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7 Common London Property Maintenance Issues and How Snowik Can HelpNew Title

Sep 12, 2022

When you’re living in a property, you get used to every nook and cranny of the building.

If you’ve been living in the home for a while, you will know it like the back of your hand, and this means you quickly pick up when something is wrong.

Some issues are obvious, such as when you’re standing under the shower and the water is freezing cold or when you’re suddenly plunged into darkness as the lights simultaneously turn off.

Some are not so obvious, such as damp growing in a hidden corner of a room and drains that aren’t flowing properly.

London Property Maintenance

Your issue may need dealing with in the next few hours, or the next few weeks, but all need fixing.

Many property maintenance issues require much more than a bit of DIY, and that’s where Snowik come in.

We offer property maintenance in London and have engineers and contractors ready to be at your home the day you get in touch.

We know how worrying it can be when something goes wrong in your home, and that’s why we’ve created this handy guide on seven common property maintenance issues and how we can help.

Let’s take a look.

1. The Boiler has Broken

When a boiler breaks, it needs dealing with quickly, especially in the winter when having a warm home is a necessity.

But this is easier said than done.

The average life of a boiler is around ten to fifteen years, so if you’ve been living in a home for a long time, then you will face the prospect of needing a new boiler.

There are many issues that can occur to boilers such as leaks of water or gas caused by damaged pipework or faulty seals that lead to low pressure and a dangerous environment (in the case of gas).

At Snowik, we have gas and heating engineers who are experts in dealing with boiler breakdowns, regular maintenance and boiler services, as well as HIU and FCU systems.

If you have noticed your boiler is making strange sounds, your heating isn’t working as it should, or you can smell gas, it is vital you get in touch with an engineer quickly who can fix any problems and make sure your appliance is safe.

2. Your Drains are Blocked

One of the worse issues to have is blocked drains.

Either from your toilet, bath, shower, or sink, if water is not flowing freely and waste is not being extracted as it should, you will soon find your house turns a bit smelly.

Blocked drains can be quick to deal with or can be a much bigger problem, depending on the size of the blockage and how deep it is in the pipework.

So, how can you fix it?

Well, you can try and fix it yourself by pouring boiling water down, using a plunger, or using a shop-bought drain unblocker, but for big stoppages, this won’t do the trick.

In this case, you will need to call a professional team such as Snowik.

With drains, it is often hard to really see the issue. Our team of experts has the tools and capabilities to carry out a full CCTV survey to catch a clear sight of the problem and get to action right away on all drainage systems, from guttering to manholes.

If a blocked drain is left unfixed, the blockage will only grow and the job will only get bigger, so it’s vital you act quickly and get your water flowing freely again.

3. You’ve got a Leak

Over time things wear down.

If the seals on your pipework are coming loose, this can cause leaks.

Some leaks can be small, such as small drips every few minutes, or some can be big and can cause a lot of damage quickly.

In both cases, a repair needs to be made as soon as possible.

When water gets in between walls and covers floors, your property then becomes very susceptible to damp and rot.

This can cause major issues down the line.

So, what should you do if you experience a leak?

Well, the first step should be to try and stop the water flow by turning off the water intake to your house. The quicker you do this, the less damage that will be caused.

After this, you need to get a plumber out who can locate the faulty pipework and replace the issue area.

Once fixed, the plumber will perform a test to check the seal is watertight, and that your problem is solved.

4. You’ve got a Pile of Rubbish and Nowhere to Take It

Home improvements can lead to a lot of mess.

If you are finding your waste piling up and taking over your garden, you may be worrying about what to do next.

A build-up of waste over time can cause many issues, including killing your garden that is buried underneath it and also leading to smells and a build-up of dust and dirt.

An issue with waste removal is how to keep it ethical and environmentally friendly when there is a large mound of it.

If this sounds familiar, then you need Snowik’s waste removal service.

We can arrange a one-off or regular collections that are always disposed of responsibly.

If you are a business that amasses a lot of waste, or someone struggling with a personal waste pile that can’t be removed by the council, then you need to find a way to remove it before it becomes a problem, and the quicker you remove it the better.

5. You’ve Spotted Damp and Mould

We hinted on damp issues earlier, but they are such a big issue that they deserve their own section.

Damp isn’t always caused by leaking pipes, but more often is caused by excess moisture in the air. In bathrooms and kitchens where condensation is rife, this moisture needs somewhere to escape, such as an extractor fan. If it has nowhere, it leads to damp and mould forming.

There are many issues which lead to moisture being in the air, such as something as simple as the change in temperature from night to day.

So, how can you spot these issues? Well, if your walls are bare, you may see the unmistakable black signs of mould, but you should also look for musty smells, peeling paintwork and wallpaper that is bubbling or coming loose.

There are two types of damp, rising and penetrating, and these need to be treated differently.

Rising damp starts from the floor and ground level and works up. Suitable and correct rising damp prevention methods must be carried out by quailed contractors to successfully eliminate the rising damp issue. Penetrating damp is often gained through a leak, and to fix this the structure causing the issues must be replaced.

These can range from small to very large jobs, so it is always wise to get a professional, such as the team at Snowik, to come and assess the damage, find the problem area, and fix any issues.

6. Your Roof is Damaged

A damaged roof can cause lots of problems.

Depending on the material of your roof, the lifespan may be very different. If you have a slate roof for instance, this should last for 100 years or more. A felt roof may not last for a fifth of this.

Different roofs can have different issues, so it’s vital you learn what to look out for to spot the signs of damage. For flat roofs, you may get bubbling and blistering, and issues with thermal expansion which leads to cracks.

For pitched roofs, you may be susceptible to cracked tiles which lead to holes in your roof.

All of these need fixing as the smallest hole in a roof can lead to wind and water getting underneath and causing damage to the structure of your home.

So, what are the signs that your roof is damaged?

Well, if you are seeing damp patches from water breaking through, hearing a high-pitched whistling sound, or noticing patches of light breaking through your roof, these are clear signs that there is a hole and these must be dealt with.

Roofs can be hard to visually inspect safely, so that’s why it’s vital you consult professionals to assess and fix your roof in the safest and most efficient way possible.

At Snowik, our roofing contractors are comfortable with a wide range of roofing materials and can do everything, from replacing a single tile to installing a whole new roof. All works are performed by fully qualified Snowik engineers and are covered by Snowik warranty in some cases lasting up to 20 years for new roofs installation - subject to the type of the roof.

7. You’ve Got No Electricity

Ever been enjoying a film and all of a sudden everything goes black?

Looks like something has gone wrong with your electricity.

Sometimes this is an issue with a fuse, which can be a relatively simple fix, but there may be a bigger problem.

If the rest of your street is still lit up, then the problem is just within your home, so you must locate the issue and get it fixed as with no electricity your freezer will defrost, you will have no light, and in many cases, alarms may be going off.

The key thing to remember with electricity is that it can be extremely dangerous to handle if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

Instead of taking any risks, it is vital that you entrust a professional electrician who can be out quickly and can locate and fix your problems efficiently.

At Snowik, we work with commercial and domestic properties to ensure blackouts last for the shortest amount of time possible. Safety is paramount for our electrical engineers, and that’s why we waste no time in getting out to you and getting your appliances back running.

We even work with specialist smart home systems such as Lutron and Crestron, so can fix and maintain these appliances as well.