quick fixes

Your new home has mains powered smoke alarms fitted with a battery backup in case of power failure. If one of your alarms is beeping, it’s either the back-up battery is low, or there’s a fault.

If you’ve tried new batteries and it’s still not working, please contact us.

Try to get into the habit of testing your smoke alarms each week and make sure you change the batteries when needed. To prevent false alarms, give them an occasional vacuum, using a long hose, to help get rid of any dust.

Check the time settings on your boiler to make sure the hot water is due to be on at this time. Once you’ve confirmed this, try running your hot tap for a longer period, making sure the water has time to heat up.

If it’s still not working and it’s less than two years since you moved into your bunnyhome then this is covered by our warranty so please contact us. If it’s been more than two years you’ll need to contact a qualified plumber to take a look at the issue for you.

If you notice cold patches on your radiators or knocking noises when the heating comes on, it sounds like there’s an air lock in your system. You should be able to release this air and resolve the problem relatively easily. Turn the valve in the top corner of the radiator, wait until any air flow is replaced with water and then close the valve. Make sure you protect your hands with a cloth as the water that escapes can be extremely hot.

Heated towel rails are designed to heat your bathroom as well as dry towels. If you cover the radiator in wet towels it can’t heat the room efficiently. Try hanging towels elsewhere to resolve the problem.

If you’re experiencing trouble with your heating, your first port of call should be to check the controls.

Make sure your programmer is set to come on at the right times – and that the time has been adjusted in the event of a recent clock change. It’s worth noting that in winter the water entering your system will be colder. Try adjusting your boiler thermostat upwards to keep your house nice and cosy.

If it’s still not working and it’s less than two years since you moved into your bunnyhome then this is covered by our warranty so please contact us. If it’s been more than two years you’ll need to contact a qualified plumber to take a look at the issue for you.

If your system is pressurised, a loss of heating could be because the pressure has dropped below 1.5 bar. You will need to contact a Gas Safe registered engineer for advice. We recommend having your heating system serviced regularly to avoid this kind of problem.

If your fan isn’t working at all, first check the isolator switch is turned on. If it keeps running after you’ve turned off the light, please contact us for help. We’ll need to know what type of fan it is so please make sure you’ve got that info to hand when you call us.

If you find that water is draining slowly from one of your sinks, showers or bath you may have a blockage.

First, try clearing it with a suction cup or plunger. If this doesn’t work, commercial drain clearing products may help. Be sure to wear gloves and read the instructions carefully.

If it still doesn’t clear, place a container under the plastic trap and carefully unscrew it. Hopefully this will reveal the blockage, which you can remove, then screw the trap back into place.

We recommend using a plug cover to prevent hairs going down the drain. Also regularly remove any hairs that get trapped in your plug holes.

If you’re having a problem with one of your appliances first check the basics:

Is it plugged in properly and switched on at both the socket and the appliance itself? Has the MCB tripped on the consumer unit? Has the fuse in the plug blown? (You can test this using a multi-meter or by putting the fuse into an appliance that you know is working)

Consult the manual for the appliance and read through the troubleshooting section. If you can’t resolve the problem yourself contact the manufacturer directly.

Most often, this just means it needs a new bulb. Your downlighters have Sw GU10 LED low energy bulbs which are extremely energy efficient. Please replace like for like. Bulbs can get very hot, make sure you stay safe by allowing the old bulb to cool before removing.

If changing the bulb doesn’t resolve the problem, there may be a fault. Your downlighter unit comes with a two-year warranty and will be replaced free of charge during this period. Contact us for information.

The most likely cause of an overflowing gutter is a blockage caused by leaves, moss or other debris. If you decide to remove this blockage yourself, make sure you stay safe when using a ladder.