Free guide · for homeowners
The Homeowner’s Essentials Guide
What to know, where to find it and what to do when something goes wrong
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Why this guide matters
Most home problems start small. A drip under the sink. A boiler that makes a new noise. A gutter full of leaves. Caught early, they cost very little to fix. Left alone, they can turn into ceilings coming down, damp walls and big bills.
This guide gives you the simple things every homeowner should know. You do not need to be good at DIY. You just need to know where things are, what to do in an emergency and when to call a professional.
Step 1: Find the three things that matter most
In an emergency, you will not have time to look for these. Find them now, label them and show everyone who lives with you.
Your stopcock (water)
The stopcock turns off the water to your whole home. It is usually under the kitchen sink. It can also be in a downstairs toilet, under the stairs, in a garage or where the water pipe comes into the house.
- Turn it clockwise to close it, and anticlockwise to open it.
- Test it once a year. If it is stiff, do not force it. Ask a plumber to look at it.
- There is often a second valve outside, under a small cover in the pavement or path. That one belongs to the water company.
Your fuse box (consumer unit)
This is where your electricity is controlled. It is often in the hallway, under the stairs, in a cupboard or in the garage.
- The main switch turns off all the power.
- The smaller switches (called breakers) each control one area, such as upstairs lights or kitchen sockets.
- Label each breaker if it is not already clear. A label maker or masking tape is fine.
Your gas meter and valve
The gas meter is usually outside in a meter box, or inside near the front door, under the stairs or in a cupboard. Next to it is a lever.
- When the lever is in line with the pipe, the gas is on.
- When the lever is across the pipe (at a right angle), the gas is off.
Propfix tip: Take a photo of your stopcock, fuse box and gas valve on your phone. Save them in an album called “Home”. If you ever need to talk someone through it, you will have the pictures ready.
Step 2: What to do in an emergency
If anyone is in danger, call 999 first. For everything else, follow these simple steps.
If you smell gas
- Do not turn any switches on or off. That includes lights.
- Do not use a flame, smoke or use anything that could spark.
- Open doors and windows to let fresh air in.
- Turn the gas off at the meter, but only if it is safe to do so.
- Leave the property.
- Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, free, 24 hours a day. Make the call from outside.
If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas you cannot see or smell. Signs include headaches, dizziness, feeling sick and tiredness.
- Get everyone out into fresh air straight away.
- Open windows and doors if you can do so on the way out.
- Turn off appliances if it is safe to do so.
- Call 0800 111 999.
- If anyone feels unwell, get medical help. Call 999 if it is serious.
- Do not use the appliance again until a Gas Safe registered engineer has checked it.
If a pipe bursts
- Turn the water off at the stopcock.
- If water is near electrics, sockets or light fittings, turn the power off at the fuse box. Only do this if the fuse box is dry and safe to reach.
- Turn on your cold taps to drain the water left in the pipes.
- Move valuables and soak up water with towels.
- Take photos for your records.
- Call a plumber.
If water is coming through the ceiling
- Turn the water off at the stopcock.
- Turn the power off at the fuse box if water is near any lights or electrics.
- If the ceiling is bulging, keep everyone out of the room. It may fall.
- Put a bucket under the drip and move furniture out of the way.
- Find the cause. It is often a bath, shower, toilet or tank in the room above.
- Call a plumber, and take photos.
If the power goes off
- Check if your neighbours have power. If not, it is a power cut. Call 105, the free number for power cuts.
- If it is just your home, look at the fuse box. Has a switch flipped down?
- Unplug the appliances on that circuit, then push the switch back up.
- Plug things back in one at a time. If the switch flips again when you plug something in, that item is likely faulty. Stop using it.
- If the switch keeps flipping with everything unplugged, call an electrician.
Important: Never use water on an electrical fire. Get out, close the door behind you and call 999.
If a drain or toilet is blocked
- Stop using the sink, bath or toilet.
- Try a plunger first. For sinks, cover the overflow hole with a damp cloth while you plunge.
- Avoid strong chemical drain cleaners. They can damage pipes and are dangerous if they splash.
- If water is backing up in more than one place, or outside drains are overflowing, call a professional.
Step 3: The yearly must-dos
These few jobs prevent most of the big, expensive problems.
Every year
- Service your boiler. A Gas Safe registered engineer should check it once a year. It keeps it safe, efficient and often keeps the warranty valid.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Press the test button every month. Replace batteries when they run low, and replace the whole alarm by the date on it.
- Clear gutters and downpipes. Do this after the leaves fall. Blocked gutters cause damp walls and leaks.
- Check the sealant around your bath, shower and sinks. If it is cracked, black or peeling, replace it before water gets behind it.
- Look at your roof from the ground. Use binoculars or your phone’s zoom. Look for slipped or missing tiles and damaged flashing. Do not climb onto the roof.
- Test your stopcock. Turn it off and on again so it does not seize.
Step 4: Keep a home file
A home file saves time, money and stress. It also helps when you sell your home, claim on a warranty or need to prove work was done.
Keep one folder, paper or digital, with:
- Receipts for any work done, with the date and who did it.
- Warranties and guarantees for your boiler, windows, roof and appliances.
- Certificates, such as gas safety records, electrical certificates and your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
- Manuals for your boiler, heating controls and appliances.
- Before and after photos of any work.
- Your meter readings, taken now and then, with a photo.
Propfix tip: Take a photo of every receipt and certificate as soon as you get it. Paper fades and gets lost. A photo in a cloud folder lasts.
Step 5: How to choose and check a tradesperson
Most trades are honest and good at what they do. A few are not. These checks help you tell the difference.
Before you book anyone
- Gas work: the engineer must be on the Gas Safe Register. Check their ID card and look them up on the Gas Safe Register website.
- Electrical work: look for an electrician registered with a recognised scheme, such as NICEIC or NAPIT.
- Insurance: ask if they have public liability insurance. A good trade will happily show you.
- A written, fixed price: get the price in writing before work starts, with what is and is not included.
- No big upfront cash: a fair deposit for materials is normal. Paying most or all of the price upfront, or in cash only, is a warning sign.
- Reviews and past work: read recent reviews and ask to see photos of similar jobs.
- Extra work agreed first: any extra work should be explained and priced before it starts.
Important: Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door saying your roof or drive needs urgent work, and asks for money today. Say no and get a second opinion.
Step 6: Small jobs vs when to call a pro
| Usually fine to do yourself | Always call a professional |
|---|---|
| Bleeding a radiator | Anything to do with gas or your boiler |
| Topping up boiler pressure (following the manual) | New sockets, lights or rewiring |
| Changing a light bulb or alarm battery | Work near the fuse box |
| Clearing a sink with a plunger | Leaks you cannot find or stop |
| Replacing bath sealant | Anything on a ladder above one storey, or on the roof |
| Tightening a loose door handle | Cracks in walls that are growing |
A simple rule: if it involves gas, electrics, heights or water you cannot stop, call a professional.
Your first week in a new home
New home checklist
- Find and label your stopcock, fuse box and gas valve.
- Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. Fit new ones if any are missing.
- Take meter readings for gas, electricity and water, with photos.
- Ask the seller or agent for the boiler manual and service history.
- Book a boiler service if there is no record of one in the last year.
- Change the locks, or have them changed. You do not know who has keys.
- Check the bath and shower sealant, and the outside gutters.
- Start your home file with your purchase papers, EPC and any certificates.
- Save the National Gas Emergency number, 0800 111 999, and the power cut number, 105, in your phone.
How Propfix can help
If you would rather not do any of this yourself, we can. Send us a few photos of the job using our free quote form and we will send you a clear, fixed price. If we need to see the job, book an £89 quote visit and the full £89 comes off your job.
Want it all done for you? The Propfix Home Club is £15 a month. You get a yearly home check, your boiler service booked every year, priority booking and one number for every job. It is a service, not insurance, and you can cancel any time.
Prefer to talk? Call 01895 444 999. A real person answers. We cover Harrow, Ruislip, Uxbridge, Watford and nearby.