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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Got a question about home improvement, DIY or home appliances? This is the place to get help from other MoneySavers.

Boiler dilemma. Help a lady out please!
So I've moved into a house 2 years ago. The boiler is 9 years old....its been working just fine. An ideal logic plus combi. I had a service Last week and he said it passed but there's a crack started on the sump with brown discolouration ( a sign it'll need replacing). And he couldn't access the heat exchanger , electrodes…
Convection Microwave
I hope I can post this in here? So I'm researching microwaves for a new place - and the product "convection microwave" appeared. eg https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9546345 £190. Also from amazon @ £160 but I think I prefer argos as a retailer...anyway. Some brief reading says the normal stuff you'd expect - don't expect a…
Front room radiator never gets hot
I live in a 22 year old townhouse. Redrow built. Original radiators and boiler still here. All the other radiators in the house get hot except for my living room radiator (ground floor). The living room radiator barely even gets warm. It's been like that since I moved in 6 years ago. One gas engineer said to me it's…
Void area above integral garage
Our house has an integral garage with a bedroom above (house is about 20 years old). The bedroom over the garage is always noticeably cooler than the rest of the house and my plan is to try and address the problem this year. I have attached a rough sketch of a cross section of the garage/bedroom area and my initial…
Cost of concrete base in NW London
Hi All Hoping you can help with this. I have a large garden, and at the back I want to create a concrete area 9m x 5m (so 45sqm in total) with a depth of 150mm - right now for a shed and planter area but in future can be used as a base for an outbuilding. I have had quotes for this ranging from £2000 to £8000, and am based…
Recognize this website
I saved this website to repeat an order but have lost the details, can anyone please recognise the company
Gas boiler installation certificate question
Hi, I have a question about the boiler installation certificate (to comply with building regs, not gas safety check that is optional). The boiler at my house was installed in early 2022. When I bought the house, the sellers did not have installation certificate. They tried pass off the installation cert for previous boiler…
Smart TRV
We have Hive heating and it does the job. Thinking of sticking a smart TRV in the living room so that I can choose to heat it in the morning if it's cold but not heat in the evening when I use the log stove (but still heating the rest of the house, especially upstairs) Do I need to stick with Hive or will any brand do the…
Gas fireplace - Is it worth it?
Is it worthwhile me getting this gas fireplace checked/ turned on and chimney swept? I’m wondering if its cheaper to use for an open plan living room vs gas central heating We have TRV’s installed on all radiators in the house. I’ve heard a lot of the heat through fireplaces escape through the chimney?I’ve now been sent…
Do Non Rusting/Peeling Bathroom Towel Rails Exist?
And if so, please can you recommend one. Or at least one that will last well. I’m looking to replace our chrome one which has, of course, rusted. I’ve seen some ‘stainless steel’ ones that claim not to go that way but then other research suggests they all do. So please can I have your recommendations. We prefer the silver…
Slugs ,slugs everywhere!
Sorry if this is in the wrong place but please can anyone help me stop the slugs invasion I'm experiencing. I absolutely hate them so much and can't get them out of my house. On a daily basis they are in my downstairs shower room - this is an extension within my kitchen extension - I find them crawling up the tiles inside…
Replacing cooker hood extractor
So I need to replace my broken cooker hood. Silly question, but what things do I need to consider? I assume if the cooker hood (tube?) going into the ceiling is a smaller size, I would have a gap to fill in, and if it’s bigger, I would need to increase the size of the hole going into the ceiling? The vent goes under the…
Coldness/draught from a PIV (positive input ventilation) - is this normal?
I had a PIV fitted a few months ago under the Great British Insulation scheme (plus loft insulation). I felt a draught under the unit in the summer but didn't worry too much as it was warmer weather. Now that it's getting colder I'm worried that this unit is making the house colder. Is this normal for a PIV or has it been…
Guttering stop end overflowing
Hi The LH end of the guttering on my property overflows badly in heavy rain. The stop end seems to have a large cutout for some reason. Looks like it's bodged with silicon but I'm unable to see it clearly due to working from ladders. The guttering looks like Marley type with inside clips but the end appears to be metal and…
Meter cupboard key
I've gor a meter cupboard in the block of flats where I live, and someone has locked it. What key do I need to open it? I like to take meter readings twice a month, so need access.
Boiler and main gas valve
I have for the first time in my terraced property had to replace my boiler. I am concerned that where the gas meter is, there is no sign of a gas shut off lever or small square knob. How do I go about finding it? It is a 1900 house and have never needed to shut off the gas so far from the mains.
Induction cooker circuit wiring
This is just a warning to anyone thinking of getting an induction hob or range cooker. Our cooker circuit, which was installed 6 years ago as part of a kitchen refit, has 6mm cabling. I understand this is the standard size for most cooker circuits. Our dual fuel Rangemaster has been running on it no problem for years. I…
Dehumidifier with multiple timers
We've got a Meaco Arete. It's pretty good, but it doesn't have a timer. We have solar panels and cheap electricity during the night, so I'd really like to limit run times to 0900-1700 and 0030 and 0530. I've back a look around, but not found anything that does this. Before I give up, has anyone seen such?
Awkward Gas Situation - Advice please!
Brief as possible! Last year we had a new gas fire fitted. This year we had a different gas engineer come in to fix a small control fault and then service it. (Both engineers are qualified and came from checkatrade/trustatrader highly reviewed) However he stated that it had not been installed in accordance with…
Are '80's Marley tiles prone to porosity?
The roof on my house is leaking and I need to get it fixed. It was built in the early '80s, using Marley 16" x 13" concrete tiles, with a shallow roof slope.As far as I can see, the main cause of the problem is that the felt installed under the tiles is of poor quality (bitumen impregnated hessian?) and was badly installed…

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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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