How Safe are your home electrics?

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we consider home electrical safety as much our concern as your concern. In fact, the electrical industry as a whole works together to ensure key electrical safety messages are delivered to house holders and business owners alike.

Electricians have the main role in ensuring awareness of electrical safety in the home. We believe that every householder deserves to know what they need to do to make their home electrically safe. Of course some homes have very good electrical wiring and other homes need to be improved. However, even with the best electrical wiring, you are still putting yourself in danger if you are using dangerous electrical appliances. Unfortunately in many of our clients homes across London, we see householders taking electrical risks on a daily basis.

How can I make my home electrically safer?

One of the key messages in our blog post today is to call an electrician if you have any doubts about the safety of your electricity. Any good domestic electrician in London will be very happy to assist. It is better to solve an electrical problem when you first become aware of it then to let it develop into something that will be costly to repair. It is also important to ensure you and your family stay safe from risk of shock and electrocution. We visit clients who have concerns about all kinds of things from gaps behind sockets to lights that trip.

There are also three simple measures that you can take in your home that will ensure that not only is your home up to date electrically, but also you have the peace of mind that you are safe.

• Does your consumer unit have RCD protection? If not, it will be worth your while upgrading.

• Have you had an electrical inspection in your home? If you are a home owner, you should have one carried out at least every 10 years. An electrical inspection is known as an EICR and is rather like a health screen for your home. It can detect potential problems before they become an issue.

• When having electrical work in London carried out, always use a registered electrician. As your local NICEIC electrician in London, we are registered to carry out work to the highest standard and will certify work on completion.

What about my electrical appliances?

This is a very good question. The use of electrical appliances are often taken for granted and unfortunately we see all too many people taking frightening risks with appliances. We have seen electric radios in showers, electric fan heaters plugged into sockets in bathrooms, cables taped together on vacuum cleaners. Scarily, the customers know what they are doing is dangerous but feel that if they're careful they'll be OK. Some of them have been taking risks for so long it has become habit!

It only takes a little common sense to ensure the electrical appliances you use are safe. As a starting point, only use appliances you are happy to use. Second hand appliances or those that you do not own and that haven't been pat tested should not be used at all.

Before using any appliance, always ensure that the plug and cable are free of damage and no bare wires can be seen. Always ensure that appliances are free from dust and other debris and are maintained in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Always ensure that filters from hair dryers, tumble dryers, vacuum cleaners etc. are emptied and cleared regularly.

There is a brilliant App from the Electrical Safety Council that can be downloaded onto a Smart phone or Android which allows you to carry out electrical safety checks in every room in your home. It highlights any potential dangers for each room and provides instructions on how to rectify any non-technical issues. Where more serious electrical issues are found, the App advises to call upon a registered electrician.

We think the App is a great idea and would highly recommend using it for your own home. It is completely free and productive way to improve electrical safety in your home – or just to confirm that everything is as it should be.

Make a change today

By downloading the App here. There really isn't anything to lose. Should you find yourself in need of electrical services in London, always ensure they are registered electricians before proceeding with any electrical work in your home.