Boiler servicing is one task that should be left to professionals

Article date : 24/12/2009

Men are not getting to grips with plumbing tasks such as bleeding radiators as early in life as they previously have been, it has been suggested.

An increasing number of Britons are unable to get on to the housing ladder because of the expense of mortgages and, as such, are renting until an older age, Build It magazine said.

One consequence of this is that there is no incentive to carry out DIY and home improvement tasks because it is deemed the job of a landlord to sort, editor Duncan Hayes said.

One task that should only be carried out by professionals, however, is boiler and central heating servicing, as to do this job incorrectly could result in expensive damage or fatal consequences should carbon monoxide leak from a faulty boiler.

However, basic plumbing tasks - such as fixing a leaky tap or radiator - are becoming neglected.

Many people prefer paying for "someone to fix their leaks than buying some plumbing tools, buying a book on plumbing and finding a dad or uncle who could maybe help them out", Mr Hayes stated.

A recent survey by Screwfix found that half of men in their twenties would ask a professional to bleed their radiators, compared to 17 per cent of older men.

Written by Jasper Cullen

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