Gas Escapes or Leaks - In the event of a gas leak/escape, DO NOT turn on/off any electrical switches and DO NOT smoke or introduce an ignition source. DO turn off gas at meter control valve and open doors/windows. Also, keep people away from the area and call a CORGI registered Engineer to stop the escape as quickly as possible.

Stop Valves - Plumbing stop valves or cut-offs can be found in various locations about the house. The most important one is the main water cut-off. Know where it's located. Major damage from a plumbing mishap can be avoided if you can get the water shut off quickly.

Stopped Drains - Use drain-cleaners as a last resort, because they often don't work, and if they don't you will have to deal with a sink full of caustic liquid. Always use a plunger first, and if you have to call a plumber after using drain cleaner, be sure to let them know!

Showers - If the water pressure is very poor in your shower it may be due to lime-scale build up. Always clean your shower heads every three months. If the scale is too bad it may be an idea to get either a new hose, or a new shower head.

Split Pipes - If your water pipe has split, a temporary fix you can do whilst waiting for a qualified plumber is to wrap torn strips of fabric very tightly around the break. Keep a large saucepan or bucket underneath the join to catch any drips.

Toilet Leak? - Put a few drops of food colouring into each toilet tank. Without flushing, watch for a few minutes to see if the colour shows up in the bowl. It's not uncommon to lose up to 10 litres a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. That's more than 3,500 litres a year!

Check your meter periodically - If no water is running in the house, all dials on the meter should be stable. A movement in one of the dials may indicate a water leak, probably in a toilet (above). This could cost you dearly over time.