How-to guides for simple jobs
Plain step-by-step guides for the small jobs around the home. Pick a job, or search.
Unblock a toilet
A plunger, a bit of patience and ten minutes usually does it.
Bleed a radiator
Cold at the top, warm at the bottom? Let the trapped air out.
Unblock a sink
Clear the plughole, then clean the trap. Hair and fat are the usual culprits.
Fix a dripping tap
Nine times in ten it is a worn washer or cartridge, a cheap fix.
Change a light bulb
Match the cap, the shape and the brightness, and switch it off first.
Change a smoke alarm battery
Test it, swap the battery, test it again. Two minutes that could save a life.
Change a carbon monoxide alarm battery
Know what the beeps mean, swap the battery, and check the expiry date.
Wire a plug
Blue on the left, brown on the right, green and yellow at the top, and the right fuse.
Hang a picture or mirror
Check the wall first, pick a fixing that suits the weight, and use a spirit level.
Put up a shelf
Find the studs or use the right wall fixings, and get it level before you drill.
Fit a curtain pole or blind
Measure twice, find solid fixings, and keep blind cords out of children's reach.
Assemble flat-pack furniture
Lay it all out, read the steps first, and do not overtighten the cam locks.
Ease a sticking door
Find where it rubs, tighten the hinges, and only then reach for a plane or sandpaper.
Replace a door handle
A new pair of handles on the same fixings takes about ten minutes.
Reseal a bath or shower
Strip off every trace of the old sealant, dry the gap and run a neat new bead.
Fix a running toilet
Water trickling into the bowl or out of the overflow? It is usually one cheap part.
Replace a toilet seat
Measure the hole spacing, buy a seat to match, and swap it in ten minutes.
Replace a shower head
Unscrew the old one, fit a new washer, screw the new one on by hand.
Clean a tumble dryer filter
Clear the fluff after every load. It is the easiest way to prevent a dryer fire.
Descale a kettle
Citric acid or white vinegar, a boil, a soak and a good rinse.
Set up a smart plug
Plug it in, join your Wi-Fi in the app, name it and set a timer.
Fit a cat flap
Measure the cat, mark a template, cut with a jigsaw and fit the frame.
Fit a key safe
Pick a rated key safe and screw it to solid brick, not to the door or a fence.
Clear gutters safely
Safe access first. Scoop out the debris, flush the downpipe and check for leaks.
Top up boiler pressure
Look for 1 to 1.5 bar when the system is cold. Top up with the filling loop.
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