Brook Home Repairs

Six things to check before you call a handyman

Half the calls I get are fixed in five minutes by the person who made them. Try these first. If none of them work, I am happy to come round.

1. The trip switch

   If a socket or a room has gone dead, check the fuse box before anything else.

2. The stop tap

   Know where it is before you need it. Usually under the kitchen sink.

3. A sticking door

   Tighten the top hinge screws. Most doors drop at the top first.

4. A dripping tap

   Usually a worn washer. A five pound part, and I can show you how.

5. A slow drain

   Hot water and a plunger before any chemicals.

6. Mould on the window seals

   Often condensation, not a leak. Open the window for ten minutes every morning for a week.