Limescale can build up inside your boiler and although this is completely normal, it’s important to routinely descale your boiler to keep it in tip-top shape as it can have a negative effect on the lifespan of your boiler and the effectiveness of your central heating system.

Find out more how a Gas Safe Registered engineer would descale your boiler, and why you should consider it.

Cleaning your washing machine regularly is key to making sure it works efficiently and effectively.

If you’d like to find out more, read our guide to cleaning your washing machine.

Despite a dishwasher being a cleaning appliance, it doesn’t stay as clean as you might think! Your dishes might be sparkling, but there are plenty of hidden areas inside a dishwasher where grime can build up. To keep your dishwasher in excellent condition, we recommend cleaning it once a month. The good news is that it’s quick and easy with no fuss involved. Read our handy guide to find out how to clean your dishwasher.

We know it’s not a pleasant job, but it’s worth knowing how to unblock your toilet.

We’ve put together a handy step-by-step guide on how to clear a blocked toilet.

If your sink has become slow to drain or stops draining completely, there’s likely to be a blockage somewhere in the waste pipe.

We’ve put together a guide for how to clear a blocked sink.

If the water in your shower or bath isn’t draining, the chances are that you’ve got a blockage.

We’ve put together a handy step-by-step guide on how to clear a blocked shower or bath.

If your plumbing freezes or springs a leak, you'll need to shut off your water supply in order to make repairs. You'll also need to do this when replacing fixtures, changing pipes or performing any general maintenance. Follow this simple guide to turning off your water:

• Step 1: you may be able to shut off the water to individual areas (and in this case, you won't have to turn off your water at the mains). Look for a shut off valve close to the damaged pipe/area you want to shut down water to. These are usually hidden behind or under fixtures.

• Step 2: if you find you can't shut off the water to a particular area, you'll need to locate your stopcock. This is usually found under your kitchen sink but if you're having trouble finding it, trace the pipes back from your tap until you find a valve on the main water supply.

• Step 3: turn the stopcock clockwise to turn the water supply off.

If you find yourself without heating or hot water, there may be a problem with your boiler’s pressure. Read our handy guide to find out how to top up your boiler pressure.

As condensate pipes often run outside your property, they are prone to freezing over the winter and even the most well-maintained boiler will struggle to work if this happens.

If you’d like to find out more, read our guide to thawing a frozen condensate pipe.

If you don’t know how to test your water pressure but suspect you have a problem, we’ve put together a handy guide to help.

Do you know what to do if you have a blown fuse?

We’re put together a handy guide for you to repair a fuse.

Complete Home Emergency Cover from Home Emergency Assist covers you in the event of an infestation of rats, mice, wasps and hornets in your home (or buildings attached to your home).

In the meantime though, we’ve put together a guide to help you protect your home from all manner of pests.

We would suggest you test your boiler in the autumn before the weather really turns cold. Just turn it on long enough to check the radiators heat up. Next, arrange a boiler service which will identify any problems and ensure you get these dealt with in time for the first cold spell. We can arrange a boiler service for you as part of certain cover plans we offer.

Read our blog post on caring for your boiler and central heating over winter for more information.

Installing smoke detectors in your home is one of the most important steps towards keeping you and your family safe. Read our step-by-step guide to find how to install your smoke alarm.

If you have no heating or hot water and you can’t get your boiler pilot light to reignite, follow our simple guide for troubleshooting this problem.

This common plumbing problem will happen to all of us at some point, but there are a few things you can try before you call out a plumber.

Read our step-by-step guide for finding a solution yourself.

A dripping tap isn't just annoying - it can waste more than 5,300 litres of water a year!

We've put together a step-by-step guide to help you tackle the problem.

Detecting a water leak within your home doesn’t have to be difficult. Read our step-by-step guide to find out how.

We know it may be simple, but if you’ve just moved into your first home and aren’t sure how to do it, we’re here to help.

Read our step-by-step guide for fitting/changing a lightbulb.

Bleeding your radiators ensure that they can reach maximum heat. When the top of your radiator feels cold but the bottom is warm, this indicates that trapped air needs releasing (or ‘bleeding’) to improve flow.

Although it may seem like a daunting task, it’s quite simple with our handy step-by-step guide.

If some of your radiators are taking longer than others to heat up, you may need to balance your radiators to ensure your home heats up evenly.

You can read our handy step-by-step guide to find out how to do this.