How to do minor repairs

It can often be surprisingly quick and simple to do minor repairs in your home. In the first of our blog series about looking after your home, we’ve included some how-to guides for some of the most common issues – such as fixing a dripping tap, bleeding a radiator and changing a lightbulb.

For more detail on which repairs are your responsibility, and which are ours, please see our general guide, or check your tenancy agreement for further details. 

If your tap is dripping, it’s usually fairly easy to repair by replacing the washer with a new one, or cleaning the internal parts. Here are some instructions for what to do:

1. Turn off the isolation valve under the sink or at the stopcock to stop the flow of water
2. Drain any remaining water from the tap
3. Using an adjustable spanner, remove the headgear nut and assembly from the tap
4. Remove the old washer and replace it with a new one, or clean the internal parts with a mixture of water, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda 
5. Put the headgear back onto the tap
6. Turn on the water supply and test the tap

Watch this video to see how to fix a mixer tap with turn handles:

Watch this video to see how to fix a mixer tap with lever handles:

Over time, radiators can lose their efficiency because air gets trapped inside. Often they become cooler at the top and warmer at the bottom. To make sure you’re getting the full potential from your radiators, you should try to bleed them every year.

It’s best to do it before winter, so they’re ready for when the heating needs to be put on.

To bleed a radiator, follow these instructions:

1. Make sure the heating is off and the radiators are cool before starting 
2. Take a radiator key (available from most DIY shops), an old cloth and a bowl
3. Insert the key into the end of the radiator, in the air release valve
4.  Twist it up to two turns anticlockwise until air starts escaping. You will need your cloth and bowl at this point to capture any water that escapes along with the air
5. When only water starts escaping, tighten the valve
6. Do this on every radiator before turning the heating on to check the radiators are heating up evenly

Watch this video to see how to bleed a radiator: 

Changing a lightbulb is generally very simple. Firstly you need to know which type of lightbulb requires changing. 

There are several different types of lightbulb fittings. The main ones are Edison screw bulbs and bayonet cap light bulbs. There are also capsule bulbs (with two pins, usually installed in cooker hoods and cabinets) and spotlight bulbs, also known as GU5.3 and GU10. 

To replace a lightbulb, follow these steps:

1. Turn off the mains power to the room that the light is in. To do this, open your fuse box and flick off the correct switch. It should be labelled.
2. Make sure the light bulb has cooled down before removing it.
3. Safely using a ladder, remove the lightbulb by either unscrewing it anticlockwise, or twisting and unlocking it until it comes loose from the socket.
4. Simply replace the bulb by putting it back in the socket and turning clockwise. 

To request a repair, call us on 01474 369830, or use the contact form on this page.

Routine repairs will be completed within 42 days.

If you have any questions about carrying out minor repairs in your home, please contact us by email at general@gcha.org.uk, or call us on 01474 369 830.