Get a free Garmin Nuvi 200 Sat Nav when you spend over £500 online before 23.59 on Sunday 11 July!

Affordable, easy to use refurbished Sat Nav with route preference (faster time, shorter distance) and customisable vehicle options.

• Pre-loaded with UK & Ireland mapping
• 3.5″ touchscreen display
• Pre-loaded with safety cameras
• Hot-fix (Quick Fix)
• Garmin lock
• Refurbished
• 1-year warranty

Nüvi 200, 12V car adaptor and mount included.

Find out more about this not-to-be-missed offer!

Free Sat Nav Terms & conditions

Only one free Sat Nav per transaction.
Offer cannot be redeemed against delivery charges or Gift Vouchers.
Offer cannot be redeemed in conjunction with any other voucher or promotion and is subject to availability.
Offer only valid via www.screwfix.com.
Offer valid until 23.59 Sunday 11 July 2010.
Offer is open to all UK residents aged 18 years or over except employees of Screwfix Direct or their families and anyone professionally involved with this promotion.
There is no cash alternative.
This voucher can only be used once.
If an item is returned for refund, which brings the total actually spent below the qualifying level, the offer value may be deducted from the refund.
Promoter: Screwfix Direct Limited.
Trade House, Mead Avenue, Houndstone Business Park, Yeovil BA22 8RT (Registered in England, No: 3006378).

Well, you shouldn’t forget it altogether. If you leave your wet central heating system standing idle all the way through the summer, the lubricant around the pump’s bearings will settle, leaving surfaces unlubricated. And if that happens, you’re increasing the chance that the pump will seize when you place it under a heavy load again in the autumn.

So do yourself a favour – once a month, run it for a few minutes (without firing up the boiler, of course!) to ensure that the pump’s bearings stay lubricated through the summer. That way, you can be sure you’ll be able to heat your house when the cooler weather sets in again.

Don’t worry – Screwfix Direct have some great offers on portable room heaters to make sure you’re not left out in the cold…

2kW Portable Oil Filled Convector Heater

Save 20% on this thermostat controlled portable oil filled convector heater. With built in carry handle and 3 heat settings.
Was £36.78 Now only £29.42!

Creda Residential 2kW Wall Fan Heater

This BEAB approved wall fan heater features 2 heat settings, a neon ‘On’ indicator and overheat thermal cut-out!
Only £33.49!

Master Fan 3kW Heater

This 3kW fan heater is suitable for both commercial and domestic use. It features 3 heat settings, thermostat control and also a cool air setting. W x H: 250 x 400mm.
Only £93.99!

30kW LPG Gas Heater

This gas heater is metal and plastic with a 1.5m hose. It features air throughput: 1000m³/hr, cool air setting, built-in carry handle, W x H: 260 x 360mm.
Only £188.99!

I have a water pump with three wires – green/yellow(ground), the other two are white and green. Which is live and which is neutral?

Ken, I’m guessing that you must be writing from outside the EU – as far as I know, none of the EU member states has used that kind of wiring. In fact, I’m not sure that any of the major international standards uses it!

One of the simplest ways of finding out which wire is live is to obtain a mains testing screwdriver (also known as an electrician’s screwdriver) – it shouldn’t cost more than a couple of pounds. This looks like a normal screwdriver except that there’s a small bulb in the handle (which has a small metal patch at the top), and the shaft is usually insulated, with only the blade exposed. The screwdriver should have some kind of marking to let you know for what voltage range it may safely be used.

WARNING: DO NOT use a mains testing screwdriver for a mains circuit with a voltage higher than the maximum voltage indicated!

To test for a live current:

First of all, make sure that the appliance you’re testing is switched off. (If it’s switched on, then current is likely to be flowing through both wires, so you’ll be none the wiser.)

You’ll also need to have access to the bare wires or – better – to the terminal screws securing them to the appliance.

Then hold the screwdriver so that the handle’s between your thumb and middle finger and your index finger is pressing on the metal patch, and touch it to ONE of the two wires or screws.

WARNING: DO NOT let the blade touch more than one wire or screw at once, or form a bridge between the wire and the earth/ground connection – at the very least, you’ll melt the blade of the screwdriver, and possibly far worse.

When the blade of the screwdriver contacts the live wire or terminal, you should see the bulb inside the handle glow (usually reddish-orange). But DON’T assume that if the first wire glows, the second must be neutral. There may be a fault in your wiring. So always check both wires – or all three, if there’s an earth wire too.

Likewise, if neither wire glows, then there may be a fault with your tester – so ALWAYS test your tester before and after use, for instance on a socket that you know works.

Another way of checking is to trace the wiring back to the consumer unit (“fuse box”) and checking where it’s wired up to at that point. But make sure you do it thoroughly – crossed wires at any point (for example, an incorrectly wired socket or junction box) could mislead you into thinking that a wire is neutral when it is, in fact, live. So keep that mains tester handy!

And to avoid confusion in future (for instance, if you sell the house on) it would be as well to have the wiring replaced, by a competent electrician, with wiring that complies with the local standards – or, if there is no local standard, at least an internationally known one like the EU or US standard.

Christmas gift ideas from Screwfix

Ryobi 18V Drill Driver

Save a massive £50 on this auto shift drill driver, automatically selects the correct gear to suit material and application. Supplied with carry bag.
Was £199.96 Now only £149.99!

Bosch 18v Li-Ion Combi + 3 batteries

Save a massive £100 on this Bosch 18V combi drill. For the toughest screwdriving and drilling applications in wood and metal, as well as impact drilling applications in masonry.
Was £299.99 Now only £199.96!

Garmin Sat Nav Nuvi® 215

Save £17 on this user-friendly, affordable sat nav with UK and Ireland mapping and Bluetooth hands-free calling. Traffic compatible, with route preference (faster time, shorter distance) and customisable vehicle options. Includes 12V car adaptor and mount.
Was £116.99 Now only £99.99!

Maglite Flashlight 2 x D Torch

Save 25% on this Maglite Flashlight torch with aluminium body and aircraft aluminium case.
Was £19.08 Now only £14.31!

Tools and Gadgets

Drill It

Makita 14.4V Combi Drill & Accessories

Save a fantastic £50 on this Makita Combi Drill and 37 piece Accessories which includes 2 batteries and charger along with tool chest worth £30.
Was £149.99 Now only £99.97!

Makita 9.6V Cordless Drill Driver

This lightweight variable-speed driver with rubber body protection is supplied with carry case and 1 year’s warranty. Only £79.94!

Ryobi One+ 18V Drill Driver & Combi Drill Kit
This Great value 18V kit supplied with 2 x 1.7Ah Ni-Cd batteries, 90-minute charger and toolbag. Don’t miss out as this fantastic kit is only £159.99!

Wear It

DeWalt Mobile Phone Holder
This tough ballistic nylon holder is designed to take phones with antenna. Features metal clip for bag or belt attachment. Fits DeWalt belt. Only £7.99!

Makita Sprint Safety Trainers
These blue trainers with suede leather and mesh upper feature steel toe caps, stainless steel midsole and are heat and oil resistant. Available in a range of sizes and only £37.99!

DeWalt Knitted Hat
This fleece-lined comfortable black DeWalt hat is machine washable and has a 1-year manufacturer’s guarantee. Only £9.99!

Heat It

Master Fan 3kW Heater
Save 20% on this metal construction heater which is suitable for both domestic and commercial use with 3 heat settings, thermostat control plus cool air setting.
Was £91.99 Now only £73.59!

Honeywell Utility Heater 2.5KW

Save a massive 30% on this 2.5KW heater which is suitable for both commercial and domestic use. It features 2 heat settings along with a cool air setting and overheat and tip-over protection.
Was £34.49 Now only £31.49!

10KW LPG Gas Heater

Save 10% on the master heater with 1.5m hose, built-in carry handle and cool air setting.
Was £89.97 Now only £80.97!

Light It

Energizer Headlight 3 x AAA Torch

These Energizer headlights swivel for direction use and are available from £8.78!

Rechargeable Spotlights

These rechargeable spotlights all come with a 12V Charging adaptor and are available from just £10.89!

Stanley Tripod Torch

ABS impact resistant body with shatterproof lens. Includes 1 x white LED lamp. Only £14.99!

Not seen what you want? There’s plenty more on offer at Screwfix’s site – just click on the banner below!

From now until midday on Monday 16 November they’re offering great deals on a top-of-the-line Bosch 18V combi drill and a 101-piece drill accessory set from Makita. But the offer only lasts this weekend, so you’d better get your skates on!

Bosch 18v Li-Ion Combi + 3 batteries

For the toughest screwdriving and drilling applications in wood and metal, as well as impact drilling applications in masonry.
Was £299.99 Now Only £164.96! Hurry and grab yourself a bargain now before you miss out on this great offer!

Makita 101-Piece Accessory Kit

This weekend Screwfix Direct are knocking 50% off the price of this fantastic 101-piece Makita Accessory Kit which includes assorted drill bits, holesaws, spirit level, bit holder and assorted screwdriver bits.
Was £49.99 Now Only £24.99! Hurry and grab one before they’re all gone!

You can order all these great deals from the web, with free next-day delivery on orders over £50. This is why Screwfix is recognised as the UK’s leading multi-channel supplier of thousands of high-quality screws, fixings, hand tools, power tools, plumbing and electrical supplies… in fact, almost anything you can think of when it comes to DIY. No wonder it’s where the trade buys!

Of course, you can also view and purchase all Screwfix’s products on the website – but sometimes it’s nice to have a catalogue to hand, especially if you fancy a visit to one of Screwfix’s 140 stores.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, Screwfix are running a Tools & Gadgets promotion now with loads of brilliant knick-knacks to gladden the heart of even the most world-weary DIYer.

Click on the banner to find out more!

Electrical safety

First and foremost, since 1 January 2005 electrical work done outside your house has to be notified to your local authority’s Building Control Department before work starts.

If your security lights are attached to the wall of your house (or of your garage or shed, if they’re already wired for electricity), then the work’s not notifiable as long as there are no exposed outdoor connections and you’re not installing a new circuit or extending one from a kitchen, special location (eg bath/shower room, swimming pool or hot air sauna) or special installation (eg garden lighting, floor heating, solar panels). But if in doubt, tell the local authority – that way, you can be sure you’re not breaking any laws.

Fit and forget!

Installing security lighting is all very well, but it’s false security if you have to remember to switch it on at night – after all, you only have to forget once to allow an intruder an opportunity.

Better to get what’s known as dusk-to-dawn lighting. These are controlled by a light-sensitive switch – when it gets dark, the switch operates to activate the lighting system. You can generally adjust the sensitivity of the switch so that the lights switch on before it gets fully dark and switch off again in the morning when the daylight’s strong enough.

Waking up the neighbours?

You may feel it’s wasteful to have the Blackpool Illuminations in your garden all night every night – and it probably won’t make you terribly popular with the neighbours either.

If these are concerns, you’ll want to consider passive infra-red (PIR) lighting. These use infra-red detectors to sense the body heat of anybody coming within range – when that happens, the lights switch on.

Depending on the sophistication of your lighting system, by carefully planning where you site your detectors and your lights, you can set up your security lighting so that you have a few relatively discreet lights by your front door and pathways to help you in at night without disturbing the whole neighbourhood, combined with a bright halogen floodlight to illuminate your whole back garden if there’s someone sneaking around out there.

Sense and sensibility

When positioning your detectors, you’ll need to bear these points in mind:

• Don’t put your dawn-to-dusk detectors in the line of sight of your floodlights, or they’ll be confused into thinking it’s morning and try to switch off the lights as soon as they come on!
• Don’t put your PIR detectors near domestic heat sources, eg boiler flues or tumble dryer outlets
• If your house is close to a public footpath, make sure your PIR detectors are angled so that passing pedestrians don’t keep activating the lights
• Adjust the sensitivity of your PIR detectors so that they’re switched on by humans but not by small animals, eg cats

Why are these points so important? Well, if the lights come on when they’re not supposed to, then you’ll get fed up with the false alarms and be more likely to ignore the lights when there really is an intruder. So it really is worth taking the time to get your lights set up properly.

Screwfix Direct have a whole range of security lighting products. You can find out more here:
Screwfix Direct – security and lighting

So it’s a good time to start thinking about your security and external lighting arrangements – crime goes up as the nights get longer. (As Madness’s song “Shut Up” has it, “I’m as honest as the day is long/The longer the daylight, the less I do wrong”…)

Screwfix Direct can help, with a whole range of great external lighting and security products to help ensure that your house is as secure against burglars as you’d want it to be.

Here are just a few of the great offers they have in stock right now:

Dewalt DC100KA-GB 18V Cordless Combi Drill
Save £80 on this fantastic exceptional value powerful combi for hammer drilling, drilling and screwdriving applications. Supplied with carry case, 1hr charger and 2 batteries.
Was £179.99 Now Only £99.99!

Spot Light 150W Black PIR Photocell Floodlight
Don’t miss this 150W floodlight featuring adjustable pan-and-tilt and dusk-to-dawn automatic switch-off. Was £8.48 Now Only £7.21!

Lytlec Fixed MR16 White Fire Rated Downlights Pack of 10
Save a fantastic £25 on this pack of 10 downlights.
Was £99.99 Now Only £74.99!

Portable Work Light 150W 240V
You won’t be in the dark this winter with this portable work light. Only £7.49!

Response SA1 Wire-Free Burglar Alarm
Save £30 on this Response SA2 Wire-Free Alarm Kit which Includes solar powered siren, 2 x wireless PIR, 2 x wireless door contacts, 1 x single zone keypad, 1 x keyfob also includes a free installation DVD.
Was £99.99 Now Only £69.99!

Honeywell Accenta G4 Wired Intruder Alarm Kit. 2 Pet PIRs
Don’t miss this Honeywell Intruder Alarm Kit. It features wired kits expandable to up to 12 devices and 4 keypads, 8 zones, 3 part-set programs and 2 fire zones. 5-digi outputs for alarm monitoring centre. Walk test and chime security. Supplied with LCD remote keypad and Accenta G4 control panel. Only £114.99!

Honeywell Wire-Free 4-Room Alarm Kit 230V
New to Screwfix is this Honeywell wire-free 4-room alarm. It features 4 auto-dial alert numbers – calls you if alarm is activated. Set/unset by phone. Expandable to 24 devices. Only £299.99!

Sterling 5-Lever Mortice Deadlock Brass 2½”/64mm
This deadlock is supplied with 2 keys and fixings with a brass finish. From Just £7.95!

Sterling 1m Hardened Steel Chain & 68mm Closed Shackle Steel Padlock
This padlock is hacksaw and bolt cropper resistant. Fabric coating. Ideal for larger items such as bikes or ladders.
Was £28.37 Now Only £22.69!

Sterling Steel Shackleless Van Lock 73mm
73mm chrome-plated hardened steel padlock and 210mm nickel-plated hardened steel hasp and staple. Corrosion resistant. With fixing bolts and 3 brass keys.
Was £39.14 Now Only £31.31!

And you can find loads more great deals in the Security & Lighting section of Screwfix’s site – just click on the links below!

Screwfix Direct: Security products

Screwfix Direct: External lighting

Measuring up

The first step of all is to measure up to find how much guttering to buy. If you’re replacing old guttering, this could be as simple as measuring the length of the old gutter sections you’ve removed – otherwise, just measure at ground level the walls of the house where the guttering’s to be installed. When buying your new gutter sections, don’t forget that you’ll need enough brackets to give the guttering adequate support – at least one every metre, and at every joint too (unless your guttering system uses screw fixings for angles and outlets).

Now it’s time to start the job of fitting the guttering. Fixings go first.

Don’t forget to make sure your ladder (if you need one) is properly secured – and ideally have an assistant standing underneath to hold you steady!

Installing the gutter fixings

The first piece to be installed is the outlet. This goes directly over the existing drain, and needs to be attached to the fascia board under the eaves, by screwing the outlet itself (or its support bracket, if your system uses brackets) to the board. It should be no more than 50mm (2in) below the tiles at this point.

At the other end of the guttering run, fix a support bracket. This should be higher on the fascia board (ie a shorter distance below the tiles) to give the guttering a suitable incline and allow the rainwater to run off towards the outlet. How much exactly depends on the length of the run, but you should be aiming for a drop of at least 25mm in every 15m (or 1in in every 50ft).

You can then fit the rest of the brackets in a straight line between the two ends – a tight piece of string between them is a useful guide.

Fitting the gutter sections

Having done that, you can now install the gutter lengths themselves. The back edge goes under the roofing felt and into the back lips of the brackets. You then work your way along the length of the run, clipping the front edge of the section into each bracket in turn.

If (as is likely) you’re using more than one length of guttering, you fit the second into the first by pushing the spigot end (the plain end) of the second section into the socket of the first, using enough pressure to compress the rubber seal in the socket. Don’t push it all the way home, though – leave a small expansion gap of about 5mm (¼in).

Cutting lengths of guttering

At some point you’ll no doubt have to cut a section short. Use a hacksaw, and make sure that the cut is square (clipping a bracket round the guttering just next to where you’re cutting it is a good way of holding it rigid).

Make sure to check the two ends that the cut section is to fit between. If they’re both sockets, then you should measure your length from the spigot end; otherwise, measure from the socket end. Don’t forget to allow enough extra length for the spigots to be pushed into the sockets!