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Loft insulation needs to be checked and all pipework and tanks should be well insulated. Take special care with gatevalves and stopcocks. Make sure they can be turned off and on again in the event of an emergency. If you do suffer from a frozen pipe, warm the pipe gently with a hairdryer or a heat gun after opening the tap fed from the pipe. Burst pipes occur when the water expands when frozen so if there is a leak, thawing gently will reveal it sooner allowing you to mend it.

Dark Winter evenings are very popular with burglars and installing outside lights is a very good idea. Passive Infra Red (PIR) lights will detect movement and switch themselves on, these can be spots, or lanterns and will also provide a welcome for legitimate visitors. Inside the house make use of timeswitches to turn on lamps or a radio at certain times. The appliances used will need to have plugs on and should be located upstairs to deter burglars. There is little point in lighting an obviously empty downstairs room. Two seperate lights, set to come on at different times is ideal.

Internal decorating is the most popular winter DIY job and something as simple as washing painted walls can make so much difference. To wash painted walls, use Sugar Soap and start washing walls from the bottom, not the top. Starting at the top washes dirt off which runs down the wall soaking in as it goes. This makes it very hard to get off later. Papered walls can be stripped.

This is also a great time to replace skirting boards and dado rails to change the appearance of a room completely. Dado rails can be used to split the room in half with one half being painted and the other wallpapered. Timber rails can be glued to the wall for ease using strong adhesive available from the tools store below..

Winter is also a good time for larger internal improvements like a new bathroom or kitchen.

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A front loading machine is designed to fit under a worktop or even form part of the work surface itself so it is usually a space saver. Generally a front loader will handle more washing than a top loader.

Look for the different programmes available from a machine. Various brands and models offer different programmes. Choose the ones to suit your lifestyle.

These may include; 

• Easy iron options which should induce less wrinkles in the clothes.
• Timed starting to make use of economy 7 electricity.
• Short wash cycles.
• Programs for delicate clothes
• etc.

All washing machines are given Eurolabel grades for performance. They run from A = Best, to G with E being an average machine. This does not mean that F & G are rubbish, it means that they will not give you the best deal in energy efficiency, electrical and water consumption.

An AAA grade machine will give you the very best of everything but as you would expect, you will have to pay a little more for it.

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Brush chalk or talcum between tight-fitting boards that are rubbing against each other, or …

Tighten loose boards by using 50mm screws instead of nails to grip the boards securely. Pre-drill the boards to stop the wood splitting. Remember though that there may be cables or pipes below, so lift the board first to check this out. Generally speaking, services should be routed along the centre of floorboards, but this not always the case. or …

If a board end isn’t supported by a joist, take up the board and screw a 25×50mm batten to the side of the joist. Lay the board back on top of the batten and fix with screws.

You may come across a board which has been cut between two joists with the result that nothing is supporting the join. In this case, you can lift the offending boards and fit a length of 2×2 timber between adjacent boards to provide a bridge. Insert the timber and hold in place with a cramp while you screw the adjacent board to it. You will then have something to fix the loose end to with screws.

From the authors of the Diyfixit Home Improvement and Diy Guide
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk
Copyright © 2007 Dragon Web Ltd

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Condensing machines remove the need for a vent pipe and its associated hole in the wall which allows them to be sited more easily. They are, generally a little more expensive however.

Full size family tumblers usually have a capacity for about 6kg of washing which can take a full washing machine load. Smaller versions can be bought which suit people who like to hang out washing which they do not need almost immediately.

A tumbler’s operation is usually timed by turning a dial to the length of time you believe it will take to dry your clothes.

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Get our top tips for redoing your kitchen on any budget. Whether you’re ready for a £500 spruce-up or want to increase your home’s value by investing in a £2,000 update, you’ll find the ideas and instructions you need to turn your kitchen into the stylish, comfortable space you desire.

Stylish Kitchens at a price to suit you

DIY Tools has a kitchen makeover for every budget and lifestyle. Choose the one that fits yours – then give your kitchen an exciting new look.

£500 Spruce Up
You can do a lot to a kitchen without spending a lot of money. We explain how you can spruce up a kitchen with new countertops, paint and a few details–all for less than £500.

£2,000 Update
Our kitchen update cost us no more than £2,000 to complete the look we wanted. Knowing where to shop and doing the work ourself saved us approximately half the amount it would have cost.

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Here are the answers to some of those questions:

Buying a dishwasher
An interesting fact is that an average family spends up to 250 hours per year washing up! Why, we ask, when dishwashers are so simple to use. Obviously the dishwasher you need depends on the amount of washing up you do, so before you buy, take a few days just to see how much washing up there is after an average sitting. 

Buying a Tumble dryer
Most tumble dryers have vents leading from them which need to be fitted to a permanent vent outside, or at least a hose which is hung out of the window! These days condenser tumble dryers can be bought which remove the need for a vent pipe.

Buying a fridge freezer or a fridge and a freezer
Do you need a fridge with a large freezer compartment? Would a fridge freezer suit your needs in a more appropriate way. Think about what you need from a fridge.

Choosing a washing machine
How often do you use a machine? There is little point in buying a machine costing a thousand pound if you only use it once every two weeks. Ask yourself the following questions in order to get the best idea of what you need. Will it fit the space I have for it? Do I need a front loader or a top loader, How much can I afford?

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Dishwashers actually use less water than washing up by hand so used properly they are environmentally friendly and can save you money. Dishwashers have several programs and, as with washing machines, the more you pay, the more you get. Programs can include a normal wash, which washes everything at 65 degrees Centigrade and is the norm for most loads.

Timed wash; which allows you to take advantage of low cost electricity at night. Economy wash; using the minimum amount of water and power to get your dishes clean. Intensive wash; a very hot wash for pots and pans. Quick wash; for a quick rinse down. Glass wash; obviously for glassware which could damage in very high temperatures.

When choosing a dishwasher the internal rack is as important as the machine itself. Check that the rack will take the number of plates you use and has space for your pots etc. Racks should be removable, wholly, or in part, to allow for washing bigger items.

As with most kitchen appliances, the Eurolabel system is used to determine the efficiency of dishwashers. This is an alphabetical classification from A to G with A being the most efficient.

Check whether your dishwasher has indicators to tell you if the salt content is low. Dishwasher salt is used to make the water as soft as possible and together with a rinse aid, make the washing up cleaner and able to dry more easily, without smearing, in the machine.

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For sealed systems, seek the services of a professional heating engineer

Cold radiator

If the top section of a radiator is cold when the heating is on, it is usually an indication that air has got into the system somewhere and has become trapped. Air in a radiator will rise to the top forming a pocket stopping the hot water from getting to that part. This can be released by bleeding the radiator, but remember to turn the heating off first.

When air is bled or released from an open vented system, the water in the system will be topped up by the feed and expansion tank.

If a radiator in a sealed system needs bleeding the pressure in the system will be reduced. The system will, therefore, needed to be toped up. However, sealed systems are different from open vented ones and have no feed and expansion tank. The instruction manual for your system may have details of how to top up the system. If not, or if you have any doubts at all, contact a suitably qualified heating engineer.

Bleed the radiator

You will need a radiator key and an old rag. Radiator keys are readily available from DIY stores and ironmongers. Armed with the rag beneath, use the radiator key to slacken the air bleed valve which is at one end towards the top of the radiator. There will be a hissing sound as the air comes out. As soon as water begins to flow, close the vent again and wipe away any water. Take care not to get scalded – the water may be pretty hot. The heating can then be switched back on.

Air release valve

Some systems have an automatic air release valve fitted. This usually has a small red top which should be slack to enable the air to escape.

Radiators should not need frequent ‘bleeding’. If they do, air is getting in and this should be sorted out by a professional heating engineer.

From the authors of the Diyfixit Home Improvement and Diy Guide
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk
Copyright © 2007 Dragon Web Ltd

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Begin the project with the idea that one of the quickest ways to improve the looks of the kitchen is to replace your old, damaged countertop. Total expense for the materials required for replacing the countertops - under £200. 

1. Before removing the old countertop, the kitchen sink must first be disconnected and removed. 
2. Next, remove the screws that hold the old countertop in place on the cabinet bases. The screws are accessible from underneath the countertop, and are easily removed. 
3. With the fasteners removed, lift out the old countertop and move it out of the way.
4. Use the old countertop as a template for cutting out the area for the sink. Then cut out the area required.  
5. Position the new countertop on top of the base and install some new screws. 
6. Reinstall the kitchen sink and reattach the plumbing. 

A fresh coat of paint and a newly selected color is one of the fastest, most dramatic and least expensive measures you can take in most room facelifts. Final cost of repainting the room - less than £50. 

If the kitchen cabinets are in good shape, spruce them up with some new cabinet hardware. New holes may be required to install these since the fastener placement for the new hardware may not be exactly the same as the old.

Finally, you could add a wall-mounted organizer for kitchen utensils, accessories, spices, etc.

Once the renovation is complete, the “freshened up” kitchen should have a much more inviting feel.

A project like this can be done in a single weekend, but it would be more practical to spread it over two weekends.

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