Consumables such as light bulbs are classed as normal home maintenance items and as such would not be covered by your warranty.The failure of a bulb may cause a circuit breaker to trip, which is normal.

The electrical circuits in your home are protected by a circuit breaker. If a light bulb goes out, it may trip the circuit breaker. This is normal.

Energy saving bulbs can be quite expensive initially but are good value. They will save you money in the long run and are also environmentally friendly.

Security bulbs are very delicate. Please leave in bubble wrap until installed as a finger print on the crystal can cause the bulb to blow.

It is recommended that you ensure that your fans are working while you are cooking or bathing to minimise the growth of mould and condensation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage caused by damp where extractor fans have not been used properly.

In bathrooms without a window, you will find that the fan continues to run even after being turned off. This is because it is fitted with a timer to ensure that steam and humid air continues to be extracted after you have left the room.

What do I do if my extractor fan isn’t working?

Check the isolator switch is on. This switch will normally be on the outside of the room above the door frame

• Make sure the light is working, as this will often be linked to the activation of the fan
• If the fan still isn’t working, contact us.

Why is my bathroom extractor fan leaking water?

• The main cause of water leaking from the extractor fan is condensation. To avoid this, ensure the extractor fan is left on when the room is in use
• If your extractor fan is ceiling mounted, check that the ducting (the flexible pipe connecting the fan to the outside of your home) in the loft space has not been crushed or obstructed
• If the above has been checked and you continue to experience issues, please contact us.

How do I maintain and clean my bathroom extractor fan?

Regular vacuuming and wiping with a damp cloth will ensure your extractor fan remains efficient

How does a MVHR system work?

MVHR systems are based on air supply, air extract and transfer zones within the building. A heat exchanger is at the heart of the system, whilst fans provide the air movement. Most systems have ducting to the various rooms.

• Habitable rooms are provided with fresh air and wet rooms and kitchens are extracted on a continual basis
• Before the extracted air is exhausted out of the building, the heat in the air is transferred by means of a heat exchanger into the fresh air, which is introduced into the building
• The pre-warmed fresh air is introduced into all habitable rooms on a continual basis. Thereby the need to completely heat the fresh air as it enters the building is eliminated
• No extract air is re-introduced or re-cycled, thus extracted germs and pathogens will not spread through the system.

What are hard wired smoke detectors and heat detectors?

This means that they are connected to your distribution board and do not rely on batteries to work. However, if your electric should cut off, there is a battery backup so your smoke alarms will continue to work.

Maintenance

It is recommended that your smoke and heat detectors are vacuum cleaned every week to ensure that they are dust free. This will help ensure your protection from fire and smoke.

How often should I test my smoke alarms and heat detectors?

It is recommended that you test your alarms every week by using the test button on the individual detectors

What should I do if my smoke alarm sounds continuously?

If your alarm sounds continuously, immediately check your home for any fire or smoke. Next, check to make sure the electrics haven’t tripped. If you’re certain there’s no obvious cause and the alarm continues to sound, please contact us.

What if my smoke alarm sounds intermittently?

If your smoke alarm beeps intermittently, this could be for several reasons, all of which require your attention.

This normally means the mains power to the alarm isn’t working or the battery needs replacing. Check whether there has been a power cut and ensure the switch responsible for your alarms has not been tripped. If the alarm is receiving mains power, replace the battery.

Please note the following information is for guidance only please refer to your specific Carbon Monoxide Alarm user guides for exact guidance.

What should I do if the alarm sounds?

If the alarm emits four continuous chirps and the red light flashes, open all doors and windows. If anyone suffers headaches, nausea or any other symptoms that could be associated with exposure to CO, seek medical attention immediately. Turn off all gas appliances and if the alarm continues, leave immediately, keeping the doors and windows open. Don’t go back inside until a qualified professional has confirmed it is safe and don’t use any gas appliance again until they’ve been checked by a Gas Safe professional. If you’re worried about a gas leak or about CO fumes escaping from a gas appliance, call the 24-hour Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.

What if the alarm sounds intermittently?

One chirp every minute together with a red light flashing indicates that dangerous levels of CO were previously detected, but that levels are now safe. Immediately stop using all gas appliances until a professional has checked them. Chirps every 30 seconds together with a blue flashing light indicate lower levels of CO that could become dangerous. Open doors and windows immediately, and stop using all gas appliances until a professional has checked them. A single chirp once every minute with a yellow light indicates a fault with the unit, in which case it will need replaced.

Maintenance

Clean the outside of the case occasionally to ensure the holes on the front of the unit aren’t blocked with dust or dirt. Avoid using some household cleaners and substances near to the alarm.

The position of consumer units and electric meters differs between house types, but your consumer unit and electricity meter will often be found near the front door of your house. You will have been shown the location of these during your demonstration tour.

How does it work?

All power circuits within your home, including the garage, are wired through a residual current device (RCD), which will trip should a defect be identified in the earthing system. If the trip operates, it may not necessarily be caused by a fault in your home and therefore you should check that all appliances are safe. Under the hinged front cover there’s a row of switches, each controlling a different aspect of the electricity in your home. Each switch will be labelled to show which area of the home it controls. You may notice the row of switches is split into two groups, each ending with a slightly different looking switch and a small button. These are RCDs, devices that immediately cut off the electricity supply if a person comes into contact with a live electrical connection. Knowing what these different switches are for will help you to know what to do in the event of an electrical fault. You can turn off your consumer unit using the main red switch on the unit.

Electric meter

Reading your meters will ensure that you achieve more accurate energy bills. When you read your meter, make sure to read the numbers from left to right and ignore the last figure, which is often in a red box.

Helpful hints and safety tips