Install a BEKO Slimline Dishwasher.

BEKO Slimline Dishwasher

In order to install the dishwasher, I first had to source it. 
The couple are in their very late years and time is taking its toll. Vision is fading, and falls are frequent. They need something robust and simple. No huge array of flashing lights and tiny touch screen buttons, but SIMPLE buttons ON - OFF - WORK. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. At home Trish and I  have a Bosch Logixx automatic dishwasher. A fabulous machine with DOZENS and DOZENS of different programmes. We use ONE. We want the dishes clean that's all. We don't want to fly to the moon. It goes on standard wash come hell or high water. One programme. Talking to the vast majority of my customers who use dishwashers and washing machines, they do the same. 
But I digress...
I went to Langney Domestics (opposite the Salvation Army) and sourced a slimline model with 3 proper controls. On/Off  Stop/Start  Programme 1/2/3. No stupid screen in 10 different languages.
Langney Domestics is a family run electrical retailer celebrating over 40 years of trading. 
Ken helped find the right sort of dishwasher for somebody with fading sight. The dishwasher was in stock (as is almost everything they sell) and I was able to take it straight back to the customers house. The unit slotted into position and fitting it was simple It was soon up and running, and the lady was happy. She can now operate the dishwasher by touch when her eyesight deteriorates further.
If you'd like to email me on this or any other topic CLICK HERE

Get rid of an air lock, a simple methodology

Hectic, hectic, hectic... Over the past few days I've been flying around Eastbourne doing Jim'll Fix It things. 
In these troubled times I'm pleased to be busy - lots of people are having a very hard time of it at the moment.
It helps that many of my customers use me on a regular basis and continue to recommend me to their friends to do those 'no job to small' jobs. As the lady on the telly says 'every little helps'.
Some jobs take literally five minutes or less. I've lost count of the number of light bulbs I've changed for people who can no longer do it. The funny thing is that when you do that sort of thing, people remember, and then they call you back again and again to do jobs that actually pay! My mother used to say "it costs nothing to be nice to others and it will bring rewards", and over the years I've tried, sometimes successfully, to follow her advice.
A case in point. Some time ago I was called to a house in Kilpatrick Close in Eastbourne. The basin hot tap would run for a short while and then just peter out.
"New tap washers" the lady said. "No" said I "its an airlock".
Less than five minutes later I was done and on my way.
Since then I've been back to the house several times to do other 'proper' jobs. Little things lead to greater things.
For all those reading this, sometimes, there is a simple way to get rid of an airlock.
It doesn't always work, but in this instance, it worked almost instantly.
Here's how.
Turn the offending tap on.
Go down stairs to the kitchen.
If the kitchen sink has a monobloc tap, hold your hand very firmly over the outlet so that water can't get out. Keeping your hand tight over the spout turn on the hot tap. Now turn on the cold tap. The mains pressure water forces its way back up through the hot water system and expunges the air as it does. Let it force its way through for a minute or so and  Hey Presto air lock will be gone.
As I said, it doesn't always work, and then only on certain types of system.
If you not sure or don't want to do it yourself  CALL ME on 07930 335 937 and I'll come around and do it for you.
PS if you don't get it right you can get very wet!

To email me follow this link

Power shower

My customer had just moved into her new flat and had a problem with her shower -- it didn't work.
Well that's not strictly true. It did work. Just not well enough. 
It took ages to shower and there was simply not enough flow.
The water came out like someone with serious prostate problems.
She wanted a strong shower and at reasonable cost, so after a bit of research we decided that I should fit the 'Vigour' model from Mira, supplied by Plumbase in Eastbourne. I use Plumbase whenever possible. All of the guys know what they are talking about and are always friendly and helpful.
Fitting Mira products is generally a breeze, and this one was no exception. Getting to the hot and cold feeds under the bath proved to be more like an exercise in yoga. During installation I grazed my knuckles a couple of times, but apart from that it all went smoothly.  When the unit was commissioned later that day, Janice was delighted with the  surprisingly variable high powered shower. It cost a little bit more than the cheap models that are available, but the difference in output and looks more than cover the small extra outlay.


To email me follow this link

Fix a dripping overflow discover a rats nest

Spotless house.
Not a speck of dirt anywhere.
A place for everything and everything in its place.
The overflow in the loft was pouring water onto the ground outside.
In the loft two cisterns.
One for the hot and cold water.
One for the central heating.
Set up the step ladder.
Lift up the loft hatch. Switch on loft light. Start climbing into the loft.

Changing a ballcock in a storage tank is simple work. Its the getting to it and the finding what's there that causes the headaches. In this case it was very easy. Plenty of light, solid floor, and easy to get to. The pipework had a stopcock fitted so it was simply a matter of turning the water off. Undo the mains tap connector. Undo the back nut. take the old valve out and replace with a new one and then reverse the process.

The smell, immediately recognisable, everywhere, intense, pungent, biting the back of the throat.
The stench of urine. Over by the chimney the droppings. Long. Cylindrical. Rats it can only be rats.

I could smell them, but I had no intention of going after them. Their droppings were over by the chimney, so I stayed well away. Having changed the valve and checked for leaks, I was off out of there. The lady of the house had heard some noises over the months but thought it was birds nesting. She called Pest Control straight away and they will be there tomorrow afternoon to lay poison and traps. Let's hope they get the blighters.

Computer Help, Leaky taps, Bathroom Heater

It's been a day of many talents today. One of the things I did was show a lady how to set up a blog. Easy when you know how, but daunting when she'd only just started using a computer in the last two months.. Basic computer lessons and home computer help is something I've been doing for quite a number of years. In a previous life (I've had so many!) I used to train people for a living. I don't have the educational qualifications to be a teacher, but many people tell me that I'm a very good trainer. I've found that if you concentrate on getting the basics, the fundamentals, right, the rest is a lot simpler. She was an avid traditional diarist, and wanted to start doing the same on her new computer. She'd tried a computer help forum  but only got more confused (Hey, that's happened to me too) Blog help was what she wanted, and so blog help is what she got.
After an hour she was flying solo, and so I was free to go on my way to the next call.

Which was - you guessed it - a leaky tap. Dripping taps are so annoying, and yet so easy to fix - most of the time. This one was not to be ignored. It wasn't dripping. It was pouring.
Imagine a Victorian mansion, sub-divided into flats. Over the years so many alterations have been made to the property that Stop Cocks are buried under many layers of remodelling. In other words - not to be found.
As the water pressure was so low I decided to do it "live". Open the taps in the flat to reduce the flow even further. Take the tap head off. Undo the barrel. Change the washer. Reverse the order. Hey Presto! Job done. WARNING! Don't do this unless you know what you're doing. Because it can go wrong. And then you need to know what to do next. Leaky pipes. Non flushing cisterns. Fitting bathroom heaters. Changing bannisters on the stairs, and helping people with Technology. It's all in a days work for the Eastbourne Handyman.

Here is a resource you may find useful if you have a good background knowledge of  using a computer. Some lessons get a bit to technical for the majority of users, but it's a very good place to start.

A day in the life of Eastbourne Handyman

Had a great day today.
Phones are constantly ringing and lots of small jobs are coming in.
By 10.30 I'd already helped four households out of trouble.
I can't tell you the number of times I've heard people say they can't find anyone to do the small jobs.
I love doing the small jobs,. It's what I do!. For example, very often when carpet fitters fit new carpets, doors need to be trimmed. It only takes a few minutes to do - when you've got the right tools. If you haven't - you're stuck - quite literally. Because I've got the right equipment (so to speak), it only took me 15 minutes to do 3 doors this afternoon and then I was on my way to the next job, which was looking at a house with 35 sash windows to un-stick, re-cord and draught proof. Today I've worked in 7 different houses, and drunk so many cups of tea that I need to stop now and fix another leak!
Whether it's fixing dripping taps, overflow dripping, leaky washers, fuse blown, door sticking, or any other annoyance you can think of, Jim'll Fix it.

Electrics, plumbing, plastering, fitting an eastbourne kitchen

The kitchen has as expected taken up all of this week.
Oliver was off sick on Tuesday and so a delay started... by Thursday he and Abdul (his apprentice) had rewired the kitchen and corrected some horror scenarios in the consumer unit (fuse box). The best one being that when the main switch was turned off - the house was still live. Still all's well that ends well. The faults have been put right and the kitchen is now up to current regs. Oliver and Abdul finished 'first fix' on Wednesday. The owners then decided that they would like the kitchen walls skimmed prior to fitting the kitchen. This meant that Raf started plastering late on Wednesday evening and completed the task by just after 23:00.
By doing it like that Oliver was able to do 'second fix' and 'test and certify' by late Thursday afternoon. While all of this was happening I had sorted the rerouting of the plumbing so that it was all ready for the final connections when the kitchen was fitted... Friday morning we finally started fitting. By close of play today, Saturday, the clients now have a fully functioning kitchen. Monday will be a short day of small details and by the mid afternoon we will be on our way to the next job.

Resealing a shower tray.

From the phone call it sounded simple enough.
"I've tried sealing the shower tray several times - but it is still leaking!" So went the call. I called to investigate - and opened a can of worms! The plumbing was sound. In fact the Eastbourne plumber who had been called in to renew the shower valve had done a very nice job. That wasn't the problem. The shower tray was enclosed on three sides. and someone else had obviously used several tubes of silicone, and had added those ghastly, useless trim seals to it. It was - in the homeowners words - a mess. The shower tray pedestal panel was removed and yes, it was definitely wet under there. The shower tray was in fact being held in place by the silicone because the floor in one corner was completely rotted away!
And so the nightmare on Schofield Way Eastbourne began.
In order to renew the floor and reseat a new shower tray (The old one was finished) the tray had to come out. Tiles had to be removed and walls cut back to free the tray, and then more of the walls needed to be cut back some more to allow the new (deeper) tray to 'slip' in. It doesn't sound difficult on paper - but believe me it was a nightmare. Not a job for the faint hearted. It was much akin to me trying to fit into the size trousers I wore two decades ago. With much grunting and puffing and swearing the new shower tray is firmly in place and ready to be tiled on Monday.
Now it's just a case of making good and the job is complete. All nightmares end. Jim'll Fix It 07930 335 937

Rain stopped play

What a miserable week (weatherwise) last week was.

It rained, and rained, and rained, and then it rained some more. My plan had been to complete the basement porch. Someone must have heard about my plan, and smiled. Then that someone let it rain for forty days and forty nights... No, that was someone else, wasn't it? It just felt like forty days and nights.

What I did manage to do was catch up with other workloads.

I've changed several light fittings, renewed sockets, switches, and a cooker hood, replaced washers on literally dozens of taps, rehung a couple of doors, restored two of my customers computers to fully functioning former glory, replaced a hand rail, built some flatpack, custom built a kitchen cabinet to hide a boiler, hung some curtains, and wired up a door bell. The one thing I didn't do last week was stop and offer a lift to a young teenage girl standing at a lonely bus stop in the pouring rain.

Why not?

Prejudice and cowardice!

I'm a 55 year old man driving a builder's van.

She was about 11 - 16 (who can tell?) and drowning at the bus stop.

Driving along the road, I was approaching the bus stop and saw her standing there, trying to hide behind the bus stop pole for protection against the rain.

I started to slow down, intending to offer a her a lift.

The windscreen wipers were having difficulty keeping up with the rain.

In the same second as I started to slow down, I made the decision to continue on without stopping. I don't think she even noticed me or the van.

Twenty years ago I would have stopped.

Ten years ago I would have stopped.

Five years ago I would have stopped.

But last week I didn't.

As I prepared to slow down, my thoughts were purely selfish.
She'll think I'm some sort of pervert.

She'll be afraid.

She could accuse me of something afterwards and I will have no defence.

and many other scenarios filled me with disquiet.

I have found the whole thing strangely sad.

She will never know that it made me feel wretched.

What has happened that we have developed into a society where I, and people like me, don't do what comes naturally (to offer help), because we are afraid of what might never happen.
Am I getting older and wiser, or simply older and more afraid?

Fixed my own toilet!!!!

For (at least!) the last two months we've been living with water hammer.
Since mid September we've had the drone of water hammer every time the loo was used. Having a handyman as a husband, my wife should have been able to expect the job to be done immediately. Why has she been waiting for so long? I hear you cry. To be honest I have no idea! It's bugged me since it started! The drone was terrible. It just went on and on.
We were having a lie in this morning/afternoon and all of a sudden I decided to fix it. So there I was, on a peaceful Sunday, in my lolly gaggers, head under the cistern, replacing the defective ball valve. It only took a few minutes and the job was done.
What I still can't figure out is why it took so long for me to get around to it. . I knew what the problem was. I had the parts in the van. I had the tools to hand. I knew it would only take a few minutes. So why oh why did it take so long? Can any one tell me?

Kitchen Fitter Plumber Carpenter Electrician Handyman Eastbourne

One of the things I'm doing this week is fitting a kitchen.
It's from B&Q. Bits are either missing or damaged.
Kitchen fitting demands a large range of skills from carpentry and plumbing to electrics and tiling, and can often include plastering and decorating.
There's nothing particularly difficult about fitting a kitchen, but only having some of the parts does make it far more interesting to fit. A sink without a strainer. The same sink without the blanking plug. Worktop damaged (under the label!!!!!). Worktop jointing bolts, but no compound. Drawer fronts damaged (but not a mark on the packaging). To be fair, it doesn't matter where the kitchen comes from, there will almost always be one or two hiccups.
The reason I prefer to use a trade supplier is that when things do go wrong (as they will) I've always found they are put right immediately. My preference is whenever possible to use Howdens Joinery Ltd in Eastbourne. They are super friendly, bend over backwards to help, and always have good deals.

Burlington Bell Cistern

Had to refurbish and refit an old burlington cistern this morning.
Solid cast iron, 80 years old, and still working.
How long does a modern cistern last?
Not that long, that's for definite.
If you're curious as to how they work follow this link


And here's the matching pan!
They don't make them like this any more!

Plumbing: Change a ball valve on a toilet cistern

As a handyman I get called to many overflow problems.

There are many variations on this theme.

Whether its a toilet cistern, cold water tank, or the central heating header tank, the process is generally very similar.

I've taken a couple of photos while on the job to show you what neeeds to be done.

The object in question is a side entry low level cistern. It's probably the simplest to do.

In a ideal world the sequence is as follows:

1. TURN OFF THE WATER!

2. FLUSH TOILET!
(Let out at least some of the water)

________________________

3. DISCONNECT BALL VALVE FROM SUPPLY
(usually 15mm pipe - but not always)

_____________________________

4. UNDO BACK NUT AND REMOVE BALL VALVE
Normally two nuts hold the ball valve in place -
one on the inside and one on the outside.

5. FIT NEW BALL VALVE

Just reverse the order of doing the above.

Turn water on and check for correct function AND LEAKS!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again it's a simple process, but simple doesn't mean easy, and be aware, there are things that can go wrong.
If you are in any doubt - call me (Jim) on 07930 335 937.

An overview of how to grout tiles

I was asked by a customer today if I would give her an idea how to grout a worktop back splash herself. Here's a quick overview of what I suggested she needed to do.

Tile grout requires two main tools.
A good sponge.
A rubber float that has a crisp edge.
Floats can be found at virtually any tile shop.
Grout sponges are synthetic and have rounded edges.
You will also need two clean buckets.

Mix the grout in a bucket until it resembles the consistency of fairly stiff double cream. It should be able to stick onto a knife without any trouble.
As you begin to mix, the grout will probably seem lumpy.
Mix it for about two minutes and then just let it sit for a few minutes.
After the few minutes you will notice that the lumps simply disappear with a little more mixing. Pour tepid water into the other clean bucket.

Be aware during the next stage grout will get all over the tile and it’ll look a mess!
Starting at the highest point and working down, grouting about a half to a square metre at a time, apply grout to the tiles. Wet the rubber float, and using back and forth strokes, spread the grout across the tiles. Cross over the grout joints between tiles at a 45-degree angle while holding the rubber float at a 45-degree angle. The grout lines will look over full and messy at this point. Now pull the float across the tile at a 45-degree angle to remove the excess grout. Remove as much excess from the tile as possible with the rubber float.

Immerse your sponge in the bucket of clean water. Squeeze the sponge to remove ALL the water. Now gently rub the sponge across the face of the tiles in a circular motion. The sponge will quickly fill up with grout. Rinse it out and squeeze the sponge almost dry again. Do this over the area you grouted until the tiles looks fairly clean. The joints will still look quite rough. Rinse the sponge again, turn the sponge on its edge and run the sponge lightly up and down the grout line. Do this process over again on all grout lines and it will look first class. Remember to keep the sponge rinsed and dried. Remember to keep the water bucket reasonably clean

When you do everything properly, the joints will look perfect.
There will still be a haze on the tile.
Wait about an hour or so until the grout firms up, and remove the haze with a clean, almost dry sponge. Let the new grout dry for about 24 hours and then with a soft towel polish away any residual grout haze. Job done!

If you don’t fancy doing the job yourself – give me a call on 07930 335 937

Here's a list of things I do

I'm always being asked can you do this or can you do that
so here is a list in alaphbetical order of some of the things I can do

Add or remove shelving
Aviaries built
Bathroom accessories hung
Bird houses built
Blinds installed
Bookcases made to measure
Cat enclosures
Carpentry & Joinery
Ceiling fans installed
Central Heating*
Wardrobe organizers installed
Clothes Dryers
Decks and Decking
Dog Kennels
Doors hung, repaired, or adjusted
Dual Flush Toilets Installed
External Painting*
Fencing & Gates
Fireplaces installed
Fixtures installed or replaced
Flat Pack Kits Assembled
Garden Maintenance
General Repairs*
Glazing*
Hanging pictures and whiteboards
Hardware replaced
Hardwood floors
Install curtain poles
Install Fly screens
Install Hand rails
Internal Painting*
Landscaping & Gardening *
Light fixtures installed or repaired
Locks fitted
Mailboxes installed
Maintenance
Mirrors hung
New appliances installed
Outdoor grill/fireplaces
Painting & Decorating*
Pergolas
Pet Doors
Pet flaps
Picture hanging
Plumbing
Pressure Cleaning*
Renovation
Repair simple leaks
Replacement of Sash Cords
Roofing Repairs*
Rot repair
Shelving
Shower doors installed
Skylights*
Small repairs
Smoke Detectors
Staircases & Handrails
Storage sheds
Swing sets
Switches replaced
Toilets installed or replaced
Trim carpentry
Vent fans installed
Waste Disposals installed or repaired
Weather stripping
Window Shutters
Windows & Locks
Windows repaired

if you need help give me a call on 07930 335 937

Dripping toilet overflow

If your toilet/water tank/CH header tank overflow is dripping, there's probably a problem with the Ball valve - occasionally it can be the ball itself.

If the washer inside the valve is faulty, replacing the washer in a ball valves is false economy! Replacing the ball valve is by far the best solution, it's relatively simple to do
Here's a brief overview of the procedure
First, isolate the water supply to the cistern/tank, then you'll probably need to bail out some water using a small jug or cup. Using a large spanner or water pump pliers undo the nut holding the water supply pipe to the Ball valve and disconnect. Undo the nuts which are holding the valve to the cistern. Refit the new Ball valve and tighten all nuts before reconnecting the water inlet pipe to it. Let the water in Check for leaks Make sure the new valve operates freely. Reward yourself with a cup of tea. You deserve it In an ideal situation it's a very simple procedure, but that doesn't mean it can't go wrong . If you are in any doubt call me on 07930 335 937.

Plumbase Eastbourne Showroom Open

Well it's taken longer than expected but now it's finally open.
Plumbase have a new showroom on a new mezzanine floor above the trade desks.
If you're thinking of a new bathroom or shower visit their showrooms.
You'll get proper advice, fast delivery, and excellent prices.

Location Map

Plumbase Eastbourne
Unit 12, Hawthorn Road Industrial Estate
Hawthorn RoadEastbourne,
East Sussex
BN23 6QA

Tel. 01323 746666
Click here to email

All those small jobs area lot of work

Lots and lots of small jobs today. Plumbing in a new dishwasher; changing ceramic tap heads; making a dresser child safe (is that possible?); replacing some missing flashing; building flatpack bunk beds; installing a bath panel; removing a shower; and not fogetting renwing silicone sealant around two shower screens. It's a grand life being Eastbourne's Jim'll Fix It!

Waste Disposal Units

I arrived home today spattered from head to foot with gunge from a WDU (commonly known as a waste disposal unit). The smell was awful. I'd received a 'help' call from a distressed eighty year old lady, who'd been told by two 'experts' that her WDU was dead and in need of replacement. She didn't believe them and called me, and so, changing into my alter ego, I became "Superhandyman". With my underpants pulled up over my Lycra leggings, my stomach(sorry that should read sinews) bulging under my skin tight vest I sprung into action. In a flash I flew down Upperton Road and arrived at the high rise block of flats known as Hamilton House. In my younger years, I would have scaled the side of this building to get to the distressed damsel; but today I am older and wiser; and so I decided to take the lift to the top floor instead. The smell of rotten everything filled the air. The lady was clearly upset. The smell brought tears to my eyes too.
A waste disposal unit is a fine thing when it works, but a nightmare when it goes wrong. This one had been in situ for 30 years. A quick intake of breath and I dived under the sink. But wait! First I had to clear out all the bottles of toxic chemicals that lie buried in the depths of her kitchen sink cupboard. The labels were faded; over the years the liquids had congealed to a glutenous substance of indeterminate use. Here a tin of 'Duraglit', there a tin of 'Vim', at the back, a box of rock hard 'Tide' washing powder.

It's amazing what a trip down memory lane you can find in an old ladies drawers.

Having cleared the cupboard it was time to tackle the problem. Removing a recently fitted WDU is simple enough. Removing a WDU that has sat undisturbed for 30 years is a whole different ball game. Years of expensive technical training in the world's leading academies has given me skills beyond the measure of mere mortals. However, when finesse and clever solutions fail, reach for a big hammer. After ten minutes and a skinned knuckle the WDU was sitting on the worktop. The stench was unrelenting. Superhandyman was covered in sweat.
The real advantage of 'old' equipment is that it can generally be repaired. Taking the WDU apart I quickly discovered the problem. A dish cloth was wrapped around the crushing, cutting, grinding, shredding blades of the WDU, which meant that the blades couldn't crush, cut, grind or shred. The cloth was buried under a mound of broken egg shells, disintegrated tea bags, and fats and gristle of indeterminate age. The stink level was now into the danger zone, and Superhandyman wanted to wretch. With a strong tug on the cloth the blades came free - and so did the gristle, teabags and eggshells. Being a super hero I took the full force of the blast. The sink now looked like an example of modern abstract fit for a Turner Prize exhibition. The artist Tracy Emin would have been proud to have it in her Portfolio. The look of disgust on the lady's face told me I would not be allowed to use her good towels to clean myself up.

The rebuild took only a few minutes; the refitting of the WDU a few minutes more, and then came the moment of truth... The sound of a thirty year old WDU coming back to life was music to Superhandyman's ears. The clean up took another 15 minutes. Super handyman had done it again. Soon he was on his way home to clean up and return to his day job certain in the knowledge that he had left a serene smile of contented satisfaction spread over the old lady's face.

Re-arrange the kitchen

One of the jobs I've done this week was to revamp a kitchen layout. The old units were still in good condition and after a little bit of thought were able to be re-arranged into a completely new layout. I had to cut down a larder unit that would otherwise have been surplus to requirements, and made a base unit from the carcass which now fits under a new worktop. Electrics needed to be re-routed and appliances placed into new positions. During the rebuild the place looked chaotic. Bits and pieces were lying around all over the place. Appliances were moved here there and everywhere. The whole thing only took half a day to complete, but even so, at the end I was absolutely 'nadgered'. Material costs were only£60, and now, the lady has a new kitchen! She's very pleased - and yes I do mean very pleased! It doesn't need to cost thousands to put a smile on a lady's lips.