We all rely on the drains that lead away from our homes on a daily basis, but we do little with regard to their maintenance until we have a blockage. There are some things you can do however to stop blockages before they occur.

• Pour boiling water down the drain on a regular basis
• Use debris catchers in sinks and bathtubs to collect food stuffs and hair
• Once a year pour a drain cleaning solution into your sink and bathtub plugholes
• Clear garden debris from the outside drains
• Keep your gutters clear from leaf debris

If you keep on top of your drain maintenance you won’t have to call a drain cleaning company as you won’t have a blocked drain.

If you have the right tools for the job you are doing will make a huge amount of difference to how quick you do the job and the quality of the finished job.

Some examples include:

Electrics: A multimeter - Checking voltages is impossible without a meter of some sort. And if you have a good multimeter you will be able to check AC, Dc and measure current.

Plastering: A float - Without a float, plastering a wall is nigh on impossible. If you try to use a trowel, you will be set up to fail.

Plumbing: Being able to use an adjustable wrench does not make you a plumber. You need a wide range of tools and not rely on the new type of push-fit connectors.

Fitting new tiles in the bathroom is not a complicated task; you just have to have the right tools and a little knowhow.

Assuming you’ve fixed the tiles to the wall, you will now have to mix your grout. The grout should have a smooth consistency similar to think cream.

Using a float, the grout can be pushed into the gaps between the tiles; don’t be tempted to use your fingers. When all the gaps are filled, run over the surface with the float one more time making sure there are no air bubbles beneath the surface of the grout. After about 20 minutes you can wipe the excess grout from the tiled surface using a damp cloth, making sure that the grout lies just under the level of the tiles. After a further hour, the surface of the tiles can be polished with a sponge. Make sure you leave adequate time before wetting the grout by having a bath or using the shower.

It’s always a good idea to get a professional to do the job if you are struggling or are unsure in any way.

There comes a time when the taps in your kitchen or bathroom will need replacing. It may be that they have simply given up the ghost, or it might be that you simply want to redesign the look of the room.

Replacing taps is easy, if you have the right tools and are confident about tackling this type of DIY job. If you are lucky, your taps will have been fitted with shut off valves, which can simply be turned off to isolate the water supply. If they haven’t got these valves, you will have to turn off the cold water supply and the hot water supply (depending on your heating system).

When fitting new taps, it’s always advisable to fit isolating valves so any maintenance at a later stage can be done quickly and easily. It’s also a good idea to use flexible braided hoses, which can make the installation job a lot easier.