner, kettle, iron or toaster, the electric supply is suddenly terminated there is a chance that the appliance may have developed a fault. This is not the Society’s responsibility to rectify and you should unplug the appliance and reset the trip switch and if all is well the power will return. If this cures the problem then you should suspect the appliance is faulty and take it to a qualified mender.
If the problem still remains, check with the neighbours to see if their electricity is working, as there may be a power cut in progress.
Lost keys
This is not a matter that anyone should panic over. However it needs to be borne in mind that it is not Cornerstone's responsibility to bear the cost of replacing lost keys or that of lock replacement as a consequence of lost keys. If a tenant looses a key but still has a copy they should arrange to obtain a duplicate key cut.
If the tenant has locked himself or herself out then it is their responsibility to obtain the services of a locksmith to let them in.
Unless it is already known how the keys have been lost it is worth sitting down quietly in order to try and recall the activities of the day. It might just trigger a recollection of where the keys have been left. People often suffer from a panic attack after thinking that they lost their keys when in fact, their keys have been simply put into the wrong pocket or left in the car.