1.    How many homeowners know how to change a light bulb?

Many homeowners have no idea how to tackle basic tasks around the home, a survey suggests.

In a poll of 500 homeowners by the ECA, a fifth said they were unable to wire a plug, over a quarter couldn’t bleed a radiator and a third had no idea how to turn off their gas supply in the event of an emergency.

Worse still, one in sixteen of those polled said they didn’t know how to change a light bulb, with the dimmest offenders, quite literally, being female homeowners in their 20s.

In an age when homeowners are supposed to be keeping an eye on how much energy their homes consume, almost a third didn’t understand how to change the temperature on their central heating system.  One in five even admitted that they were unable to read their gas or electricity meter.

David Pollock, ECA Director, comments: “The study shows a number of homeowners lack basic knowledge when it comes to essential areas of home maintenance.  This is particularly worrying when you consider that many such activities involve gas, water or electricity.

“If in doubt, the answer should always be to call on a qualified professional rather than risk any potential damage or injury.”

Knowledge of how to do other simple tasks around the home was also found to be wanting such as how to change a fuse or unblock a sink.

A fifth of those polled by the ECA confessed to not knowing how to turn off their water supply if their pipes sprung a leak, and 41 per cent said they didn’t know how to operate their burglar alarms properly. 

02 July 2007

http://www.eca.co.uk/NewsAndViews/consumer.asp

2.   Smoke Detectors

It is advisable for everyone to have least one smoke detector somewhere in the home; and most people have at least one on every level, including the basement.

But did you know...

* Pushing the test button only verifies that there is battery (or AC) power present. It DOES NOT PROVE that the detector is capable of sensing smoke.

* To test a smoke detector, you can purchase a smoke canister specifically made for this purpose or you can hold a lit candle 6 inches below it. If the alarm doesn't sound, blow out the candle and let the smoke drift into the detector. If it still doesn't sound, check the power source or contact your local electrician.

* Homes with wired-in detectors should have a battery-powered unit as a back-up.

* Rechargeable batteries are NOT recommended for smoke detectors.

* When installing a smoke detector, avoid dead-air spaces in corners and at the very ends of hallways. Centre your smoke detector on a ceiling, keeping it at least 6 inches from any wall. Locate a wall-mounted unit one foot below the ceiling.

* Smoke detectors should be kept away from drafts at vents, doors and windows.

* The tops of stairwells and any hallways leading to bedrooms are the recommended locations, the latter being the most critical, and the position recommended by the local fire authorities .

* Carefully clean your detectors annually with a damp cloth.

About one quarter of all the homes we inspect have improperly located or non-functioning smoke detectors or none at all!

CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS TODAY!

3.    UFOs could cost homeowners thousands

A new report has revealed that homeowners could be risking thousands of pounds and possibly even their lives due to an abundance of UFOs.

But far from implying any form of extra terrestrial invasion, the term actually refers to over dependence of homeowners on their friends when it comes to household maintenance jobs, incidents of which have been dubbed UFOs (Useful Friend Offences) as they could actually be illegal in some cases.

A study carried out by the ECA has revealed that around half of all UK homeowners admit having tried to save cash by ‘getting a mate round’ to complete jobs they would otherwise need a tradesman to tackle.

But far from saving pennies, the bill for UFOs could run into thousands of pounds if the work carried out is not up to scratch.

ECA director David Pollock explains: “Many homeowners don’t realise that to cut down on the number of accidents and unsafe structures in the UK, building regulations have become a lot tighter. Work carried out by friends could actually be illegal if it doesn’t meet these requirements and could potentially land homeowners with a large fine.

“It is certainly now illegal for anyone to carry out domestic electrical installation work that does not comply with Part P of the Building regulations and, unless completed by a person that is qualified under a Part P Competent Person scheme, this work has to be notified to Local Authority Building Control.

“Getting a friend round to help may seem an easier option but it could end up costing thousands and also prevent, or significantly delay, any future sale of the property.”

And that’s not the only cost facing those who commit UFOs. Almost one in five of those who call on their friends to help with home maintenance jobs admit needing to call out a tradesman to rectify the work done anyway.

With the average ‘botched job’ repair cost coming in at around £400, the UK’s annual bill for this type of work is over £850 million, a staggering sum.

So who are the biggest culprits of UFOs in the UK? According to the ECA study, it’s homeowners living in the South West. Almost two thirds of those polled in this region admitted using a friend to complete work for them instead of a tradesman. By contrast, those living in Scotland are the group most likely to call in the professionals to get jobs done

.

13 July 2007

http://www.eca.co.uk/NewsAndViews/consumer.asp

4.    TrustMark

TrustMark is a scheme supported by the Government, consumer groups and the building industry to help consumers find reputable tradesmen to carry out repair, maintenance and improvement work. Firms displaying the TrustMark logo have been checked against Government-approved standards by a trade association such as ECA that has been licensed by TrustMark for this purpose.

5.     Self-certification

Self-certification was introduced by Government to reduce the administrative burden of the Building Regulations and allow local authorities to concentrate their inspection and enforcement resources on the areas of highest risk. The basic principle is that firms adjudged to be sufficiently competent are permitted to self-certify that their work has been carried out in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Building Regulations.

Self-certification schemes were first introduced for electrical contractors just prior to the introduction of Part P (Electrical Safety) of the Building Regulations in 2005. There are now approaching 30,000 electrical contractors signed up with 5 (full-scope) authorised Part P schemes.

ECA strongly supports the concept of self-certification by ‘Competent Persons’, provided the standards of competence are transparent, appropriate and properly applied.

6. Consumer Protection

ECA’s Code of Fair Trading is registered with the OFT. This code includes the commitment that members will work to recognized industry standards. To cover the event of insolvency or the failure of a business to comply with industry standards, customers can ask a member company for an insurance-backed warranty and bond.

ECA is an active participant in the DTI’s TrustMark scheme – the Government’s consumer protection initiative for the construction industry. ECA’s is licensed to sign-up members who work for consumers, who want to take advantage of the scheme and comply with its requirements.