NHIC urges caution on boiler repairs
The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) has warned homeowners that tampering with boilers could lead to "really big problems".
Andrew Leech, technical consultant to the NHIC, advises any repair work should be left to experts as DIY solutions often lead to further damage and even serious accidents.
He says: "That's where we have these explosions from time to time, where houses get demolished because the occupant has been tampering with the boiler and trying to change the gas pipe or move the boiler to a different position."
Mr Leech adds that aside from the risk of personal injury and property damage, boiler repairs can also jeopardise insurance claims.
He warns it is standard practice for firms to send out assessors to inspect fixtures and fittings before paying out big claims.
Recent research from Zurich Insurance has found homeowners spent £1.5 billion in 2007 to remedy DIY work that went wrong. In 16 per cent of cases professionals had to be called in to fix mistakes.
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