DIY Club – Women Only –  June 2025

DIY Club – Women Only – June 2025

Join Our June 2025 DIY Club for Women!

Kick off your DIY journey with our exclusive Monday Evening Women-only DIY Club, starting on 2nd June 2025. This 4-week course, priced at just £95, includes all 4 sessions and offers a unique opportunity to learn and practice essential DIY skills in a supportive, women-only environment.

Our DIY Club for Women provides a safe and relaxed space to explore new skills at your own pace. With a friendly atmosphere and plenty of room to experiment, you’ll gain confidence in tackling DIY projects at home. Each session is designed to give you a comprehensive grounding in practical skills, along with handy tips and tricks.

Sessions begin at 6.30pm, but feel free to arrive when it suits you. We wrap up between 8.30 and 9pm, ensuring a flexible and enjoyable learning experience.

With a wide range of tools and ample space to practice, you’ll have everything you need to succeed. Plus, bring your DIY issues and problems, and we’ll work together to find practical solutions that meet your needs.

Don’t miss out on this empowering DIY Course for Women—reserve your spot today!

Bitesize-DIY – Sealant 101

Bitesize-DIY – Sealant 101

DIY Sealant – 101

Learn how to Silicon Seal your Shower Cubical and save yourself some money

  • Is your shower seal turning black?
  • Does your shower or bath leak into the ceiling below when anyone takes a shower?
  • Are you struggling to find someone to come out and sort this most pesky of DIY jobs?
  • Would you like to learn how to do this most frustrating of DIY jobs yourself?

Look no further. We will give you a 2-hour input and lots of practice at doing this job yourself. You will discover some useful tips and tricks to make the job easier to do.

The only downside is that once your friends and family see how good you are, they will be asking you do this for them too.

4 Things you should do when you move into a New Home

4 Things you should do when you move into a New Home

4 Things you should do when you move into a New Home

A Little Housekeeping:

The Essential Stuff You Should Know

This may not be what you first think of when you move into a new home, but it could save you alot of money. Think of this as a “getting to know your home” exercise.

These are essental checks thatyou should make in your New Home.  They could save you money and might even save your life. They will definitely stop a plumber from giving you that pitying look when you’re not sure where the water turns off.

Step 1: Stick the Kettle on

We all know nothing productive happens without a cuppa first. So, brew up and let’s crack on.

Step 2: Get Familiar with your Electricity Supply

You might think you know where the Consumer Unit (fuse box, for us mere mortals) is, but let’s be sure, shall we? Now, ask yourself these important questions:

Can I turn it off quickly if I need to?

Go on, try switching it off and back on again. If it’s buried at the back of a cupboard, do yourself a favour and keep the path clear – no one wants to dig through old paint cans or a mountain of camping gear in an emergency. Also, maybe avoid storing anything flammable in there? Just a thought.

Is it properly labelled?

Can you clearly tell which switch controls what, or does it feel more like a raffle? If it’s the latter, sorting that out should be a priority. If you’re not sure how to do this, check out our post on Consumer Units

Do you have an RCD?

If you’ve no idea what that is, have a look at Electrical Safety First, who explain what they are, and why they are an extremely good thing to have. It’s important.

If you do have one, test it! Press the “T” or “Test” Button and make sure it’s still doing its job. A little maintenance never hurts.

What type of Consumer Unit do you have?

This probably seems a bit of strange question, but its good to know the answer. You may have listened to your Solicitor’s advice and had an electrical survey carried out as part of the buying process. If you did, you should know a bit more about this, and should have a certificate to refer to. If you’re not sure what the certificate actually tells you, go back to the electrician who carried out the inspection for you. They can explain. Failing that, you can always contact us, and we can explain it to you. 

If you didn’t have an electrical inspection, check out our post on Consumer Units – Know your Stuff. There’s a bit of useful information there, explaining what you’e looking. 

Look for a Smoke & Heat Detectors

Hopefully your new Home has Smoke and Heat Detectors installed. If they do, please give them a quick Test, by pressing the TEST button. Check the Expiry date while you’re there.

If you can’t find any Smoke/Heat Detectors, or they are past their expiry date, please make getting new ones installed a priority.

Check out our post on Smoke Detector Safety, if you need more information

And lastly……..Take a Meter Reading

You don’t want to be paying for the last occupants’ Electricity, so take a Meter reading and submit it to your supplier. Ideally, take a photo of the reading, so that you have a Time & Date Stamp to refer back to.

Step 3: Discover where your Water Supply turns off

You’d be surprised how many people have no clue how to turn off their water. In fact, a lot of people who come on our DIY courses haven’t a clue either. I get it – it’s not something you think about until water’s gushing from somewhere it really shouldn’t be. But trust me, you don’t want to be on a frantic treasure hunt while the insurance claim’s ticking up.

1. Start Outside – Look for the Pavement cover

You’ll likely find a small cover near your front gate – that’s where the external stopcock hides. If you live in a flat, identifying which one’s yours can be a bit of a guessing game. Turning them off one by one works, but it might lead to some awkward neighbourly encounters (especially if they’re mid-shower).

It should look something like this. It might even have “Water” written on it:

Old Style External Stop Tap

Old Style Metal Cover

Use a Flathead Screwdriver to flip the Top up

Modern Plastic Cover

Use a Flathead Screwdriver to flip the Cover up

Turn-style External Stop Tap Cover

Annoying "Turn" Cover

Don’t be fooled. This Cover turns anti-clockwise to open. Badly thought-out design, which isn’t installed any longer. Try twisting it, it might come up. If not contact your Water Supplier and get them to replace it.

External Stop Cover Stuck Down

Metal Cover Stuck Down

Not uncommon if the Pavement has been resurfaced. Get it unstuck now, before you have an emergency, and can’t get the cover up.

Take a Meter Reading

If you find it, and it has a meter, take a meter reading. Again, I would take a photo, just for posterity.

Its also worth double-checking that it doesn’t keep running when you’ve turned the supply off. If it does, then you may be paying for someone else’s supply. Rare, but not impossible

2. Check Indoors

The usual suspects are under the kitchen sink or in a utility room, but I’ve come across them in all sorts of weird places – under floorboards, hidden in random cupboards. Start with the obvious and work your way to the downright bizarre.

Check out our other post on Finding Your Stop Tap

3. Still Can’t Find It?

Ask your new neighbours – they might have the same setup and could save you some time. If that doesn’t work, contact your water supplier – they might have a record of it. If you’re still out of luck, put it on your to-do list and get a plumber involved. They can install one in a more sensible spot.

Step 4: Gas or Oil - Find the OFF Switch

Mains Gas

Your gas meter will likely be near the front of the house, possibly in a little box outside. Make sure you can turn it off without too much faff. If it’s locked up, get yourself a meter box key – they’re cheap as chips at your local hardware store.

LPG or Oil

These tanks aren’t exactly discreet – you’ve probably tripped over them a few times already. Just double-check you know where the shut-off valve is, and maybe have a quick peek at security while you’re at it – oil theft’s a thing in the countryside.

Look for a Carbon Monoxide Detector

If you have a Gas or solid-fuel Boiler, or a multi-fuel stove, you also need to have a Carbon-Monoxide Detector.

If you can’t find one in your new home, please pop down to the nearest DIY/Hardware store/Supermarket & buy one NOW.

You may have no idea when the last service was carried out on these appliances. 

You don’t want your first night in your new home to be your last. I know that sounds dramatic, but Carbon Monoxide is invisible. It doesn’t smell, and it can kill you very quickly. 

Give yourself a Round of Applause

You’ve just ticked off three essential checks that most people ignore until disaster strikes. Sure, dealing with a crisis is a crash course in home maintenance, but wouldn’t you rather be prepared than panicked?

If you’re renting, your landlord really should have told you all this. If they didn’t, maybe give them a gentle nudge – it’s in their best interests too, after all!

Consumer Units. What you need to know.

Consumer Units. What you need to know.

Consumer Units. What you need to know.

What is a Consumer Unit?

You might hear a Consumer Unit called different things: a Distribution Board, a Fuse Box—whatever. In the trade, it’s mostly called a Consumer Unit, or just CU for short, so let’s stick with that to keep it simple.

I’ll try not to bore you to sleep here, because this stuff matters, but I get it—electrics aren’t exactly thrilling.

No matter what you call it, a CU is what distributes electricity around your home. At its core, a CU should have a Main Switch, which lets you shut everything off if needed. You’ll also find various fuses or MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) that control each circuit in your home.

If you’re lucky (and lots of people are these days), you might also have an RCD. If you’ve got two, great. If each circuit has its own, you’ve hit the jackpot.

Consumer Units come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and safety levels. We’ll run through some of them below.

Keep reading…

1. Consumer Unit with Ceramic Rewireable Fuses

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

These are old-school and, honestly, look pretty cool (if you’re into that sort of thing). But they belong in a museum, not in your home. If you have one, it’s a good sign that you haven’t had certified electrical work done in ages, so call an electrician.

What it does:

This CU protects against circuit overloads—the fuse wire inside will break if there’s too much demand.

What it doesn’t do:

It won’t protect you from getting shocked or seriously hurt if there’s an earth fault.

What’s an Earth Fault?

It’s when an electrical current tries to escape to the ground (Earth). It is often caused by cutting a cable (e.g. by drilling into it) or a sudden appliance fault.

2. Consumer Unit with Rewireable Fuses

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

These are still fairly common and do the basics.

What it does:

It stops you from overloading circuits by tripping a fuse. You can reset it by pressing a button or flipping a switch—way easier than the older CUs.

What it doesn’t do:

Like the older ones, it won’t protect against electrocution from an earth fault. If you’ve got one, you might need an upgrade if you’re getting electrical work done, since newer regulations prioritise safety and require RCDs.

What is an RCD?

An RCD (Residual Current Device) is a nifty safety gadget that trips when it detects an earth fault. Potentially it will save your life.

At its most basic level, it constantly monitors the current in your house. If it detects an imbalance, it assumes that the current has gone into something it shouldn’t have  – you. It  should trip within milliseconds. This will save your life.

3. Consumer Unit with an RCD as Main Switch

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

This setup has an RCD that acts as the main switch. It’s better than nothing, but if there’s a fault on any circuit, the whole thing shuts down. Not ideal if you’re halfway through cooking dinner.

What it does:

It gives you some protection against earth faults, which is a step up from the older units.

4. Consumer Unit with Two/Dual RCDs

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

For a while, this was the go-to upgrade. These CUs usually have a plastic casing (newer ones are metal for better fire protection) and split your circuits into two groups, each with its own RCD.

What it does:
If one circuit trips an RCD, only half your house goes down. The other RCD keeps things running, which is more convenient but still a bit of a hassle.

You can find these CUs sold cheap in DIY stores because they don’t meet current regulations any more. Don’t be tempted—it’s not a bargain.

And you shouldn’t even be thinking abut carrying out that kind of electrical work anyway. 

5. Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

This is what electricians install nowadays to meet the latest safety standards.

What it does:

This setup has a metal casing and a Main Switch, with each circuit controlled by its own RCBO (a combined fuse and RCD). If a fault occurs, only the affected circuit is shut down, so the rest of your home stays powered. It also likely includes a Surge Protection Device (SPD) to shield sensitive electronics like TVs and computers.

It’s more expensive but offers way better protection and convenience, especially in older homes where wiring can be dodgy.

Labelling

You’ll notice that labelling on CUs can be hit or miss. It’s really handy to know which fuse or RCBO controls which circuit, especially in an emergency.

If your CU isn’t well labelled, you can fix that yourself in about an hour. Grab some clean labels and a fine-tip pen. Go through each MCB one by one—switch it off and see what stops working. Jot down what each circuit controls and label accordingly.

Keep a record of this info near the CU; it could save you a lot of hassle (or even your life) later.
Plus, it’ll make things easier for any electrician working in your home.

If you have issues with your RCD not resetting after it has tripped, check out our handy post: Help, I have no Power

Using Push-fit Fittings

Using Push-fit Fittings

Using Push-fit Fittings

Speedfit Pushfit Plumbing Fittings

Learning to use Pushfit Plumbing Fittings is easier than you think. As those of you who have been on our Home Confidence 1  – Understanding Plumbing Course will know, these JG Speedfit Push-fit Plumbing fittings are really straightforward to use.

They are great for DIY plumbing. We thought it would help to make a quick video to remind you of a couple of important tips when using the fittings.

If you still feel a bit wary about using push-fit fittings, or would like a bit more practice, why not sign up for one of our DIY Plumbing Courses, or check out our DIY Assist Service (we come to your home and support you with your DIY projects)