How to read an electric meter

It's important to get a regular reading from your electricity meter to ensure that your utilities provider is giving you the most accurate bill possible. Many people believe that the electricity provider can check your meter remotely – don't make this mistake! It could lead to you seriously overpaying or underpaying your bill.

Reading a meter can sometimes be confusing, but once you've established the type of meter you have and how to read it, you will be able to do a monthly reading, which you should be able to update online via your electricity account.

Note the difference with the numbers

Dial meter

A dial meter can sometimes be quite confusing to read, so it's important to take note of the slight difference in the dials.

The meter has five or six dials that look like clocks. If you have six you only need to read the first five. The slight difference in the dials, which can sometimes be missed, is that each dial (and set of numbers) alternate direction - clockwise and counter-clockwise.

The numbers on each dial run from 0 – 9. If the dial's pointer lands between two numbers, take note of the lower number. For example if it lands between 4 and 5, your number will be 4. If the pointer lands exactly on a number, record it as that number.

There may be times when the pointer lands between 0 and 9, in this instance you need to lower the number of the previous dial by one. For example, if the first dial is pointing at 5 and the second dial has landed between 0 and 9, then the first dial should be reduced to 4.

Digital meter

A digital meter has either one (single register) or two (two registers) rows of numbers, which can range from 0 – 9.

If you are reading a single register, simply take note of the numbers shown from left to right, ignoring the last number which is marked '0.1'.

If you are reading a two register meter then you will have two rows of numbers. The top row is usually your off-peak electricity usage and is marked 'low' or 'night'. The bottom row is your normal electricity usage. That is marked either 'normal', 'rate' or 'rate 2'. As with a single register, note both rows of numbers, left to right, ignoring the last number marked '0.1'.

Electric meter

Electric meters are the easiest to read and will always display the rate currently in use. Simply write down the rate displayed and submit it with your reading.

If you are still unsure about how to read your water meter then please contact your electricity supplier. And if you would like to find out ways to reduce your electric bills read our money saving tips article.

Image by Rober Linder

How to protect your pipes

The weather is getting colder and colder, so as the temperature drops it's important to make sure that your pipes are protected. 

Exposure to cold temperatures can lead to pipes freezing and bursting. There are some simple steps that you can take to ensure a warm and stress free winter.

Keep your central heating on low throughout the winter months. This will prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Wrap up your pipes and water tanks with lagging – this includes those that are exposed to the elements on the outside of your home or business. Keeping your pipes wrapped up will help prevent them from freezing.

If a pipe does burst then you will need to know how to turn off the water. The stop tap controls the flow of water in your home, so it's important that you know where it's located. It can be found in your basement, garage, and more commonly, under your kitchen sink.

If you are in the unfortunate situation where a pipe has burst then you'll need to call your local plumber ASAP. If you need to contact an emergency plumber call - but make sure you turn off the stop tap before you call!

Photo by Andrey Volodov

Landlord Responsibilities

Leasing your own property can be a daunting experience, especially if you have never done it before. As a landlord do you know what you are responsible for? To help you avoid any confusion or nasty surprises, here is a summary of electrical, gas and plumbing responsibilities that you should be aware of.

Gas inspections should be performed once a year

Gas

• All gas appliances should be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. This includes pipework, appliances and flues. You are required to ensure they are serviced annually by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer once a year.

• You must supply the tenant with a a record of your gas safety check within 28 days of it being completed, or give to new tenants before they move in. Landlords must keep copies of all records for two years.

• If the tenant has their own gas appliance, which you have not supplied,  then you are only responsible for the maintenance of the pipework and not the appliance.

• You must ensure that your tenants know where to turn off the gas in case of emergencies.

Electrical

• The landlord is responsible for: Electrical wiring, repair to electrical appliances, fires and heaters that were fitted by the landlord, door entry systems, sockets, switches and lighting.

• All electrical equipment installed/provided by the landlord must be safe and maintained throughout a tenancy.

• There is no requirement to perform an annual safety check, however regular checks are recommended to avoid future problems. Keep all records of inspections and provide tenants with a copy.

• Tenants must be given copies of manuals for all electrical appliances.

Plumbing

• A landlord is responsible for boilers, hot water cylinders, pipe work, radiators, blocked drains and external waste pipes.

If you need to schedule a gas or electrical inspection or have any maintenance requirements then please get in touch.

Image courtesy of Bartek Ambrozik.

Does your boiler need a MOT?

Get the most out of your boiler by knowing what the signs of potential faults and breakdowns are. 

You should always have your boiler serviced once a year, but here are some of the early warning signs that may mean you need a service sooner rather than later.

• Water isn't as hot as it should be
• Hot water is running out too soon
• Rooms aren't as warm as they normally are

By servicing your boiler you can make sure that you don't incur unnecessary repair costs in the future and also avoid high bills due to energy wastage. It's also important to have your boiler checked for signs of carbon monoxide if it's a gas boiler.

Get in touch if you think your boiler needs a service.

Carbon Monoxide Advice – Know the Facts

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that is produced by carbon based fuels such as gas, oil, wood and coal. These fuels are safe to use, it's only when the fuel does not burn correctly that excess CO is produces, which is poisonous and can kill quickly.

Poisoning occurs when gas appliances have not been properly installed, maintained or are poorly ventilated. Lower levels CO that do not kill can cause serious harm to health.

The following signs on your gas appliances can indicate that there could be a problem which could lead to the production of CO:

• Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (not including fuel fires or flueless appliances which display this colour flame)
• Soot or yellow/brown staining around or on appliances
• Pilot light that blows out
• Increased condensation inside windows

To lower the risks of CO poisoning you can install an audible CO alarm (which should be marked EN 50291) in each room that has a gas appliance installed. You can purchase one from you local DIY store, online or speak to your Gas Safe Registered engineer. Don't just rely on an alarm - make sure that all gas appliances are checked by a Gas Safe Engineer every year. If you are renting your property your landlord should have all gas appliances serviced once a year.

If you think that your appliance is spilling carbon monoxide:

• Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
• Switch off the appliance and shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve
• Open all doors and windows
• Visit your GP and tell them you think you may have been exposed

Find out more about Carbon Monoxide poisoning and it's symptoms visit the Gas Safety Register website or the Health and Safety Executive website.

If you would like to arrange a gas appliance service then please get in touch.

How to recycle your electrical appliances

Have you recently had an electrical appliance break down on you? If you have, do you know how to dispose of it? You might be lucky to find a recycling bin for electrical goods on your street or in your local supermarket, but these are normally for smaller items such as mobile phones and batteries. So what do you do when you have a larger item such as a television or fridge?

Due to the amount of waste that electrical goods create (around a million tonnes a year in the UK*) and the hazardous substances they can produce, it's imperative that all electrical goods are disposed of correctly. WEEE (The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) sets collection, recycling and recovery targets for all types of electrical goods across Europe. Items that fall within this directive - and should therefore be correctly disposed of - include:

• Household appliances
• IT and telecoms equipment
• Consumer equipment
• Lighting equipment
• Electrical and electronic tools
• Toys and sports equipment

Some councils offer a bulky waste collection services, however, many have now discontinued this option. One of the quickest and safest ways to dispose of your electrical appliances is to take them to a local recycling plant. You can find your nearest plant by visiting Recycle Now's recycling centre locator.

Another quick and easy way to dispose of your electrical goods is with 123Recycle for Free, who offer a free pick up and recycle service in and around London. Many retailers will also dispose of your item if you are buying another one, but check with the retailer before you buy.

Alternatively, if your existing appliances are working, but you want to upgrade, then why not donate them to a charity such as the British Heart Foundation? They will pick up most items from your home.

While they can't be recycled, you should also dispose of low-energy light bulbs properly. Low-energy light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, if a bulb is smashed, it is advised to leave the room for at least 15 minutes to allow for any mercury in the air to settle. Once you have done this, wrap the bulb and place it in your domestic waste bin. If you take the bulb to a recycling plant ensure that the bulb is in a sealed bag.

* Source which.co.uk 

Recycling image courtesy of Bartek Ambrozik