HOUSEHOLD TIPS NOT FOUND IN WOMAN'S WEEKLY

[Stanley]

Where possible walk on untrodden snow. Less chance of slipping if it's freezing! (Avoid the yellow snow.....)

[Stanley]

Just as an insurance policy, first thing in the morning pour a kettle of boiling water down the sink plug hole to make sure it is not iced up. No problems as yet but I am keeping an eye on it....

[Stanley]

Thinking about my weekend wash...,. Before I do it I will take off the outside drain for the washer, it's deliberately a slip fit, and make sure it is clear. The wash will be a hot wash! I got caught out by this one before many years ago, once bitten, twice shy!

[Julie in Norfolk]

Mother got caught out with a frozen drain pipe on her washing machine yesterday, the pipe work was combined with her sink and she was trying to bale out the sink!

[Big Kev]

There are a lot of people suffering with frozen condensate pipes on their CH boilers, this may prove useful to anyone who is affected by this Frozen Condensate Pipe

[Tizer]

Keep an eye on roof valleys - they're OK while filled with snow but the trouble can begin when the snow melts! Same with hailstones, which happened to us in the old village house. There was a heavy hailstorm and the horizontal lead valley between two roofs filled to about a foot depth. Water got into the loft when the hail melted.

[Stanley]

And of course it isn't until the thaw happens that you realise that a pipe has been ruptured.
My quick fix of my condensate pipe worked fine. I shall make sure that insulation is replaced as soon as the weather gets better!

[Tizer]

Cleaning the filter on the Dyson vacuum cleaner hasn't solved the problem and the motor must be at death's door - when we started it there was even more smell. We gave it a while to see if the smell cleared but it didn't, so....Mrs Tiz is on the lookout for a new vacuum cleaner. Has anyone got recommendations? It will be a bagless model, cylinder or handheld, corded or cordless - not an upright. We have mostly carpets. She likes the Dysons but I feel that they're very aggressive to carpets. She'll have the final say!

[Wendyf]

When the motor on our Dyson failed we discovered that Dyson will come to your house and refurbish the whole machine for a fixed price. Ours got a new motor, flexible tube, brushes and filters and has worked perfectly ever since. Just checked their website and the price is now £99.

[Big Kev]

When the motor on our Dyson failed we discovered that Dyson will come to your house and refurbish the whole machine for a fixed price. Ours got a new motor, flexible tube, brushes and filters and has worked perfectly ever since. Just checked their website and the price is now £99.

A lot cheaper than a new one.

[Big Kev]

A colleague at work has the G-tech Air Ram cordless. He said it's very good (he has a hairy dog). There was a deal when he bought his where you could get the upright machine and a handheld one at a reduced price.
https://www.gtech.co.uk/cordless- ... QAvD_BwE

[Stanley]

I got the Hoover bagless for £80. Brilliant, they tell me it's lighter than the Dyson as well.

[Tizer]

I should have pointed out that we don't have a dog and so we don't need a doggy vacuum - but it looks like we're moving to a stage where every vacuum will be a doggy one!

Wendy, how old was your Dyson when the motor failed? Ours has done 20 years with no problem until now.

Stanley, is your Hoover a cylinder or an upright?

[Wendyf]

I can't remember Tiz, not that old but well out of guarantee.

[Tizer]

Mrs Tiz probably won't go down the path of repairing the present Dyson because the later models have useful features not present on the older ones.

The Gtech AirRam suffers from not having the accompanying various extra tools and you have to spend an extra £150 to get their small additional vacuum.

[Marilyn]

Did my 3 filters about a fortnight ago...after I had cleaned our van.
My vac is an Electrolux and I've been happy with it. The filters are expensive...

[Stanley]

It's an upright Tiz, the filter is low tech and easily cleaned. Before I had the air compressor I used a brush. Very good suction and an adequate set of tools built in. (LINK)
I'd recommend it, nearest thing to an old Hoover I have seen and does the job perfectly well for £75.

[Stanley]

If you're looking for the first signs of Spring, take note of Julie and the frog spawn!

[PanBiker]

We are tilting that way but hold on a bit longer, only 14 days to the equinox.

[Stanley]

It won't be long before bedding plants appear for sale. Don't be frightened of holding back, we can get frost as late as early June. Far too early in Barlick for bedding out!

[Stanley]

As if to reinforce that we have snow this morning and it is definitely winter again!
My yard needs a good power wash. When we have some better weather I shall be borrowing Ian's power washer.....

[Stanley]

None of us likes spending money..... Unfortunately the realities of life always prevail in the end and I have decided that it is now time for a new mixer tap on the kitchen sink! My tip this morning is if you need a plumber ask your friends so I'm doing that. Can anyone recommend a reliable plumber working in Barlick?

[Big Kev]

I've always done my own so it would be difficult to give a personal recommendation. Based on feedback on the Barnoldswick Talk Facebook page, Adam Antcliffe is local and looks to be reliable and efficient.
07946 365949

[Stanley]

Thanks Kev..... I shall do something about it!

[Tizer]

..I have decided that it is now time for a new mixer tap on the kitchen sink!

A mixer tap? Didn't you disconnect the hot water?