Electrical Safety at Home

Electricity plays a big part in our lives at home, from powering our kitchen appliances to providing entertainment by way of our TVs and Games consoles. Electricity charges our mobile devices, powers our lighting and enables us to access the internet via our home router, it can even heat our water and homes. Life at home without electricity would be dark, cold and simply put, no fun at all. There is a flip side to electricity though, we all know that electricity is dangerous and electrical safety at home is something most of us take very seriously.

Did you know? According to the Electrical Safety First website, more than half (53.4%) of all accidental domestic fires in England were of an electrical origin. That is quite a sobering statistic, isn’t it? So much so, here at Lovelle’s we thought we would share some top tips and reminders about electrical safety at home:

Use a qualified electrician.

Always use a qualified electrician to carry out any electrical work in your home. This ensures that the work carried out has been done to a safe standard and in compliance with the relevant regulations. Make sure you receive detailed paperwork from your electrician and that the you use an electrician that is a member of the Part P Competent Person Scheme as they will have been independently assessed to prove they are competent to carry out electrical work.

Don’t overload sockets or extension leads.

Only plug in one high-wattage appliance, such as a heater or kettle, per socket. Always check the rating of your extension lead and make sure it’s suitable for the appliances you’re using.

Keep electrical appliances away from water.

Water and electricity do not mix well! Don’t use electrical appliances such as hairdryers, radios or televisions in the bathroom or near water.

Check your appliances.

Regularly check the condition of electrical cords, plugs and sockets. Look out for any signs of wear and tear, such as frayed cords, exposed wires, cracked casings or loose plugs. Replace any damaged items immediately.

Turn it off.

Always turn off electrical appliances when they’re not in use. This will help to reduce the risk of fires and save energy. Win-win!

Pay attention to your RCD

Residual Current Device (RCD) protect against electric shock. RCDs can detect faults in electrical systems and quickly cut off the power supply, reducing the risk of electric shock. If your trip switch repeatedly goes, then that is a good indication of a short. Contact an electrician and leave the isolator in the off position until you know it is safe to turn back on.

Teach children about electrical safety.

Make sure they know not to play with electrical appliances, sockets or cords. Do not use plastic “socket protectors” in your electrical sockets, these are not regulated safety devices and have been known to cause the injury they are supposed to protect against.

Remember, electrical safety is important and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you have any concerns about the electrical safety of your home, seek advice from a qualified electrician.