British Gas Reveals The Home Tasks That Leave Brits Scratching Their Heads

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For most of us, the boiler is the ultimate “out of sight, out of mind” appliance – quietly keeping showers hot and radiators warm… right up until the moment it doesn’t.

New research from British Gas suggests that when it comes to this hardworking household hero, many Brits are relying more on hope than know-how.

Almost six in ten (59%) admit they only think about their boiler when something goes wrong - and, if it did pack in, one third (33%) wouldn’t know how to restart it. Nearly half (47%) wouldn’t feel confident tackling a leaking pipe either, showing that when it comes to the nuts and bolts of home life, uncertainty runs deeper than we might like to admit.

And it doesn’t stop there. Almost one in five (19%) say they wouldn’t know how to bleed a radiator, while 15% couldn’t confidently point out where their gas or electricity meter is. A further 15% admit they’ve never even ventured into their attic — and 10% don’t know where their water tank lives at all.

The boiler confusion is part of a much bigger picture. A poll of 2,000 adults reveals that almost a quarter (23%) don’t really understand what’s going on behind the scenes in their own homes. One in ten (10%) would rather ignore practical problems altogether, while a further 10% openly describe themselves as “not very practical” full stop.

It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that nearly two thirds (62%) believe we’re less practical than previous generations — and for many, that lack of confidence shows up when home hiccups strike.

In fact, many admit their expertise lies elsewhere - 14% of those surveyed say they know more about Love Island than the inner workings of their own house, while a further 15% admit they are better versed in celebrity gossip or fantasy football.

When it comes to myths, Brits have plenty of them. Nearly one in five (17%) still believe cranking the thermostat right up makes the house warm faster. Meanwhile, 16% secretly think radiators make creepy noises to scare them and 9% even think engineers genuinely have superpowers when it comes to fixing things.

It’s not just the big things, everyday tasks still leave people scratching their heads, including finding a water stopcock (20%), locating the electricity meter (15%) or even changing a lightbulb (24%).

And when something breaks, it doesn’t always get fixed straight away. In fact, 82% admit they don’t tackle problems immediately, with almost one in ten (9%) waiting until the situation gets much worse.

These moments can also spark tension at home, with almost half (49%) saying they’ve had a row with their partner after a repair they’d tried themselves went sideways. 

Eventually, most decide to have a go themselves. Trial and error is the nation’s default setting, with 73% attempting a fix before calling for help.

Before that, a well‑meaning 81% have attempted to tackle the issue themselves at some point. But that DIY spirit doesn’t always go to plan - one in four (25%) admit they’ve accidentally made the issue worse. And for a long-suffering 7%, the mishaps feel so relentless that it can sometimes seem like their house is “out to get them”.

In a bid to avoid admitting defeat and calling in the professionals, 15% turn to mum and dad - proving you’re never too old for a parental rescue mission. A quarter (25%) are willing to bring in a professional, while 13% admit they’re not even sure which jobs genuinely require expert skills in the first place.

Despite the help available, only 25% say they’ve ever actually paid a professional to fix a DIY mishap — suggesting many hold out until the very last minute.

Despite boilers being one of the hardest-working appliances in the home, 42% don’t have a maintenance plan or cover for their boiler or heating system in place - leaving many exposed when unexpected issues occur.

British Gas offers expert advice, home and boiler cover, and same-day engineer callouts for issues raised before 11am.

Peter Knowles, Engineer at British Gas, says: “Modern homes can be confusing and it’s completely normal not to feel confident tackling everything yourself. On top of that, issues don’t always happen at convenient times, so we’re committed to being there when customers need us. As engineers, we work year‑round to take the stress out of unexpected issues and tackle problems.”

“Customers can rely on us to get things sorted quickly and safely. Whether it’s a boiler that won’t restart, a mysterious leak or something that just doesn’t ‘feel right’, we are always on hand to provide expert support and guidance to help keep homes up running smoothly.”

British Gas has a wide range of services to make home care easier. You can find clear, expert-led advice videos on British Gas’ Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, designed to help you manage essential home tasks with confidence. Find out more about how British Gas can support you and get expert help when you need it by visiting britishgas.co.uk.

THINGS BRITS STRUGGLE TO DO/UNDERSTAND ABOUT THEIR HOMES

·       Find or fix a leak  - 47%

·       Re-pressurise the boiler – 33%

·       Change a light bulb – 24%

·       Restart the boiler – 33%

·       Put up a shelf – 22%

·       Wire a plug – 22%

·       Replace the light in your fridge – 22%

·       Find the stopcock – 20%

·       Bleed a radiator – 19%

·       Find the water mains – 17%

·       Been in the loft – 15%

·       Unblock a drain – 15%

·       Find the gas or electricity meter – 15%

·       Hang a picture  - 10%

·       Unclog/clean a shower head – 10%

·       Replace a smoke alarm – 10%

·       Find the water tank – 10%

·       Reset the fuse box trip switch – 10%

·       Turn the mains electricity off – 7%