How to ensure your Christmas lights don't ruin the festive season

Christmas lights are designed to enhance the festivities and brighten up your home in anticipation of the Christmas festivities.

Every household will have a treasured Christmas decoration or lighting that has to go on display every year, however it may be this that could potentially spoil your Christmas should it cause a fire.

The Risks

Many people are unaware of the fire risks and toxic materials contained in fairy lights, Christmas decorations and candles and with the festive season comes lowered awareness of dangers thanks to alcohol and homes being empty for increased periods of time.

Add to this the Christmas tree, presents and wrapping paper and you have a ready made inferno in your home. In 2012, there were 22 accidental fires in the Cambridge area alone during December.

There is a lot to think about in the run up to Christmas, so thinking about what you use for this years home decorations can save tragedy during the time that matters most. Electrical safety should always be a key consideration when considering what to use to decorate your home this year.

How to prevent an electrical fire

• When selecting fairy lights, check to see if there is a transformer box (a large black or white plug.) If the plug is a normal size then your lights are not low voltage. This presents a potential fire hazard should any of the bulbs blow when in use or if an electrical fault develops.

• Outdoor lights should only be used if the lights are suitable for outdoor use. Take care when plugging them in. A special outdoor electrical socket needs to be used. An electrical contractor in London would be pleased to assist with your outdoor electrical requirements to ensure you stay safely plugged in this Christmas.

• Is your home RCD protected? If not, it will be worth your while purchasing some RCD sockets to plug your Christmas lighting into. That way, if a fault develops the RCD will activate thereby avoiding fire and a potential electrical accident in your home. RCD sockets are low cost and available from most electrical high street outlets.

• If your home does not have a smoke alarm currently, now is the time to get one. You can purchase battery powered or have professionally installed fire alarm systems installed in your London home. Ensure your smoke alarms are tested weekly throughout the year.

Once your decorations are up

It is important to safely use your Christmas decorations in accordance to the manufacturers instructions when in use.

Over Christmas it is easy to overlook electrical safety when you are too busy entertaining guests, having a drink or cooking whilst being distracted. There has been more than one paper hat ignited on a gas flame! and don't be tempted to hang Christmas decorations from lights and heaters as they can easily ignite.

In particular never be tempted to overload electrical extension leads and sockets and always switch off your Christmas lights before going to bed. There is always additional demand placed on electrical sockets over Christmas, so to avoid an electrical fire why not consider having additional sockets installed by an electrical engineer in London? Putting electrical safety at the top of your list this Christmas will ensure you have the merriest of Christmases!

Conclusion

Taking a little time now to ensure you are using the safest decorations available and ensuring they are being used safely can mean one less thing to worry about over the festive season.

Spreading the Christmas electrical safety message will ensure that more households stay safe during this festive season, leaving you time to concentrate on other important tasks such as present buying and food ordering!

Phew, its non-stop! 

Switch On Safely this Christmas

It is once again that crazy time of year when electrical things can suddenly go wrong in your home. The problem is that many electricians are jam packed at this time of year – ourselves included.

Having your home electrics looked at needs to be carried out by a professional electrician. An NICEIC electrician is a good starting point. Do not do what you might do with presents and 'panic buy' an electrician into your home.

Take care when selecting an electrician

You may have been putting off having electrical work done, however in most cases electrical work can wait that little bit longer until your electrical engineer in London is able to take a look at it. At this time of year, good electricians are booked out for many weeks in advance. Here at Fulcher Edwards we are unfortunately having to turn work away at the moment. However we are recommending other reputable companies locally who may be able to help.

Check your electricians credentials

By that we mean check your electrician really is who they say are. In particular, check qualifications and Part P Registration. This is particularly important at this time of year when you may be desperate to have an important electrical job completed in time for Christmas.

According a recent survey carried out by the Electrical Safety Council, over a quarter of UK households have hired an electrician without checking their credentials. Any professional electrician will be more than happy to show their qualifications on request. In fact many display their qualifications as part of their work portfolio. It is also highly recommended to contact the registration body directly to confirm the electrician is in fact registered with them.

The Electrical Safety Council estimate there is in excess of 20,000 unregistered electricians carrying out electrical work in households.

Why aren’t more people checking electricians credentials?

This could be a mix of not wanting to appear rude or fussy to having a casual attitude to tradespeople. If you are paying money to have work carried out in your property then you owe it to yourself to verify the credentials. The survey revealed other reasons such as not knowing how to check if an electrician is registered to not worrying whether or not the electrician is registered in the first place.

In fact, 36% of survey respondents found their electrician via a friends recommendation and subsequently have not checked the credentials; and another 27% would use an unregistered electrician if they were in a hurry.

Furthermore,1.3 million people have paid a registered electrician to fix botched work carried out by an un-registered electrician.

With over half of house fires happening due to electrical accidents and one person every week killed as a result of electricity these statistics worry us somewhat.

So how do you check that an electrician is actually registered?

It is concerning that householders risk falling into the hands of un registered electricians simply because they do not know how to check to ensure an electrician is registered.

It is a legal requirement since 2005 that most electrical work carried out in the home must meet Building Regulation Part P. This means that once the work is complete the householder will receive a certificate confirming that the work meets the standards of Part P.

Only Registered electricians can carry out electrical work and certify it as Part P compliant. The electricians must be registered with a Government approved scheme. The main schemes are NICEIC, NAPIT and ELECSA.

Don't just take the electricians word for it that they are registered. You can search for their company name or registration number on line or over the telephone very simply. All electricians registered with the NICEIC or ELECSA will be listed on the Electrical Safety Register where you can find local, registered contractors in your area by entering your postcode. Electricians registered with NAPIT will be found on the Electric Safe Register.

Conclusion

We recommend that all electrical work, no matter how small is carried out by a qualified and registered electrician. It can seem very tempting to have a job carried out cheaply particularly in the run up to the festive period. In our opinion, it is far cheaper to pay a professional to do the job in the first place than risk hiring an un-registered electrician who may produce dangerous work resulting in having to pay again for a professional electrician do put the work right.

Landlords – keep your paperwork up to date or risk losing your property

This stark warning comes in the wake of South Essex Homes taking control over 6 flats after the landlord refused to allow electricians to certify the wiring of his property because it was done two years ago and covered until 2016.

Are South Essex homes being harsh?

Whilst it may appear that the landlord is keeping in with the recommendations of having an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) carried out every 5 years, he may have taken on new tenants over the last 2 years meaning that he should have had a further EICR carried out with each change of tenancy.

Why?

As a responsible landlord, an EICR should be carried out with each change of tenancy. This is because there is no way of knowing whether the property wiring is still safe. The previous tenants may have caused damage to the wiring so it is important to check that the installation remains safe before new tenants move in.

Even newly rewired properties may be compromised and it is highly recommended that an EICR is also carried out on recently rewired properties at a change of tenancy.

Aren't EICRs in rented properties optional?

They are, however the vast majority of landlords have them done and in fact we carry out a lot of electrical testing in London for landlords and letting agents. This is because in the event of an incident occurring the court would look for evidence that as a landlord, you took the necessary precautions to ensure the electrical safety of your tenants. As the requirements are quite complex, the majority of landlords opt for an EICR which can be used as proof to the court.

Furthermore, although only recommendations, they can be used in a court of law as evidence to claim compliance with a statutory requirement. In plain English, this means that a court can specify in individual cases that an EICR was necessary and as a landlord you could be prosecuted.

Another good reason to have an EICR done in your rental properties

If your tenants issue a complaint to the local authority regarding electrical concerns, the council will ask you to prove how you are ensuring the electrical safety of your tenants. You will be given only a few days to respond otherwise you can receive heft fines of approximately £600 per property or room if you let rooms. The local authority can also issue an Interim Management Order where the local authority takes control of your property. If you are a landlord of multiple properties, this figure could soon add up and far outweigh the costs of having an EICR carried out in the first place.

An incident does not need to occur to have a requirement for an EICR. Many landlord insurance policies will now refuse cover if an EICR isn't in place.

Conclusion

An EICR is an essential safety net that not only protects your tenants but also your own property. As electrical contractors in London who carry out work for landlords on a daily basis, we cannot recommend EICR's highly enough. Don't risk your livelihood for the sake of keeping up with your paperwork.

Are you overloading your sockets?

Now that the chilly weather is definitely upon us, thoughts are now turning to how we can keep warm over the Winter. Sometimes our heating needs a boost and the electric blankets and electric heaters start to make a return appearance once again.

Despite all this, it is mindful that a household electrical system is only designed to cope with so much. Unfortunately increasing numbers of households are overusing extension leads and in some cases actually overloading them with the wrong types of appliances.

What appliances could overload an extension lead?

It is actually smaller appliances such as kettles, toasters and hair dryers which actually consume far more power than what you might imagine. In fact it is recommended that kettles and toasters actually have their own socket and are not used on extension leads at all. This is because a kettle alone would use the maximum electrical load on a 13 Amp extension lead which renders the rest of the extension lead useless!

Electric heaters can provide a great way of providing quick and effective heat into winter chilled rooms, they are great in a living room when plugged into an extension lead along with a laptop, printer and a router but be wary of using them with a hair dryer. An electric heater and a hair dryer plugged into a 13 Amp extension lead will overload it leading to risk of overheating and fire.

As a general rule, no more than 3000 Watts of energy should be plugged into a 13 Amp extension lead. Of course we don't expect you to calculate how much energy each appliance uses, just be mindful of more power hungry appliances such as kettles, hair dryers and electric heaters which should ideally have their own socket for your own peace of mind.

What appliances will be ok to plug into an extension lead?

Appliances which consume less power will be better used in an extension lead. Such appliances include televisions, computer monitors, hard drives, laptops, wireless routers, phones, mobile phone chargers, games consoles etc. Even items which you would imagine might use more power such as electric blankets and hair straighteners are ok to use in an extension lead.

However before you plug in, it is important to check the Amps on your extension lead. We have based our post today on a 13 Amp extension lead. The capabilities of a lower Amp extension lead (like a 5Amp) will be much lower.

There is a great tool on the Electrical Safety Council which allows you to find out if you will overload your 13 Amp extension lead with a wide variety of household appliances. Take a look here

Where are extension leads suitable for use?

We recommend that extension leads are restricted to living areas and bedrooms within your home. In kitchens, appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers would cause a 13 Amp extension lead to overload if more than once appliance was used at the same time. Of course extension leads should never be brought into bathrooms and WC areas in your home.

The Safer Way

In an ideal world, extension sockets should not be used at all. To maintain optimum safety levels in your home, you would plug each appliance into it's own socket, however we do understand that in living rooms in particular it would not be practical to have a socket for every single thing!

In rooms such as kitchens, it is a good idea to ask a domestic electrician in London to install extra sockets if you are finding it difficult to manage with what you have In recent years, there has been increasing demand for additional kitchen sockets, and here at Fulcher Edwards we are often asked to fit additional sockets in our clients home. The installation of additional sockets should always be done by an electrical contractor in London who will ensure that they are safely installed and tested for your peace of mind.

Conclusion

A good time to consider your household needs for sockets is when you carry out home improvements. Redecorating a home often leads to replacement sockets for something more fitting with the theme. It is a great idea to ask your electrician to install additional sockets if you using extension leads currently. In fact all good NICEIC electricians in London will ask you about your current electrical needs to ensure that you have enough electrical sockets for your needs.

Going through your home on a room by room basis will help spread the cost of essential home improvements without the worry of placing too much load on your home electrics.

Why the bathroom is possibly the most dangerous room in your home

Your bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home that the whole family use on a daily basis. Spend a day without one and you will see why! Any householder who has had a replacement bathroom fitted in their home will know where we are coming from here.

As electricians we see many dangerous risks being taken in bathrooms and particularly where new bathrooms have been installed, the electrics in the bathroom are often overlooked either through oversight or lack of knowledge.

Don't forget your electrics in your new bathroom

When you plan a new bathroom, do consider the electrical aspect. Particular attention needs to be given to the light fittings especially if they are located above a shower or bath. Also remember that sockets are not allowed around baths, basins, and showers. Switches need to be located outside of the bathroom or alternatively a pull cord switch within the bathroom.

The rules surrounding electrical fittings within bathrooms are quite complex and we always strongly recommend calling registered London electrical contractors to come and take a look and to advise what your options are, or indeed whether you need to upgrade your current electrical fittings to comply with the latest electrical regulations.

If you are in the process of designing your new bathroom, we have put together a handy electrical check list which you may find useful. It will ensure you and your family’s safety when using what could be the most dangerous room in your home.

Remember water and electricity do not mix and electrical accidents can take you unawares in the bathroom if you are not aware of some essential dos and don’t s.

What you should know about your bathrooms electrics

• Sockets

Sockets are not allowed at all in bathrooms (with the exception of shaver supply sockets) unless they can be fitted more than 3 metres away from the bath or shower.

• Shaver supply sockets

Your domestic electrician in London will take care to ensure your shaver supply socket is installed in a safe location in your bathroom away from splashes.

• Lighting

An enclosed light fitting is a much better option than a normal pendant fitting in a bathroom. If you do opt for a pendant fitting it must be well away from water sources and out of the reach of anyone using the bath or shower. Remember water and electricity are a lethal combination.

• Switches

A ceiling mounted pull cord made of insulating material is the safest option for your bathroom. Switches are not advised due to the danger of touching them with wet hands. Do remember to dry your hands first before using any switches.

• Heating

Central heating is the best method of heating your bathroom. If you use an electric heater it must be plugged in at least 3 metres away from your bath and shower.

Gas and electric heaters must otherwise be fixed and permanently wired and preferably operated with a pull cord or switch located outside the bathroom.

• Electric Showers

These must be supplied on their own circuit direct from the consumer unit.

Do not

Bring portable electrical appliances into your bathroom under any circumstances. Such appliances include hair dryers, heaters and radios. Electricians can install a fixed hair dryer with hot hair delivered through a flexible pipe if you like to dry your hair in the bathroom. You can also use a shower radio too which ensures you stay safe.

It pays to use an electrician

For your own safety we recommend calling on an electrician to carry out electrical work in London. You will have peace of mind that your bathroom electrics are installed safely. It is very easy to splash a pendant accidentally with water from a shower.

It makes sense to finish off your bathroom nicely too. It is costly installing a new bathroom and dangerous electrics can really take the shine off what is a major home improvement. The cost of using an NICEIC electrician in London will be far cheaper than trying to do it yourself and then have to call an electrician to put the job right.

Five Common Reasons for calling an Electrician

When we get calls from customers requesting an NICEIC electrician on London, we get asked on several occasions if their job is big enough to call in an electrician.

Unfortunately we also carry out work where an electrical problem has been left for far too long and has caused expensive damage to the property.

So as London electrical contractors, what jobs do you think we get called to most often? Contrary to popular belief we do not very often get called out to high profile 'the lights have gone out jobs' it's the lower profile jobs that we attend to in our domestic work that sees us carrying out a range of electrical services across London on a daily basis.

Is my problem significant?

Any electrician who carries out domestic work will be well used to hearing the question over the phone “is my problem big enough for you” Our reply to the question incidentally is that if something electrical is concerning you, it is always better to call an electrician. Better to be safe than be sorry.

Our blog today talks about the 5 most common reasons we are called out to customer homes across London. If you have any similar problems in your home then please do not hesitate to call us here at Fulcher Edwards for some advice.

Five common problems that need attention from an electrician

1. Changes in power levels/power fluctuations

If you notice a change in power level on small appliances you are using, this may be a sign of an electrical wiring problem in your home. Most people first notice this when they use more powerful appliances such as hair dryers. Before you call an electrician, it is worth carrying out a visual inspection of the appliance first to rule out any damage such as damaged flex and loose plugs.

2. Flickering lights, tripping of power

We get several calls from our clients saying they have problems with the lights going out or flickering lights but they can't find any obvious problem. We think it is important to have an understanding of the condition of your electrical system in your home. It is recommended that home owners have an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) carried out at least once every 10 years. Over the years, new circuits can be added and upgrades carried out and it is important that your internal electrical wiring is able to keep up with the additional demands placed on it. An EICR can also determine if any areas of your electrical system are unsafe and where improvements can be made. Over time internal cables can deteriorate and flickering lights and persistent tripping are definitely signs that all is not right.

3. Replacement electrical fittings required

We recommend checking sockets and switches regularly for signs of wear and tear. Cracks, breaks, scorch marks and smells of burning and buzzing noises coming from sockets are all signs that all is not well. If you notice this happening in your home switch off and unplug the appliance immediately and consult a qualified registered electrician. If your socket is broken and you can see the wiring behind it or you have even a hairline crack on a switch, it can be dangerous and it could give you an electric shock. Again stop using it and call a London electrical contractor.

4. Overloaded sockets

Many house holders use extension leads as a means of being able to plug additional electrical items in. however, many people do not realise that you cannot plug what you like into an extension lead and still expect it to work! There is a brilliant socket overload calculator on the Electrical Safety Council website, you can use it to calculate if the appliances you are using are overloading your extension lead. Did you know that simply plugging in a kettle and toaster will overload a 4 plug 13Amp extension lead?

One other note about extension leads, always use a bar extension lead such as the one pictured in the socket overload calculator. Do not use a multi plug adapter as these are unsafe.

5. Incorrectly sized shower cable

We get this problem a lot when the customer has recently had a new shower fitted. Remember if you purchase an electric shower, you will need an electrician to power it up. Do not be tempted to do it yourself or get the plumber to do it. It is very important that the correct size cable is used for the shower Kw size. On several occasions we have seen near misses where cables have melted causing the shower casing to melt and set alight due to the wrong sized cable. Remember that water and electricity do not mix, so if a problem does occur, you are in double the danger.

Conclusion

All these points if left undetected can cause fire in your home and risk of electrical shock – or worse – if left unresolved. If you suspect an electrical problem in your home, do not delay in calling out an electrician.

A small problem that will be easy and cost effective to fix can escalate into a significant problem in a short space of time. Remember electrical deterioration can happen over a number of years before finally alerting you which means it is important to act straight away.

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we work on a daily basis in clients homes in and around London fixing typical problems like those above. If you think we can help you, please do not hesitate to get in touch! 

How clean is your kitchen?

How clean is your kitchen was one of the key messages given out over the Electrical Fire Safety week which took place on the 23^rd to 27^th September 2013.

With electrical fires remaining one of the biggest cause of house fires in recent years, the 2013 Electrical Fire Safety Week campaign, concentrated on raising awareness of electrical fires in the home and how easily they can start.

The kitchen is the culprit

It may come as no surprise to learn that the biggest cause of electrical fire in the home is in the kitchen, however it is not careless use of chip pans any longer that bring the fire brigade to your home, it is the general dirt and clutter found within the kitchen that is 'sparking' the fire (excuse the pun!)

Now we're not suggesting that your home is dirty (we know that would be terribly rude!) however, there are several 'hidden dangers' within all kitchens that could be causing an electrical fire risk without even realising. Keeping a kitchen electrically safe goes a bit further than washing the dishes and wiping the sides down everyday.

No one likes the idea of more housework (especially us here at Fulcher Edwards!) however with literally millions of grime fires which start in UK kitchens, it might be worth checking our check list to ensure that you are not unwittingly placing yourself at risk of fire by making a simple error.

How are the fires starting?

The fires are being fuelled by the build up of dust and grime that lies undetected around key appliances in the kitchen such as cookers and fridge freezers. Can you remember when you last cleaned behind your fridge freezer and underneath your oven? You are not alone if you can't remember, and many people are blaming a busy lifestyle for overlooking additional cleaning tasks within the home. According to a survey carried out by the Electrical Safety Council, two fifths of survey respondents said they struggled to keep their house clean and tidy particularly if they had young children of less than 5 years old.

Why are kitchens the focus of the campaign?

The kitchen is the main cause of electrical fires in the home. In 2012, more than half of all house fires were caused by kitchen appliances (21,036 out of 37,061.) Electricity is also responsible for the cause of 350,000 serious injuries each year so it is really important to take the time to clean around essential areas in your kitchen to avoid becoming a statistic!

The Fulcher Edwards definitive 'stay safe' check list

No one likes the idea of spending half their weekend cleaning....but with the weather turning chillier it will be time well spent staying warm, turning up the volume on the radio and going on a cleaning spree in your kitchen.

• Oven
  Focus on your oven first – do you have a build up of grime? This can heat up and ignite. Don't forget to clean the outside and underneath your oven. Grime can heat up and catch fire.

• Fridge/Freezer
  Next take a look behind your fridge freezer (or fridge and freezer) you will see a build up of dust if you haven't cleaned there recently. Allowing too much of this dust to build up can ignite a fire without you realising – you could be asleep in bed at night or out at work. Don't always assume you will be around to see it. If you are like us, you will probably keep all manner of paperwork on the top and this could also fall down the back too. Keep it clean and prevent the worry. Also carry out a defrost if you haven’t done one for a while.

• Microwave
  Are you guilty of storing paperwork on the top of your microwave or tea towels, or spice pots etc? Doing so can block up essential vents that your microwave needs in order to operate safely. This means that a fire could start when you are heating up a quick lunch in your microwave or at the end of a long tiring day. Just what you won't need! Keep vents free and don't be tempted to use your microwave as a storage area.

• Toaster
  Have you cleared out the crumb tray recently? Easy to overlook we know! Crumbs, dust and grime can easily collect in a toaster and will heat up with your bread as it toasts! Too much of a build up and you will end up with more than just burnt toast.

• Tea Towels
  These should have a designated storage area such as hooks in the kitchen. Don't be tempted to hang them on oven handles, on the microwave or the fryer, It is all too easy to forget to remove them and they are great sources of ignition. Many fires are caused by flammable objects left near to hobs such as cloths, oven gloves, plastic bags and packaging. Always keep flammable objects away from heat sources.

Other things to check for

• Plugs and sockets
  Ensure these are not overloaded as this can cause overheating. If you need more electrical sockets in your kitchen, we recommend calling an NICEIC electrician in London who would be happy to assist. In recent years, the need for additional electrical sockets in kitchens has grown in order to satisfy the need for the growing number of kitchen gadgets available nowadays!

• A working smoke alarm
  Simply having a smoke alarm or 2 in your home does not mean you are safe. You need to ensure your smoke alarms are tested on a weekly basis to ensure they are working. Although many now have a 10 year battery life or are mains powered, you should not just rely on that alone. Always test using the test button and ensure you can hear the audible sound. Many people are testing their fire alarms on a Tuesday thanks to an on going campaign known as 'test it Tuesday'.

You should also ensure the vents remain free of dust to ensure they are working as they should. If you have any concerns about your fire alarm, contact an electrician who deals with fire alarm maintenance in London.

How often should I have a deep cleaning session?

Don't worry, we're not suggesting you know give up every weekend to your kitchen, in fact the Electrical Safety Council says that doing a thorough deep clean of your kitchen once a year is sufficient. It is important though that old habits don't return and you keep all vents free from clutter.

We think it's a great and satisfying way of having a good pre Christmas clean up – crickey did we just mention that word?!