Home maintenance hiccups - Brits turn to tradespeople to prioritise safety

• When it comes to DIY and maintenance at home, 44% of households don’t do it themselves, instead turning to tradespeople for help, even for the simplest things
• Three in four admit they do not know how to fix a leaky tap (77%), just under a fifth (19%) are unsure of how to change a lightbulb and nearly half (49%) say they’re unsure how to bleed a radiator 
• Almost half (48%), rely on tradespeople as safety is their biggest priority
• Nearly two thirds (63%) want a visual safety check of gas and electrical equipment in at home for peace of mind that everything is safe and the same didn’t realise they could get one from a qualified smart meter engineer
• Expert energy meter engineer Tom Hicks, reveals what to watch out for and when to call an energy expert and TV personality Rustie Lee discusses her experience fixing up her home

 

Summer is here and many households are using the longer days to get their homes in order.

But despite DIY being a great British hobby, nearly half of Brits (44%) prefer to enlist the help of experts when things need fixing, even when the simplest things go wrong.

For some, a lack of confidence is putting a spanner in the works, as three in four (77%) admit they do not know how to fix a leaky tap, over half (55%) can’t rewire a plug and nearly a fifth (19%) are even unsure of how to change a lightbulb.

In a survey of 4000 people, two thirds (65%) said they rely on tradespeople because they will do a better job, while just under half (48%) want to prioritise making their home as safe as possible. But four in ten (44%) simply don’t feel they know what they are doing.

Support from others is also essential for over a quarter (27%) of people who experience a physical condition or limitation that affects their ability to carry out home maintenance tasks independently.

When it comes to home energy equipment, expert engineer Tom Hicks, who has installed smart meters for over eight years, offers his tips on what to watch out for and when you should call a professional.

Top tips: what to watch out for and when to call an energy expert:

Check your wiring - Wiring and fuse boxes should be replaced roughly every 15-20 years, but it’s not uncommon to see 30, 40 or even 50-year-old equipment on the wall.

Call in an expert if you see any signs of overheating, distress on cables, electrical installation, charring, melting or exposed live contacts.

Look for soot - Boilers are an incredible piece of kit, but they can go wrong, even when serviced every 12 months. Not many people would know there is an issue unless the boiler physically stops working, but we look for fine 'sooting' or abnormal marks on the walls and flue that indicate signs of gas spillage. If you see something that doesn’t look right, call a Gas Safe boiler engineer.

Meter movement - If you have an old analogue gas meter and the dials are moving when all the gas appliances in the house are turned off - even if very slowly over time - it can be a sign of a gas leak. We call it checking for creep. Anyone who has trouble accessing their meter can ask their energy supplier to send an engineer to read and check it.

If you smell gas, especially if its continuously inside, call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.

 Power cuts – If this happens, the first thing you should do is switch off appliances and if you can, check your fuse box to see if a fuse has tripped (turned off). If not, check if your neighbours still have their electricity. If they are also affected don’t assume the experts have already been notified and give your Electricity Distribution Network Operator a call on 105. The sooner they know, the quicker they can help.

Get a free visual safety check with a smart meter installation - Smart meters replace your old analogue gas and electricity meter and are great tools to help you manage your spending on energy. But they also come with a free visual safety check when they’re installed. It’s easy to request one, just contact your energy supplier, if you don’t already have a smart meter.

 Tom Hicks said: “Safety should always be your number one priority when it comes to energy equipment at home. It’s important to know what to look out for and make the most of the free checks and support available to households.”

The research, conducted by Smart Energy GB, found that many households (62%) are unaware that a visual safety check of gas and electrical equipment in the home happens as part of a smart meter installation.

And it’s an important extra, with nearly two thirds (63%) keen to get a visual safety check of gas and electrical equipment at home for peace of mind that everything is safe.

TV legend Rustie Lee – a regular on screen and best known for her famously infectious laugh – has worked hard to build her forever home, often hiring tradespeople to help. As it’s an old house, safety is a priority for Rustie, who has now requested a smart meter and will make the most of a check up on her home’s energy equipment.

Rustie said: “I think I’m quite handy when it comes to fixing things at home and I’m proud to say I can rewire a plug!

“And like many people, I also rely on an expert to do some jobs properly. I’ve just had someone in to fix the toilet, because there are definitely things I steer clear of.

“But energy meters are not something I’ve ever really thought about, because they just sit in a cupboard out of sight.

“Since I found out that I get a free visual safety check when my smart meter is installed, it’s made me realise that the equipment I have is probably quite old. Which could well be the case for others too.

“And it’s literally the stuff that keeps the lights on, so getting it checked is probably a good idea!

“Staying safe is important so I’m pleased to know I get a free visual safety check during my smart meter installation to make that the energy equipment I have at home is working as it should.”

Three in five (60%) would be open to using new technology that makes home maintenance tasks easier if it came at no extra cost to them, and this is where a smart meter can help. They send meter readings to your energy supplier automatically, meaning households don’t have to crawl under the stairs or up a ladder to read them, an extra benefit for anyone who finds it difficult.