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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Archives for September 2018

Can I Install a thermostatic shower?
I have a council maisonette (in a block with one 'two story house' on top of another, I am ground floor), few repair problems. Had a builder come round today, he said no way could I install a thermostatic shower in the bath. It is true that the mains water pressure to the kitchen sink is high enough to make filling a glass…
Connecting washing machine outlet pipe
Had my washing machine moved at the beginning of the year into a large cupboard by my plumber. Went to unload it after a wash and noticed about 2 litres of water around the base. Pulled it out and noticed that the outlet pipe had come out of the waste pipe. In its original place the outlet pipe went 50cm down into the…
Do I need home security, let alone for windows?
I am looking to do an A-level project into home security, specifically to do with protecting open windows. I'm keen to find out if anyone is concerned or worried about keeping windows open when the house is unoccupied as it can compromise the security of their home with intruders easily being able to access their home…
DIY Kitchens or Howdens
Hi All We have been seeing many local kitchens and have pinpointed 2 kitchens. 1) diy kitchens - Luca gloss white 2) Bemchmarx - Soho white gloss Anyone have any feedback regarding these 2? Thanks
Chalk paint .. Bleed Through
I have chalk painted a side table with a couple of drawers, opting to paint the drawer fronts a very light colour. Having painted 3 coats without proper coverage, I now know that the problem is referred to as bleed through. Looking on the internet it seems the best solution is to overpaint the stained area with Zinsser BIN…
hardcore rubble
with my local council being extremely strict about hardcore rubble even in small amounts I wonder if its OK to put a few bricks in the black bin? Will the crusher have issues?
Stripped wooden flooring?
Hi, I've just bought my first home, a 1 bed ground Victorian tenament flat in Glasgow. At the moment the flat has really horrible carpets which I'd really like to rip up & put some of the Victorian charm back in! In an ideal World I'd love parquet flooring, but since I didn't win the Euromillions last week I think what I'm…
Adding an additional radiator
I've just bought a 1 bed ground floor Victorian tenament flat that has dated pressed steel radiators in the lounge & hall, but none in the bedroom (it's all on one floor). I'd really like to replace the 2 existing radiators with cast iron radiators that are more in keeping with the property (Victorian high ceilings etc) &…
Central Heating Problem
If anyone can help me then that would be great... Basically the towel rail in the en suite started being cold at the top and hot at the bottom when the heating was on. We bled it and it was fine but then a few weeks later the same issue so we know there is a problem. As we bled it a couple of times we didn't want to keep…
Indesit IWDE 126 washer not draining/spinning
hi this washer/drier has the '6H' light on and makes a funny loud noise (a bit like drilling) but does not drain or spin, even when i turn the dial to those functions. any advice?
Small designer radiator
I am looking for a (not so expensive) designer radiator for my small bathroom. I only need 600 x 600 and like the flat panel ones or the oval tube ones. The BTU are the same on both and wondered if anyone knew if one design was better than the other. I have the basic Finn at the back type radiator at the moment and…
Boiler pressure issue independent c30
My boiler is about 6 months out of warranty been serviced every year but have an issue. Yesterday I noticed the pressure was low so opened the taps to re-pressurise but it didn’t make the noise like it is filling up and the pressure gauge was still at zero then I resettled boiler and it went back to normal Then checked it…
First time buyer, fixer up house
I am looking for advice on how to cost up renovations on a house we have viewed. The house is in our ideal location and 30k cheaper than others on the street (just reduced by 10k). We are first time buyers and a big part of me thinks we should pay more to avoid the risk and leave it to someone with more experience but we…
Damp issue affecting neighbour.
We live in an end terraced house and our neighbour who is joined to us has said she has some damp coming through one of her internal walls that is on the other side of one of our external walls. She believes that as the brickwork is on our side of the apex it is our responsibility. The brickwork on our side does look to be…
Motorised valve clicking/ticking noise
Hi, in my new home I have a couple of Danfoss hpa2 valves that I believe are used to separate the heating of the master bedroom with the rest of the house. I have two Tado smart thermostat that are working with the system. However, whenever I hear the Tado's relay switch off the heating as it reached the temperature (the…
What size hob do i need for the cutout?
Hi, My hob cutout is 69cm x 50cm, What is the size of gas hob that I should be looking at? I was going to go with https://www.johnlewis.com/neff-t25s56n0gb-gas-hob-stainless-steel/p231029021 Dimensions H4.3 x W70.2 x D52cm but looking at the size, it will just about not fall into the cutout... Anyone got any advice?
Evolution flush windows, does anyone have them and is this quote way over the top?
Really like the look of these windows and had local company round to quote. Just over £20k including fitting and VAT 12 windows, French door and back door. Is there a cheaper way to get the same windows as its the look of these I like, really minimal all flush and look like wood but not. cloakroom - 650mm x 900mm - £479.00…
Plastic Sheet Material
I'm sure somebody will know what it is. Looking for some very light material that I seem to remember is white plastic, very lightweight, fairly rigid and looks like double-walled cardboard. This is wanted for a craft project, and I'm sure I've used it for something in the past but I simply cannot recall what for or what it…
Priming a front door
Hi all, I plan to paint my composite front door and I have picked up a Zinsser 123 primer to try and achieve a good finish. I'm looking at Dulux Weathershield for the colour application and I note it says a primer isn't needed. I was going to still apply the primer (as mentioned to try and ensure a nice finish) and I was…
Howdens Kitchen Quote
Evening, After having a few kitchen quotes Howdens came out the cheapest and for a style I quite like. I tried DIY kitchens however they came in quite a bit higher in price which is surprising compared to quite a few on here. Anyway, we are using a standard trade account for the pricing and have the full price with…

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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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