Home repair guides

Smell gas? Do not touch a light switch and do not use your phone indoors. Get out, close the cylinder valve only if it's safely within reach, and call emergency services from outside.

AC blowing air but it isn't cold? In most cases it's a clogged filter or a dirty outdoor unit — both are a 30-minute DIY clean. Here are the steps, and when to call a technician instead.

Washer runs the cycle but the laundry comes out dripping? Usually an unbalanced load, a clogged pump filter, or water that never drained. Here are the steps, in order.

Freezer freezing but the fridge is warm? That's almost never a dead compressor — usually a stopped fan or ice built up behind the back panel. Causes, steps, and when to call a technician.

No hot water? If it's electric, it's usually the thermostat, a burnt-out element, or limescale. If it's gas — stop, that's technician territory. Causes and the safe steps.

A dripping tap wastes hundreds of litres a month. Fixing it is a 30-minute job and a part that costs less than a coffee. Full steps, for every type of mixer.

Machine stopped with water trapped inside? There are only four places the blockage can be. Here are the steps, easiest first — including how to drain the water safely.

Breaker tripped, you reset it, and it tripped again? Don't reset it a third time. The breaker isn't the problem — it's protecting you from one. How to find the cause safely, and when to call an electrician immediately.

Water standing in the sink? Three safe methods clear most blockages without chemical drain cleaner — and here's why caustic cleaner is a bad idea in the first place.

Constant water noise from the cistern? Usually the flapper or the float. It's a 30-minute fix, and it stops a slow haemorrhage on your water bill.

Dishes coming out dirty or covered in white film? Usually the filter, the spray arms, or the salt. Causes and steps — most of them cost nothing but 20 minutes.

Water rising in the bowl instead of draining? Most blockages clear with a plunger or a toilet auger in ten minutes. Full steps — and when it's deeper and needs a plumber.

AC leaking water down the wall or onto the floor indoors? In most cases a drain hose clogged with algae and dust is to blame — a 30-minute DIY clean. Here are the steps, and when to call a technician.

Musty or sewage smell from your washer? In most cases it's mould and bacteria hiding in the door seal and drawer — and you can clear it yourself with one hot wash and some vinegar. Here's how.

Fridge buzzing, rattling, humming or gurgling? Most noises come from a dusty fan or an unlevel appliance — both a 30-minute DIY fix. Here's how to find the source, and when a noise means a technician.

Ice and frost taking over your freezer and eating the space? In most cases it's warm humid air getting past a bad door seal, or a blocked drain — both are a DIY fix. Steps here, plus when to call a pro.

Electric oven not heating, or heating weakly and unevenly? Often it's the clock set to auto or a burnt-out element — both you can diagnose in half an hour. Here's how, and when to call a pro.

Burner clicks but won't catch, or lights then dies? Usually clogged ports or a wet cap — a 15-minute DIY clean. But anything touching the gas line is a licensed gas technician's job.

Weak flow from a tap or a limp shower? Usually it's a limescaled aerator, a half-closed valve, or a low roof tank — all easy DIY fixes. Here are the steps, and when to call a plumber.

Water pouring from your roof tank's overflow pipe and pooling on the roof? Nine times out of ten it's the float valve. Here's how to adjust and clean it yourself in 30 minutes, and when to call a plumber.

No water at the tap, or it stopped suddenly? Before you call a plumber, check in order: the mains schedule, the roof tank, the pump, the valves. Here's how.

Lights flickering or dimming and coming back? Some causes you can fix yourself in minutes — and some warning signs mean stop and call an electrician now. Here's how to tell them apart.

A socket with no power? There are simple, safe checks you can do without opening anything: the breaker, the RCD reset, and testing another appliance. And what must be left to a licensed electrician.

Water under or over your water heater? Before you call a plumber, cut the power and shut the inlet, then find exactly where it's leaking — sometimes it's a loose fitting you tighten in a minute, sometimes the tank is finished. Here's how.

Dryer tumbling but clothes come out damp, or it takes two cycles? In most cases it's a clogged lint filter or a blocked vent — both a 30-minute clean. The steps, and when to call a technician.

Key won't go in, or goes in but won't turn? Most cases are dust inside the cylinder or a worn key — fixed in minutes with graphite. Here are the steps, and when to call a locksmith.

Black or green mould and damp patches on a wall or ceiling? The trick is finding the cause first — condensation, a leak, or rising damp. Here's how to diagnose, clean and stop it coming back.