Including those of you who rent property
Whether you’ve bought your own place or you’re just in a short term rental property, there certain things you should about the home in which you live.
A small bit of household knowledge can go a long way and by familiarising yourself with basics of some of the inner workings of your home in Thailand could save you from a major headache further down the line.
Even if your rental contract states the landlord or management company will cover any repair costs, don’t wait until you have a problem and you’re let scrambling around trying to avert the impending disaster.
Here’s what you need to know about your home in Thailand:
Where is your fire extinguisher located and how to operate it?
No matter if you’re an owner or a tenant you should have a fire extinguisher in your home in case of emergencies. If you’ve just moved into the property, make sure you know where the fire extinguisher is kept.
It could be stored in the closet or under the sink, for example. If you’ve not got one, then get one! They sell them in stores such as Homepro or in some of the larger stores of Big C, Tesco Lotus or Makro.
If your landlord or property management company hasn’t supplied one, get onto them and ask them too. You should also make sure any older fire extinguishers have been serviced and properly maintained.
Familirise yourself with how to use the fire extinguisher. It could save your life.
How to turn off the mains water supply
If a water pipe unexpectedly springs a leak, then knowing how to turn of the mains water supply will save you from a headache and potentially lots of water damage.
A home in Thailand might have multiple water valves, which can make things easier, but if you aren’t exactly sure where the leak is or you need to turn the water off in a hurry, then knowing how to turn off the entire supply to your property will be invaluable.
It will also give you time to investigate where or the cause of the leak, as well as preventing any further damage to your property. If nothing else, being able to turn the water off will buy you a bit of time until a professional arrives to look at the problem!
How to turn off your water pump
The external water pumps as pictured above are common place in Thailand. Water supply is perhaps not one of Thailand’s strong points.
Supplies in some areas are often unreliable and a water tank can be used to store water and bridge the gap during the times when the supply may not be available.
If the mains supply is not forthcoming and your tank runs dry, make sure you know how to turn off your water pump as leaving it on whilst there is no water can damage the pump and cause it to malfunction.
It’ll also use unnecessary amounts of electricity which will add to your power bill.
Finding the electricity mains/circuit breakers
It’s fair to say that the electricity supply in Thailand isn’t what you might be used to in your home country.
Power outages, shortages, surges or spikes in the current can cause all kinds of problems for your electrical equipment. During the rainy season, power outages are common place.
If something shorts and you’re suddenly left in the dark, do you know what to do? Or are you going to stumble around the house in the pitch black trying to find the magic box that holds the answer to your predicament?
Of course, you should keep a torch or flashlight in a bedside drawer but ideally familiarise yourself with where any circuit breakers are located, as well as the mains box.
The info above related to your home in Thailand is just a guide. If there is anything you think we’ve missed off the list, let us know by commenting below.
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