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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Archives for April 2018

Driveway gate mounting advice
Hello! I'm doing some outdoor childproofing and that includes installing a metal gate which will go from the side of my house to the fence on the opposite side of the drive. I'm looking at gates which have two halves which lock together. A concrete/steel post will be installed next to the fence to mount one half, but I am…
Garden drain blocked
Hi I’ve read a lot of different posts on blocked drains and tried just about all I can before making the dreaded phone call and getting a professional in. I just want to see if there maybe a trick I’ve missed. The drain which is blocked is the garden drain off the drive and gutter pipe. I’ve put vinegar and baking soda…
Double glazed windows still good
We are having an extension built and are taking the opportunity to replace all our windows at the same time. They are double glazed and leaded-lights, all in good condition. It seems a shame to put them on a skip as they definitely can be used by someone else. Is there a market for such things?
Noisy Underfloor Heating Controller - who has to pay?
Hi there, I hope you can help. I recently had some underfloor heating fitted in three areas of my house, and they all have a digital thermostat on the wall on which you can set the timer, change the required temperature, turn it up and down etc. The problem is that the thermostat which controls my en-suite bathroom in my…
Removing a hedge.
I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Next to my house is a public footpath. Between the footpath and the edge of our house is a hedge. This hedge is a bit more than a metre wide and about 12 metres long. At the back of our house, further down the footpath are a bunch of brambles. For the past 2 years I…
External shutters for windows?
Anyone know of a good product for blocking sunlight from the outside of your windows? I need something that is roll down, folds to the side or even removable and refixable with a few bolts. It's only for the really hot days. The internal blinds don't keep enough heat out of my living room. It's quite a big window, about…
Connecting flesible to copper pipe.
Hello folks, Not being a particularly good DIY person I have often wondered how the flexible hose such as these are connected to a copper pipe, do you just push in and tighten the nut?…
Had a wooden floor installed a couple of months ago but it squeaks a lot
I'm just wondering if this is normal. I went to a local shop and arranged for a wooden floor to be installed in my house. They sized it up, gave me a quote, and I agreed and a contractor came and installed it. It appears he put an underlay down and then the wooden pieces on top. It shifts and squeaks and creaks quite a…
Artificial Grass Installation
Hi all, Just wondering if anyone has any knowledge on this. I have got someone coming out on 12th May but want a rough idea just in case I need to brace myself! Probably about 20sqm area fully installed in the Hampshire area.
Garden sheds
I am looking for a new 8x8 shed with an apex roof and am considering one that I have seen in person for £995 (down from 1595) which looks to be of excellent quality v buying one online for some £300 less. However, with the latter option there is no guarantee of quality and I would rather see the item before purchasing…
Light blocking blinds - options?
We've just moved into a new rental house and the Venetian blinds in the main bedroom don't block out any light. I want to replace them with something better at blocking out the light in the morning. But obviously don't want to do too much damage as its a rental. Roller blackout blinds seem to be the obvious choice and…
Paying workmen
Hi Unsure if I'm posting this in the right section and if not, can Mods move to the right topic in this forum My house is in need of essential repairs and I am going to be enlisting some workmen from most of the trades - builders, window fitters, roofers etc. I was wondering what would be the best way to pay them that…
Installing cooker under wooden window shelf
Hello, my partner and I recently bought our first home. We bought a cooker however on delivery discovered that is couldn't be installed because of regulations. Above the space where the cooker would go is a narrow window (30x90cm) with a wooden shelf at the bottom of the frame. We've been told that because there is a wood…
Advice about my house, council tax, etc.
I wasn't sure where to put this! it's a bit long winded. Anyway I've had a rather eventful weekend starting with catching some teenagers who had broken into my neighbours yard and wandered around my own yard smashing some tiles. So I went out and told them to do one. An hour later they were back and throwing stones at my…
Damage from water leak
I live in a communal block of flats (leasehold) - there was a water leak on a stop valve - i think its called under the building. Leak was 2 meters or so from my flat. A significant volume of water was pumped into the base of the building for 3 to 4 days on and off while leak being diagnosed/fixed to the point it flooded…
Water heating system
Hi I have just moved into a flat which only electricity powered. For hot water (one tap in the kitchen, one tap in the bathroom and shower), there is an immersion boiler. This heats up water at night, so if there is insufficient heat in the day I was told that I should rotate the boost knob for water to be heated for 20,…
Weird flea (?) problem in flat - how to get rid of them without chemicals?
I've lived in my flat for many years with no insect problems apart from carpet moths (now well under control). But a few months ago, I had what looked like fleabites appear on my lower legs - not many, maybe one a day or so for about five days in a row. I have no pets and pets never come into the flat, but I've read that…
Adding inhibitor in magnaclean filter.
Our boiler is losing pressure. At Xmas it was at 1.5 bar when 'cold' but now it's just under 1.0bar. There's no obvious leaks. Nothing wet near any of the radiators. It'll keep going so it'll end up having to be re-pressurised. Now i did this in the past and didn't add any new inhibitor. Our water ended up black, we ended…
How to Reduce Shower Pump Noise?
My Shower Pump is Driving. Me. Crazy. My husband gets up at 6 for work. He takes a shower, and all I can hear is a heard of elephants running through our bedroom. I don't have to get up until 7.45 so this is getting quite old (new house, moved in 2 months ago). Does anyone have any tips to reduce the amount of noise coming…
rewire query
Hi what's the minimum size beams an electrition would be happy to drill holes through in order to do a rewire. I have exposed beams in my very old property. I have measured the beams from upper floor to lower end of beam and they measure 7 inch deep X 3 inch wide. TIA

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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