A quarter of Brits are in the dark when it comes to the basic workings of their own homes, from bleeding a radiator to restarting a boiler, according to new research.
And while it might feel daunting, experts say it’s more common than you might think.
“Modern homes can be confusing and it’s completely normal not to feel confident tackling everything yourself,” says Peter Knowles, engineer at British Gas. “On top of that, issues don’t always happen at convenient times."
The research by the energy supplier, based on 2,000 UK adults, reveals that one in five people can’t locate their water stopcock (the valve to main water supply), while a third (33%) wouldn’t know how to restart their boiler.
Even changing a lightbulb leaves nearly a quarter (24%) unsure.
Out of sight, out of mind
The new research suggests that many of us only turn our attention to home maintenance when something goes wrong.
A third (33%) admit they don’t think about household issues until there’s a problem, while one in ten (10%) say they actively avoid dealing with them altogether.
Trial and error
Rather than seeking help, most Brits are taking matters into their own hands – with mixed success.
More than seven in ten (73%) rely on trial and error to fix issues around the home, and while 81% have attempted a DIY fix, a quarter (25%) admit they’ve made things worse in the process.
It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that nearly half (49%) say botched DIY attempts have even led to arguments with their partner.
Less practical than previous generations
The findings point to a wider shift in how we approach home maintenance.
Almost two-thirds (62%) believe we’re less practical than previous generations, with some even joking that their home feels like it’s “out to get them.”
Despite this, many are still reluctant to call in the professionals. Just a quarter (25%) say they would pay for expert help, while 13% admit they struggle to know which jobs actually require a specialist.
Instead, more than one in ten (15%) still turn to mum and dad when things go wrong.
15 basic home jobs we struggle with most
Experts identified 15 everyday tasks every homeowner should be able to tackle – but many of us are falling short:
- Restarting or re-pressurising a boiler (33% can’t do this)
- Changing a lightbulb (24%)
- Putting up a shelf (22%)
- Wiring a plug (22%)
- Replacing a fridge light (22%)
- Finding the stopcock (20%)
- Bleeding a radiator (19%)
- Finding the water mains (17%)
- Unblocking a drain (15%)
- Locating the gas or electricity meter (15%)
- Replace a smoke alarm (10%)
- Reset the fuse box trip switch (10%)
- Turn the mains electricity off (7%)
The research also highlights how easy it is to overlook essential maintenance, with 42% of Brits saying they don’t have any kind of cover or maintenance plan in place for their boiler or heating system.
While you don’t need to be an expert in every aspect of your home, having a basic understanding of how things work – and knowing when to call in help – can make all the difference when something goes wrong.
And if you’re not quite sure how to bleed a radiator just yet? You’re certainly not alone.
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