It
feels very Autumnal here at Fulcher Edwards this morning. If you
feel like any of us do here in the office, you might be starting to
think about cooking up some good old 'comfort food' for dinner
tonight. Inevitably that means slow cookers, blenders, slicers and
the like making an appearance. Before you start switching them on
though, it is worth checking that they're still safe to use.
Stay
safe when using electrical products
If you haven't used your electrical items in a while – perhaps
they've been stored away in a cupboard over the last few months –
then it is worth checking that there is no electrical damage before
plugging them in. Is is easy to accidentally damage cable by storing
items against it for example. Check the cable for damage and to
ensure to bare wires are visible as this could cause electrical shock
and injury if you were to use the item.
The plug should also be firmly attached with no damage visible. If
you can see the inside of the plug or there are cracks on the casing
then again, this is an electrical safety danger and you should not
use the product unless it is repaired.
Should
I repair or replace damaged items?
As electricians in South East London, we often see risks being taken
with electrical appliances. This is often because of accidental
misuse such as the overloading of extension leads or makeshift
repairs on cables using PVC tape. Both of these can cause problems
with the item. If other damage is found, never take a risk by using
it, if the electrical item is of low value, it will be cheaper to
replace it – however if your item is high value, then it will be
worth getting it repaired. Electrical items should only be repaired
by authorised repair personnel or a qualified and registered
electrician.
Electrical items are less likely to go wrong if you have them
serviced and keep them clean and free of dust. Using them in
accordance with manufacturers instructions ensures the products are
being used for their intended purpose.
Owners
of Kenwood blenders beware!
If you have a Kenwood Blend-X Pro BLM80 then you need to take action
as Kenwood have voluntarily recalled this model due to the risk of
the blades breaking when the product is in use. Not only could this
cause a nasty laceration injury or even risk of the broken blade
being ingested, it could also put the user in electrical danger too.
If you think you are affected, you need to visit a safety notice
web-page http://www.blendxproblm800safetynotice.com/ set up by
Kenwood to identify if your blender is affected and needs corrective
action.
Items under a possible recall should not be used until they have been
checked by by the manufacturer.
Other
problems with electrical appliances
If you have electrical items that stop working for no reason and you
are using them safely, it may be worth having an electrical safety
inspection carried out in your home. This is known as an EICR and
will identify any problems that are present in your home electrical
system. We carried out an EICR for a customer last week when his
hoover stopped working. It was found that there was unsafe wiring in
the hallway where the hoover had been plugged in. Without an EICR,
this problem would have got worse and more costly to repair.
It is never worth chancing with electricity – it rarely pays off!
:)
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