Staying safe at home: electrical safety tips

We rely on our electrical appliances around the home every day. From the moment the alarm rings in the morning to turning the lights off at night, we’re constantly relying on our electrics to get us through the day. But easy mistakes can quickly turn these essential appliances into dangerous and potentially deadly tools.

With this in mind, it’s important to be aware of safety precautions to keep your house safe, especially when children are around.

Once you’re aware of what to look out for and potential hazards, it’s much easier to spot issues before they become dangerous.

From checking your fuse board (sometimes known as a consumer unit) to keeping sockets from being overloaded, here are our top safety tips to give you peace of mind.

The fuse board is what distributes all the electricity around your home, protecting the cables from an overload of electricity. This is what protects from electrical shocks, so it’s important to keep it working effectively.

Your fuse board should be replaced approximately every 15 years to comply with safety standards. If yours is older than this, or you notice signs that something isn’t right, you should call a professional.

Another thing to ensure is that your fuse box has an RCD. This is the life-saving element that will stop fatal electric shocks. It can also reduce the chances of electrical fires for this reason. To check that your fuse box has an RCD, take a look and see if there is a box with a button labelled ‘T’ or ‘Test’. You should also be able to see a label in the fuse box which says ‘test quarterly’.

To keep your electrics working as optimally as possible, you should have an electrical inspection at least every ten years. Our engineers are skilled in conducting electrical inspections, PAT testing and other safety inspections for your home or for your business. So whenever you require our services, you can trust us to have a local engineer to get to you quickly, even on the weekend.

Follow the tips below to keep your home safe and electrics secure.

• Damaged cables – keep an eye out for exposed cables and replace them as soon as you notice any signs of wear and tear. Avoid running cables under furniture or carpet as they can get damaged easily.
• Overloading sockets – electrical fires are more likely to occur with an overloaded socket. A good trick is to avoid putting more than one heat-producing appliance into a single socket. Always make sure your sockets aren’t hot to touch.
• Water hazards – water and electricity should never mix, so keep them well away from each other. Don’t switch on a plug with damp or wet hands and unplug your kettle before filling it up with more water.
• Tidy cable – messy plugs and cables can become a hazard, especially if they’re wrapped around other objects as this can cause overheating. Keep your cables tidy and as separate as possible to avoid issues.
• Clean exhaust fans – exhaust fans can easily become clogged and filthy, so make sure to keep them as clean as possible to avoid unnecessary fires. Keeping them clean will also make them more energy efficient, helping you save on bills. 
• Smoke detectors – smoke detectors are one of the most important appliances in your house, so make sure to check it’s working at least once a month.
• Check the wattage – if you use LED bulbs, this won’t be as much of an issue as they overheat less. However, with other bulbs you should make sure you’re using the right wattage for that particular lamp or light. You can use a lower wattage, but not one higher than what has been stated.

For those with children, follow these safety tips to avoid any electrical accidents.

• Block access to electrical cables – to avoid any accidents, it’s best to keep electrical sockets out of reach from children or use socket covers for ones that can be reached by tiny hands. It’s not always best to cover sockets with furniture as this can cause other electrical problems, so find other ways to keep them unreachable.
• Switch off plug sockets – when you aren’t using certain appliances, switching them off at the plug is another way to keep children safe from electric shocks.
• Make sure your fuse box has an RCD – an RCD in the fuse box is what protects you from electric shocks, so without one of these your children are at a higher risk.

Keeping safe at home is a priority for everyone. Our trusted engineers are trained to tackle any type of electrical problem, from electrical inspections to electrical repairs. 

Available 24/7 (where possible), even on weekends, we can be there for you in an emergency. We specialise in 7 different trades with expert engineers in everything from glazing to pest control, locks, gas and heating, plumbing, drainage and electrics.

If you ever think there could be something wrong with your electrics, the safest way to deal with the issue is by getting a professional over to look.

Simply give us a call on 0330 108 4111 to get yours booked.