Getting to know your new home
Once you move in, make time to familiarise yourself with your new home so you’re prepared in case of emergency.
Water meter and stop tap
Beneath your kitchen sink, you will find two important items: a water meter and stop tap.
If you have a leak, turn the stop tap to stop water flow. If this does not completely turn off the water supply, the shut-off valve is beneath an inspection chamber at the front of your property in the footpath.
Turning this to an “off” position will shut off the water supply completely. After shutting off the water supply you will need to run all of the taps in the property to drain any water already in the system.
Electricity
The electricity to your property is supplied via the meter, located within the wall mounted unit outside.
From the meter, cables run out to your consumer unit (often referred to as a fuse box). This contains the main on/off switch and a number of Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs), which protect individual circuits.
The MCB will automatically disconnect the supply of electricity if one of the circuits is overloaded or there is a fault. You can reset an MCB by simply switching it back to the ‘on’ position.
A consumer unit will also often contain a Residual Current Device (RCD), which provides additional shock protection. An RCD which has ‘tripped’ can be reset by returning the switch to the ‘on’ position. RCDs should be tested to ensure they are functioning correctly: you can do this by pressing the ‘test’ button.
Gas
As with the electricity supply, the gas supply to your property comes from the meter outside. If you think you have a gas leak, exit the property and contact the National grid gas emergency number on 0800 111 999. If you need to turn your gas off, turn the red valve/handle on the gas meter in the meter cupboard outside your property to “OFF”
Heating and hot water system
Your new home has been fitted with a modern, energy efficient heating and hot water system that will help to heat your home while saving you money and the environment. Operating instructions and further information on the heating and hot water system can be found in the welcome pack.
Ventilation System
Your home may have a ventilation system installed, this will either be a Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) system or a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system. These ventilation systems help to control condensation and dampness in your home and they work by pushing air out of the home and replacing it with fresh, filtered air. You should not switch the unit off as it monitors itself to optimise air quality and energy without your help. Ventilation system running costs are extremely low.
Smoke alarms
There are smoke alarms located on each floor. They are mains and battery operated. If the battery starts to fail, the alarm will start to bleep and you will need to replace the battery. Please ensure you turn the power off on the consumer unit before touching any electrical item.
Test the system regularly by pressing the button on the alarm. If working ok, the alarm will beep twice if a 2 storey house, and 3 times for a 3 story house. Ensure you dust the alarm regularly as excessive dust can trigger it to go off.