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Tag: Home repairs

  • 7 tips for weatherproofing your home (inside and out) – Growing Family

    7 tips for weatherproofing your home (inside and out) – Growing Family

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    Weatherproofing your home is something you may not to give much thought to, apart from ensuring that there are no holes in the roof, but it’s really important. The better your home can withstand the weather, the longer its lifespan will be without costly repairs. It will be a more comfortable place to live too.

    Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to weatherproof your home – inside and out – right now.

    modern entrance to a home

    1. Aluminium doors: sleek and effective 

    Let’s start with your front line of defence: doors. Aluminium doors aren’t just sleek and modern; they’re like the knights in shining armour of weatherproofing. They resist corrosion, laugh in the face of harsh weather, and won’t swell up like a sponge in a rainstorm. Plus, they can be energy efficient, keeping the heat in and the cold out, or vice versa if we get a hot summer.

    2. Draught excluders: wind whisperers

    Draught excluders might not be the most glamorous solution, but they’re the unsung heroes in the war against weather. They’re a low-cost way to keep cold air out and warm air in. You can even get creative and DIY these for a personal touch.

    weatherproofing your home with insulationweatherproofing your home with insulation

    3. Insulation: not just for the loft

    When we think insulation, we often look upwards to the loft. But what about your walls? Adding insulation to cavity walls can be a game-changer. It’s like wrapping your home in a giant thermal blanket. As well as keeping things cosy, you’ll save on energy bills too.

    4. Double glazing: your window to a warmer world

    If your windows are single-glazed, it’s time to join the double glazing club. Double-glazed windows reduce heat loss, keeping your house snug. They also help with noise reduction, which is a godsend if you live next to a busy road.

    gutter cleaning tool in gutteringgutter cleaning tool in guttering

    5. Gutter cleaning: underrated maintenance

    Cleaning your gutters is about as exciting as watching paint dry, but it’s still worth doing. Blocked gutters can lead to expensive water damage. It’s a messy job, but seeing this chore as an easy way to prevent a major issue can be a great motivator.

    6. Roof check: no leaky surprises

    Get your roof checked regularly. Missing tiles or shingles are like open invitations for water damage. It’s a bit like checking your car’s oil; ignore it, and you could be in for a costly repair.

    7. Seal the deal: caulk is your friend

    Check the caulking around your windows and doors. Over time it can crack and shrink, which means it’s less effective. A quick re-caulk can make a big difference when it comes to weatherproofing your home.

    If you do all of the above, then you will have the basics of a safe, warm, and weatherproof home. Prevention is always better (and cheaper) than cure when it comes to home maintenance.

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    Catherine

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  • How and when to replace your fuse box – Growing Family

    How and when to replace your fuse box – Growing Family

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    Your fuse box is the control centre of your household’s power supply, which consists of various circuit breakers and fuses. Your fuse box can be used to control how and when electricity is distributed throughout your home, and plays a vital role in the safety of your property.

    As such an important piece of technology in your home, it’s crucial that you know when and how to replace your fuse box.

    person flicking switch on a fuse box

    When to replace your fuse box

    If you have an old fuse box, it may or may not be time to have it replaced. While an old fuse box may be outdated when compared with the latest standards, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have it fully replaced.

    A qualified electrician must perform the tests needed (in relation to British Safety Standards) to verify whether it’s time to replace your fuse box.

    With all that said, here are some scenarios in which it may be time to have your fuse box replaced by a professional:

    • It’s time to have your fuse box replaced if it is too outdated to meet modern safety standards.
    • You need to have your fuse box replaced if it is unsafe (for example, it has been worn down, a component is broken, or your fuse box and earthing to gas and water are not sufficiently safe).
    • A qualified electrician recommends you get a new fuse box (perhaps because they are concerned it will become unsafe in the near-to-medium future).
    • You simply want to opt for a safer, modern fuse box. Among the upsides of modern fuse boxes is the inclusion of an RCD or RCBOs. These can serve the purpose of protecting you and other members of your household from electric shocks, as well as other fault issues that can arise.  While older units will only trip when they experience an overload, an RCD or RCBOs can offer further protection in a way that isn’t available with older units. Ultimately, RCDs and RCBOs can trip in cases of non-overload fault scenarios, offering extra safety.

    How to get a new fuse box

    An electrician will be needed to verify the safety status before replacing your fuse box, or moving its location.

    Consulting with your electrician and electricity supplier

    If you want to replace or move your fuse box location, you must let your electric supplier know in advance and time things in such a way that they can turn off the power (if your supplier and the electrician decides it’s necessary) to your home. 

    It’s likely this will be required before the work gets underway and until the fuse box has been replaced or moved.

    In either case, the fuse box must be fully fitted and good to go per the electrician’s verification before the power is safe to be turned back on. Again, what the supplier and electrician will recommend and require for this work could vary depending on the nature of the job and the fuse box in question.

    electrician testing a fuse boxelectrician testing a fuse box

    You must hire a professional

    As we’ve already mentioned, you must hire a qualified electrician for replacing a fuse box. This is not a DIY-friendly task. Attempting such work by yourself could prove fatal.

    Once you’ve found the right person for the job, they’ll need to perform various electrical tests before they can move on to actually replacing your fuse box.

    If you’re not sure whether a new fuse box is required or even recommended, or if you have any other additional questions, be sure to consult with your electrician. They’ll be able to advise and help ensure you make the right calls to keep members of your household safe from electric hazards.

    Finding the right person for the job

    When it comes to hiring a qualified electrician, you may want to secure quotes from three or more electricians in your area. You can then compare their quotes and other aspects (such as online ratings or reviews) before deciding who to hire.

    Final thoughts

    To sum up, it’s essential that you have your fuse box replaced if it’s becoming worn and posing a safety risk.

    Also, even just the fact that older units lack the same levels of safety as modern units is arguably reason enough to replace your old fuse box as soon as you can.

    You must hire a qualified electrician to first perform various tests to check the status of your fuse box, and then carry out the work of replacing or moving it.

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    Catherine

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