Peace of Mind Surveys in Cricklade

No. The survey is visual and functional, so I look at what can be seen and run what can be run, without cutting into plaster or lifting anything structural. If a pipe is boxed in or hidden, I note that it could not be seen rather than guessing.

I look at where pipes change material or size, how they are clipped and whether any joints show marks or staining. Mismatched sections are not automatically a problem, but they go in the report so you know where the house has been altered.

A long run can mean slow hot water arrival and uneven radiators, so I test the taps furthest from the boiler and note what I see. I will tell you plainly whether anything looks like it needs attention.

It is not. I look at the boiler as part of the general visual check of heating components, but I do not carry out a gas inspection, issue a certificate or test gas safety. For anything involving the gas appliance itself, ask about gas engineer work.

Yes, mention it when you get in touch and I will check it along with the house. Outside taps and outbuilding pipework are easy to forget about, so it is worth mentioning them.

It is best if you are there at the start so I can ask what you already know about the system, and again at the end for the walk-through. I talk through each finding in plain words so you are not left decoding it from paper afterwards.

I bleed them where it looks appropriate, usually ones that are cold at the top or feel uneven. A radiator that stays cold even after bleeding is flagged in the report as something to look at further.

Very much so, because it gives you a first picture of what is in the house and how it behaves. The report lists what appears to be working, what has a problem and what remedial work I would suggest.

Yes. Alongside the issues I found and the items that seem fine, it includes the remedial work I would recommend, so you can decide what to act on and in what order.

Fresh paint says nothing about what is behind the wall or under the sink. I check the parts the decorators did not touch, such as trap connections, valve tails and the pipes under the bath.