Home repair guides

Smell gas? Do not touch a light switch and do not use your phone indoors. Get out, close the cylinder valve only if it's safely within reach, and call emergency services from outside.

AC blowing air but it isn't cold? In most cases it's a clogged filter or a dirty outdoor unit — both are a 30-minute DIY clean. Here are the steps, and when to call a technician instead.

Washer runs the cycle but the laundry comes out dripping? Usually an unbalanced load, a clogged pump filter, or water that never drained. Here are the steps, in order.

Freezer freezing but the fridge is warm? That's almost never a dead compressor — usually a stopped fan or ice built up behind the back panel. Causes, steps, and when to call a technician.

No hot water? If it's electric, it's usually the thermostat, a burnt-out element, or limescale. If it's gas — stop, that's technician territory. Causes and the safe steps.

A dripping tap wastes hundreds of litres a month. Fixing it is a 30-minute job and a part that costs less than a coffee. Full steps, for every type of mixer.

Machine stopped with water trapped inside? There are only four places the blockage can be. Here are the steps, easiest first — including how to drain the water safely.

Breaker tripped, you reset it, and it tripped again? Don't reset it a third time. The breaker isn't the problem — it's protecting you from one. How to find the cause safely, and when to call an electrician immediately.

Water standing in the sink? Three safe methods clear most blockages without chemical drain cleaner — and here's why caustic cleaner is a bad idea in the first place.

Constant water noise from the cistern? Usually the flapper or the float. It's a 30-minute fix, and it stops a slow haemorrhage on your water bill.

Dishes coming out dirty or covered in white film? Usually the filter, the spray arms, or the salt. Causes and steps — most of them cost nothing but 20 minutes.

Water rising in the bowl instead of draining? Most blockages clear with a plunger or a toilet auger in ten minutes. Full steps — and when it's deeper and needs a plumber.