The team from TNA Building Services run us through some common issues and how to avoid them.

No matter where you live; flat, house or palace, we can all be exposed to the same frustrating and sometimes costly maintenance issues. 

Here we cover 5 common problems that we see most often- in all cases there is a theme and that is prevention; being proactive rather than reactive can save time, money and keep stress levels a lot lower.

1. A Leak or Escape of Water

A leak, or escape of water, being the technical term, is one of the most common issues that affects properties. Even the smallest leak can cause substantial damage to a property and involve major repairs. Water can get anywhere when left. It can cause floors to lift, doors and skirting boards to expand and then cause mould to develop on walls and ceilings.

There is no easy fix, but stopping the leak as soon as possible is certainly the priority. Once the leak has been stopped, the key is to get the water cleared up quickly to prevent more damage than necessary. For large amounts of water, use an aqua vac (a hoover for water) and dehumidifiers to pull water out of the air, walls, and floors.

Preventative measures can save time, money and the stress of dealing with leaks. Regular plumbing checks for anything that uses water are highly recommended and do not need a professional. Check all your connections; under the sink, behind the washing machine and under the bath- wherever you can. Check for any drips, any loose connections that could be tightened, any worn looking pipes. You might just be able to get to the issue before it becomes a problem.

If you want an automated solution, one (in fact several) exists. Automatic leak detections systems are a simple, and relatively cheap, early warning system against leaks. A length of detection tape is laid in areas where water leaks are likely. This tape is connected to a small box that raises an alarm either to a control panel or even a mobile phone- you can even have a system that cuts off the water supply when you leave house or a leak is detected. When you weigh up the cost of these systems against the possible cost of damage, well, there’s no comparison.

2. Heating or Lack of it

Heating or lack of it affects many of us at this time of year- the problem could be one of many; from simple pressure issues to a faulty boiler. A loss of pressure is probably one of the most common and easy to resolve by a competent engineer, pretty much anything else requires a gas engineer and no boiler work should be carried out by anyone other than a Gas Safe registered engineer.

The simple solution to most boiler issues lies in preventive measures. Get your boiler checked and serviced every year, preferably in the summer- you will find good availability of engineers and will likely pay a little less. Or, sign up to a boiler maintenance plan for peace of mind and fixed monthly costs.

3. Blocked Drains

Generally blocked drains are completely preventable and when blockages do occur, they are usually always the householders fault. 

Wet wipes down the toilet are a big no no and the drainage engineers biggest enemy as they clog together and block up pipes. You may think “oh what can one little wipe do”…well, a lot of damage is the answer. That backed up toilet could deposit some nasty waste onto you bathroom floor. 

Fat down sinks is another issue- you might think you can wash it away, but it quickly solidifies and causes an almost unbreakable barrier that can require specialist equipment to clear. 

The answer in all cases is do not put anything down the toilet or sink that is not meant to go down there. Having your drains checked and flushed through is always a good idea and can clear any debris that may not yet be causing an issue but could if left- and, as with most things, preventive measures are generally easier and cheaper than reactive measures.

4.Blocked Gutters and Downpipes

Blocked gutters and downpipes are often overlooked and can lead to disruptive issues. 

They are there to remove water, if they cannot do that job then problems will occur. A blocked pipe or gutter will mean water builds up behind the blockage which can often cause water to get in under the flashing and then into the interior of the property. During heavy rain this can cause serious flooding.

When gutters are full of leaves and debris they become even heavier when full of water, this often leads to breakages.

So the simple answer: have your gutters and downpipes checked and cleaned at least once, ideally twice, a year. Debris can be cleared and at the same time a quick visual check will identify potential problems. Make sure outlets are covered with a balloon grill, this will stop debris going into the downpipes which are generally harder to clean than gutters.

5. Pests

Pests come in many shapes and sizes but probably the most annoying and disruptive are the furry kind; rats, mice and squirrels. 

Squirrels can get into roof space through holes either in the actual roof or through holes in fascia’s or soffits. Once inside they cause destruction- they gnaw through anything and that can include electric cables. The only way to get these pests out is trapping, removing and then sealing up the holes. 

It’s a similar story for rats and mice, especially as the colder weather approaches. These pests look for a nice warm environment. Mice can fit through any hole they can get their head through and both rats and mice are excellent climbers, using anything they can to get into your property (they are like Tom Cruise in mission impossible only smaller and more destructive). 

Yet again, preventative measures are the key. Make sure any holes are blocked up. There are often gaps around waste pipes or missing or broken bricks in outside walls- kitchens are a prime area of ingress with pipes and cables through walls often not blocked up. Check and seal up where you can. 

Of course, if its too late then get a professional in to deal with the pests and provide advice on how to prevent further unwanted guests.

You can contact the TNA Building Services team via their website.