Save Money this Winter

The nights are getting darker, days are getting colder and it's time to switch the heating on. With fears of further increases in energy prices it might be time to review your energy provider and to also look at ways on how to save energy in your home.

Here are a few of our top Maintracts articles on how to save money this winter:

• Winter Money Saving Tips
• Prepare your Home for the Winter Months
• Are you Wasting Energy?
• Which? Energy Satisfaction Survey 2014

If you would like to compare energy providers visit the Which? energy comparison site.

And don't forget - a faulty boiler can be a great waste of energy and money. If you would like to arrange a boiler service please get in touch.

Is your Landlord Gas Safe?

Many tenants are unaware that their property should have a gas safety check once a year, and that it is their landlord's responsibility to arrange it, but what is a gas safety check? And what should you expect when you move in to a new property? 

It is a landlords responsibility, by law, to ensure that your property is gas safe. No matter how long the tenancy is (including holiday lets), your landlord is required to:

• Maintain pipework, appliances and flues provided for your use in a safe condition.
• Carry out a 12 monthly gas safety check on each gas appliance/flue.  A gas safety check will make sure gas fittings and appliances are safe to use.
• Provide you with a record of the annual gas safety check within 28 days of the check being completed or if you’re a new tenant before you move in. If a property or room is hired out for less than 28 days at a time, it is also permissible for your landlord to display a copy of the current Landlords Gas Safety Record in a prominent position within the property.
  (information courtesy of Gas Safe Register)

What will they check?

An annual gas safety check is required because a faulty gas appliance, blocked flues or dodgy fittings can lead to leaks, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. All of which are terrifying and life threatening. Appliances and gas fittings will be inspected and tested ensuring that they are safe to use.

How do you know if your engineer is registered?

A gas safety check should only be performed by a gas safe registered engineer. You can make sure that your engineer is registered by asking him or her for their registered ID card. All Maintracts engineers are Gas Safe Registered.

Sample Gas Safe Registered ID Card

When the engineer performs the gas safety check, they will record the details of the inspection carried out. This is the gas safety record and will list all of the appliances and gas fittings checked - please note that any gas appliances that you own are your responsibility and not of the landlord. You should receive a copy of the previous inspection within 28 days of moving in to your new home. If your landlord refuses to provide you with this information you can complain to the Health and Safety Executive.

If you are a landlord and would like to arrange a gas safety check, or would like to find out more about our services please get in touch.

If you would like to find out more about landlord responsibilities please visit the Gas Safe Register website.

Other gas safe articles:

How to be gas safe on holiday

A guide to installing a new gas appliance

Image courtesy of the Gas Safe Register

How to Remove Damp and Mould

If you've done everything you can to prevent the buildup of damp and mould in your home, but still manage to find an infuriating dark patch and musty smell in your home, then follow our top tips on how to remove this ugly and hazardous nuisance. 

Before you attempt to remove the mould check if it is caused by sewage or contaminated water. If it is please seek professional help (contact your local council for advice).

The spores from mould can be damaging to your health, so it is advisable, especially with large areas of damp and mould, that you wear gloves, goggles and a mask that cover your nose and mouth. Close your doors and open the windows. 

The spread of damp and mould can vary - from the corner of a window all the way through to walls, mattresses and even toys in a childs bedroom. Have bin bags at the ready to place clothes and furnishings in. It can be hard to remove mould from furnishings; shampoo your soft furnishings and take your clothes to the dry cleaners. If you can't completely remove the mould, especially from childrens toys, bedding etc, the best thing you can do is dispose of them to avoid causing a health risk.

To remove mould from walls, use a simple solution of washing up liquid or soap used for washing clothes mixed with water. Dip a cloth in the water and wipe the mould off. Try not to rub too hard as you don't want to disturb the mould spores. When you have finished, use a clean, dry cloth to remove any moisture from the wall. Open windows and turn on extractor fans to ventilate the room and help dry the wall. Once finished, make sure you throw away all of the cloths, vacuum the floor and wipe down all of the surfaces to remove any spores.

In the bathroom, dip a toothbrush in bleach and run it along grouting for removal of mould. You can also try more natural solutions such as diluted vinegar, or a paste made from baking soda. Bleach can also remove mould from bath sealant, although this can be tricky to tackle and often result in the removal and reapplication of new sealant.

If none of the above suggestions work then you can buy a number of off the shelf damp and mould products from your DIY store or supermarket. Once you have removed the mould, make sure that you refer back to our damp and mould prevention guide to ensure that you don't have to deal with it again!

Image by Sanja Gjenero