Is an elderly person you know in electrical danger?

Ensuring electrical safety is an important matter regardless of age, but as we get older, possible electrical dangers can become more apparent due to memory or mobility problems. If you have an elderly relative, it may be worth your while checking their home electrics. Ageing electrical wiring can pose a problem for an elderly person and they may be unaware of it's danger until they receive an electric shock or injury.

Now we know that persuading an older person to consider their electrics (and anything else for that matter!) is easier said than done. There are many older people who are perfectly happy and are able to make decisions about electrics themselves. However, if you are aware of any electrical danger in their home, it is worth mentioning it to them. You never know, they might be unaware of the real dangers.

What electrical dangers might be lurking around

Older people are often more at risk of electrical accident and injury because of old or poor quality housing and faulty appliances. At Fulcher Edwards we carried out an electrical visit to a lovely man who was attempting to use an ancient vacuum cleaner. Every time he used it, it blew the fuse plug! Thankfully no electrical accident or shock occurred, but he did cause damage to his wiring because of it. Luckily we were able to persuade him to part with it, before an electrical accident occurred.

Modern facilities that we are used to in our own homes simply do not exist in some older homes. From basic kitchens to the flowered wall paper and carpets, it is easy to tell how modern a home is from just looking around. However the hidden electrical dangers can potentially make things far worse.

Checking the age and condition of some essential electrical fittings will give you an idea of the level of electrical safety in the property. Look out for:

• Fusebox

All fuse boxes should have a mains switch (a way of being able to switch it on and off) and a full set of breakers or fuses. If all seems fairly modern then that is a good sign. Look out for fuse boxes with wooden backs, cast iron switches or a mix of fuses or breakers. If there is evidence of these things then a call to a qualified and registered electrician would be a good move. Fuse boxes of this type are very much out of date and would benefit from an upgrade.

Similarly, if a more modern fuse box appears to be tripping often or fuses are regularly blowing, then it would be a good idea to contact your local electrician. As electricians in South East London, we get calls of this nature on a regular basis. We can often put right a simple problem cost effectively as long as the householder does not leave it too long before contacting us.

• RCD

Ideally, an RCD protected house is the safest one. Fuse boxes (known as consumer units) fitted within the last few years should have RCD protection as standard. Have a look on the consumer unit for a T or Test button. If it has one press it to ensure it is working as it should. An RCD cuts the power in a fraction of a second if an electrical fault develops, an appliances malfunctions or someone in the house accidentally touches a live wire.

An RCD is great peace of mind, however it is not essential. If the cost of replacing an otherwise safe fuse box would be too costly, then some RCD sockets or plugs would be a good alternative to ensure the safety of high risk appliances such as kettles, lawn mowers and washing machines.

• Plugs and sockets

Potential electrical danger can often be spotted by taking a closer look at the sockets and switches. Cracks and breaks are an electrical danger and affected sockets or switches need to be replaced. Look out for singe marks (where the shape of a plug can be seen) and discolouration. Both of these are a sign of over heating. Buzzing and crackling when the socket is in use and 'green goo' coming from below the socket are also signs that you need to call in an electrician to take a look.

The type of plugs and sockets will give you an idea of the age of the wiring in the property. Look out for round pin sockets and sockets fitted on skirting boards, these are signs that the wiring is over 50 years old and should be checked by a qualified electrician.

• Light fittings

Look out for signs of cracking or burn marks around light fittings. This is a sign that all is not well. If you spot this, stop using them immediately and contact an electrician. Further signs that all is not well include curled labels on flex, discolouration and scorching. If a switch sparks when you switch it on then this is also something that an electrician should look at.

Braided flex hanging from ceiling light fittings is another sign that the wiring is very old.

• Cables

Take the time to inspect the cable condition of appliances that are being used. Look out for cuts, wear and tear and ensure that no bare cable can be seen. Check that plugs are securely on the end of the cable. Damage to the cable would need to repaired by replacing the cable and plug or alternatively replacing the appliance.

Never use PVC tape to repair cable and avoid trailing cables over carpets and under rugs as these can present a trip hazard.

• Check the smoke alarm

Having a working smoke alarm can prevent a serious house fire. Electrical fires are currently the biggest cause of a house fire in the UK. Smoke alarms save lives, and are low cost or free to fit. Local fire services can fit smoke alarms to eligible households free of charge. If you are looking for mains powered smoke alarms, then these will need to be installed by a qualified electrician. Here at Fulcher Edwards we are fire alarm specialists in South London.

What else you can do to help

If the home is rented, then some of the electrical concern can be alleviated by asking the landlord to carry out an EICR on the property. It is recommended that an EICR is carried out once every 5 years or with every change of tenancy. Responsible landlords ensure this is carried out and certainly if the property is rented to an older person, this responsibility becomes more justified in our opinion.

If the home is owned, a full electrical check is recommended once every 10 year to check all is working as it should be. Ask an electrician to carry out an EICR report to determine the condition of the electrics.

Call for Government Support

Such is the concern for electrical safety for the elderly, that the electrical safety charity Electrical Safety First has asked for Government support to ensure older people live in safe homes. The initiative is backed by several care charities including Contact the Elderly and the Carers Trust.

Carrying out a good deed for an elderly relative or neighbour could be a life saver.

Are you aware of the charging dangers of E-Cigarettes?

Since the New Year, we have been particularly busy here at Fulcher Edwards with call outs relating to charging problems with e-cigarettes. We have been repairing some alarming electrical damage caused by e-cigarette chargers – not to mention the frustration caused to our poor customers who have unwittingly purchased an incompatible charger for their e-cigarettes.

Read this if you use e-cigarettes

E-cigarettes are amongst the most popular option when quitting smoking. In recent years, the number of people using them has risen dramatically. However amongst the popularity, there has been an increase in the number of chargers available on the market that can cause significant damage if they're not compatible with your type of e-cigarette.

To date, there has been over 100 house fires alone caused by e-cigarettes across the UK. Using a charger that is not designed to use with your e-cigarettes can cause it to explode – quite literally. We don't need to tell you what the outcome of that can be, however it seems like people are buying spare chargers which are not designed for use with their particular e-cigarette.

What kind of electrical damage e-cigarette chargers can cause

As electricians in South London, we have seen first hand the extensive damage caused by e-cigarettes in 2015 alone. Many e-cigarette users will leave them charging unattended whilst they sleep or go to work. However, incorrect chargers can quickly overheat causing fire not only to the e-cigarette but also to the wiring within the socket. This can quickly spread to the wiring inside your walls and in severe cases can cause a serious fire.

If the problem is not discovered, it can lead to the explosion of the e-cigarette which could cause serious injury and damage.

Unfortunately the cost to replace wiring and sockets damaged by the charger can be quite costly and will far exceed the cost of a genuine charger!

Make sure you know what charger you should be using

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we recommend that you purchase only genuine chargers and accessories for your e-cigarette. Although retailers of 'universal' chargers will tell you it will work, we recommend that you do not use the safer option as there is no guarantee that it will work. We know how handy it can be having an additional chargers, however only purchase genuine chargers that are designed for use with your e-cigarette.

Meet Clueless Colin!

The problem with e-cigarette chargers is a growing problem and as such, the electrical safety charity Electrical Safety First have compiled a video demonstrating the danger of e-cigarette chargers. If he resembles you (and we're definitely not suggesting you are actually clueless ;)) then you may need to think twice about your charging habits!

Have you used the wrong charger and concerned about your home electrics?

It is better safe than sorry as electrical fires can start unnoticed inside walls. If you have been a user of a universal charger, then it would be a good idea to call a qualified and registered electrician to check if any damage has been caused. They're likely to suggest an EICR which will involve inspecting the wiring in your home to see if any damage has occurred.

When it comes to dodgy e-cigarette chargers, it is better to be safe than sorry!  

Why registering your appliance is so important

Now that another New Year has been and gone, those sparkling new gadgets that you received for Christmas will now be a part of your life! How do you know that they'll carry on providing you with a great service? Even the best quality products can develop faults and it is essential that you are made aware if this is the case.

Look out for that little card in the box!

You may well have overlooked a small card in the box which mentioned registering your appliance. Now you would be easily forgiven for ignoring the advice for fear of receiving relentless amounts of junk mail as a result of filling it in. However this card is not actually for this purpose. It is there for your own protection and peace of mind. In general the card serves two purposes:

• To guarantee the product
• To inform you of any product recalls

You may well have a guarantee in place from the retailer but manufacturers guarantees often last far longer and it is well worth your while registering for additional guarantee on offer. Perhaps what is far more important is that the manufacturer will be able to contact you in the event of a product recall.

Got it! But what about my older appliances I've forgotten to register?

Once a customer realises the importance of filling in that all important card, panic can quickly set in when considering the whole multitude of other appliances in the home that were never registered. Luckily there is help at hand. A brilliant website known as Register My Appliance allows you to register the details of all electrical products in your home. In turn you will be made aware of any product recalls, safety repairs and upgrades that are available for your individual items.

Why you should register your appliances on this website

If you've had some electrical items a number of years or even if you've recently moved, you probably hadn't thought of contacting the manufacturer to change your address (there’s enough of those already!) With Register My Appliance you are able to receive any notices directly via email wherever you are living.

Register My Appliance is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.)

Product recalls are easily fixed

One of the main problems faced with product recalls is the ease of which potential problems can be rectified if the customer gets in contact. However leaving an item currently under recall can cause all manner of problems including electrical shock, fire and even explosion.

Getting a product fixed under product recall is often very simple. Normally a technician will visit your home and carry out the repair at a time that suits you. It makes sense to register your products so that manufacturers can contact you if necessary.

Avoiding electrical appliance malfunction

As electricians in South East London, we often receive call outs after an electrical appliance has malfunctioned. In many cases it is misuse by the customer that has lead to the problem occurring. Make sure you follow these safety tips when using electrical appliances:

• Ensure you have working smoke alarms in your home

Smoke alarms can alert you quickly to a problem. If an appliance has overheated and a fire has occurred you may not be aware until the fire is out of control without a smoke alarm.

• Don't overload extension leads

Here at Fulcher Edwards, We have lost count of the amount of times we have seen overloaded extension leads. There may be four spaces on a lead, but together the products used on it should not exceed 3000 watts of energy. Overloaded extension leads can cause overheating and fire.

• Keep electrical appliances indoors

A common mistake that is often made is having electrical appliances located in areas that are not 'household temperature'. We have seen freezers in outhouses, washing machines in garages and tumble dryers in conservatories. The problem is the temperature. When the temperature drops it can cause malfunctioning. The cold weather can affect sensitive electric components which are only designed to operate in ambient temperatures.

• Use an RCD socket if necessary when using electrical products outside

If your home is not protected by an RCD then we highly recommend you use an RCD socket or plug when carrying out work outside. Electrical items designed for outdoor use are more susceptible to electrical dangers. Water that may have leaked onto the item, damp grass, accidentally chopping through the cable are all real dangers when using electrical equipment outside.

• Take care with appliances with no on/off switch

Electrical appliances which do not switch on or off such as irons, need to be unplugged when not in use. Accidentally leaving these appliances on can lead to overheating, fire and damage to upholstery or carpets.

• Keep instruction manuals

Instruction manuals can be a godsend should you need to refer to them at some point. If there is a power cut for example, it can be useful to find out how to reset the clock! Instruction manuals can also help if you sell the product or if you rent your home.

• Only use appliances for what they are intended for

Never take risks with appliances by using them for an alternative purpose. Electrical accidents can occur!

However you choose to register your product, please make sure you do it, your life could actually depend on it!

Fulcher Edwards – we're campaigning to make rented accommodation safer

The electrical industry received the unfortunate news from the powers that be within Parliament that the eagerly awaited Tenancy (Reform) Bill has failed to get through to it's next reading. This is despite Governmental and cross party support.

What changes would the bill have implemented?

The bill would have introduced changes that would force unscrupulous landlords to make their properties electrically safe, and the lives of tenants easier in making requests for repairs and maintenance to be carried out.

It would have been a legal requirement for landlords to have had an electrical installation condition report (EICR) every 5 years. Additionally tenants who were afraid to report problems in their property to the landlord for fear of eviction, would have been protected by the Tenancy (Reform) Bill meaning the landlord would have been forced to carry out the repairs and the tenant would not have had to worry about eviction.

Electrical safety currently

As it stands, electrical safety within rental properties is not covered by any kind of law. In simple terms this means that landlords can get away with having no electrical checks carried out on their properties leaving tenants at risk of fatal electrical shock and injuries. People who privately rent their property are more likely to be a victim of electrical shock and electrical fire than any other housing sector. Worryingly, half of all domestic fires in the UK (around 20,000) are caused by dodgy electricity.

As electricians in South East London we work with many reputable landlords and letting agents within the area. We see first hand the condition of rental properties which are purchased by the 'good guys' which were once owned by a landlord which had no regard for tenant safety. We worked on a house recently which had not been rewired since the house was built back in the 1960's. Old metal sockets and switches and wiring which was not anywhere near the current electrical standards. It was worrying to realise that just a few weeks prior to Fulcher Edwards updating the electrics, there were tenants living in danger of electrical shock and injury every day.

This is far from a rare occurrence, we see rental homes regularly in dire need of electrical updating. From old wiring to ancient fuse boxes – many of which have been tampering with and 'added to' over the years. We have even seen brand new flats with switches and sockets not screwed to the walls.

We support the need for electrical safety in rented properties

Seeing first hand the dangerous electrical conditions that tenants live in – and chances are there will be a tenant in your road living dangerously – we fully support the need to raise electrical safety standards in rented properties.

It is not difficult to ensure a property is up to rental standards. The current recommendation is to have an EICR carried out every 5 years or with every change of tenancy. If there are any electrical appliances supplied with the property, then they need to be PAT tested regularly. We also highly recommend that rental properties have an RCD fitted.

We also support the need for better home security for tenants. It is unacceptable that tenants are in fear of losing their home by reporting dangerous problems with their property. As NICEIC electricians in London we find it very concerning that tenants are compromising their electrical safety and feel they cannot report it. Electricity kills 7 people per week and injures 1000's more so this issue really does need addressing.

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we have a team of London electricians who work with landlords and letting agents across London to ensure that properties are maintained to rental standards. If you are a landlord who needs some electrical advice please get in touch with us today to talk.

How a smoke alarm could save your life this Christmas

Christmas seems to come earlier every year! Here at Fulcher Edwards, we are working in homes and businesses across London who already have their Christmas decorations up. Such festivities can quickly brighten up dreary old November, but can also be a huge fire risk.

Have you seen this video? This is how quickly a fire can engulf a room. In just 60 seconds, a living room is engulfed in flames and thick black smoke. http://youtu.be/hMtjGfr0tYs

The fire is caused by not turning off Christmas lighting, a simple thing to do you may think, but it is surprising how many people simply leave them on overnight or when out and about. Like any other electrical item, Christmas tree lights can develop faults. Lights that have not been stored correctly could have damage to the delicate wires and older lights that are not LED have an even greater risk of over heating and catching fire.

Christmas decorations just add to the mix

Once a fire starts Christmas trees particularly real trees can form the perfect fuel for a growing fire. Paper chains and other flammable decorations will add to the mix. Of course no household or business can guarantee to be 100% fire free once their decorations are in place. The speed in which fire can develop is truly frightening – a fire like in the video could occur whilst you are in another room in your home! This is why it is essential to have at least one smoke alarm in your property.

How can a fire alarm help?

A fire alarm detects fumes that contribute to the start of an actual fire. Burning, smouldering and overheating take place some time before the fire itself starts. In the case of the video, a fire alarm may pick up fumes given off by the tree lights prior to the fire starting. The activation of the fire alarm would ensure that the occupants of the house are able to get out safely before the fire becomes unmanageable.

Remember that smoke alarms also need testing. Test it Tuesday is a very popular campaign aimed at getting people to test their smoke alarms every Tuesday. Today is the last Tuesday before Advent begins, and the weekend will see many more households join in with the Christmas hype and decorate their homes with all manner of decorations!

Before you begin, ensure that your smoke alarm is working.

The Fulcher Edwards Christmas check list

As electricians in South East London, we see many cases of risks being taken when it comes to Christmas decorations. Overloaded extension leads, decorations that are a fire and an electrical hazard and dangerously positioned trees and other decorations. Reduce the risk of house fire and ensure your electrical safety by:

• Checking Christmas lighting, both indoor and outdoor for damage before assembling. Check cables are free of damage, plugs are intact and crucially check for blown bulbs before hanging them.

• Are your bulbs LED? LED lights are far safer and are less likely to over heat. If a bulb does blow, the lighting will need to be replaced as bulbs are not replaceable. LED lights are now sold as standard in shops.

• Ensure that lights used outside are suitable for outside use.

• Minimise the use of extension leads. Never be tempted to plug an extension lead into another extension lead.

• Consider the use of timers. These will ensure that your lights go off at a set time. It is easy to forget to switch lights off especially if they are outside or in a window.

• Never place trees or decorations near to sources of heat such as fires or electric heaters. The heat from them can ignite flammable objects nearby.

• Never carry out repairs using insulation tape or try to connect one set of lights to another set by connecting the wires.

• If you have any doubt about the safety of your lights at any point, turn them off immediately and do not use them.

• Purchase flame resistant decorations and trees. Old decorations and some real trees are not flame resistant and will just make a fire worse if one occurs.

Finally, remember to keep checking your smoke alarm weekly throughout Christmas (and beyond!) Christmas time sees a huge increase in house fires with the added decorations, people being off guard and the increased risk of cooking related fire.

If you have any concern about the safety of your home electrics, it is not too late to have a pre Christmas electrical safety check carried out. Contact us today to find out more.

Is an electrical item under product recall affecting your home electrics?

What type of action do you take if you become aware of an electrical appliance in your home that may be dangerous? According to research carried out by the electrical safety charity Electrical Safety First, only 10-20% of electrical goods that are placed under recall are ever actually returned.

What is a product recall?

A product recall is an item that has been found by the manufacturer to be dangerous. They need to try and get the product back from you and will normally exchange it for a safe version or refund your money.

It is important that you act on a product recall notice if you become aware of it. Electrical items under product recall have the potential to cause electrical injury or even death if you continue to use them, even if you are using them perfectly safely.

Despite this, 2 million adults in the research admitted to ignoring a product recall notice. This is quite alarming given the risks of using dangerous electrical products which include fire and electric shock. Here at Fulcher Edwards, we have had several of our clients in the past tell us about their recalled electrical product that is “still going strong”.

How often are electrical products recalled?

Another myth about product recalls is that they are rare. This is not quite right. Since 2011, 288 electrical products have been put on product recall. These products include seven types of fridges, four types of washing machine and seven types of hair dryers.

Electrical products of all sizes can be re called, and each product carries the same electrical risks regardless of it's size.

So why are people not responding to product re call notices? Electrical Safety First believe that this is down to the lack of awareness of the extent of the danger electrical products can cause. Respondents to the research carried out by the ESC suggested that product recall notices were regarded as nothing more than annoying faults.

Can products under electrical recall cause damage to electrics?

Yes they can. As electricians in London, we have on several occasions carried out repair work on home electrical installations that have been damaged as a result of an electrical item on product recall. Electrical items under product recall could be at high risk of catching fire – this may be the reason for the recall in the first place. If a fire was to occur then damage caused to the socket and internal wiring can be extensive and costly to repair. In worse cases a serious house fire could occur.

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we highly recommend that you act on a product recall notice should you receive one and never leave your electrical safety to chance. If you are concerned that an electrical item subject to product recall could have caused damage to your electrics, we recommend that you contact a qualified and registered electrician as soon as you can.

Damage can become more costly to repair the longer it is left, so ask an electrician to investigate sooner rather than later.

Carbon Monoxide alarms save lives – and the life you save could be your own

The importance of carbon monoxide alarms should never be under estimated, yet they are often overlooked or worse still mistaken in identity.

As installers of fire alarms systems in London we advise landlords, business owners and home owners of the importance of not just a working fire alarm, but also a working carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. In many cases, customers believe that their fire alarm also acts as a carbon monoxide alarm and don't realise that they actually need a separate CO alarm to be protected.

Fact: A fire alarm is NOT a CO alarm.

Other facts about CO alarms

At this time of year, problems with CO once again return. Dangerous levels of CO in the home are the result of the CO not being able to exit your home in a safe way. CO leaks through cracks and poor joins in chimneys, flues and other outlets in your home. The CO levels build up in confined areas and can cause death to householders if the levels are high enough. CO problems are rarely the result of faulty appliances.

• Having boilers and other fuel appliances serviced does not protect you from CO poisoning. You still need a CO alarm.

Carbon Monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer. You may have heard of the dangers via television advertisements. CO is odourless and colourless and you would not be aware that you were breathing it in. As electricians in London, we have heard on many occasions that CO is smelt on appliances and in the air. If you can smell fuel like gas, oil or any other unwanted odour from a fuel burning appliance then this is a different matter. It is not CO that you are smelling, however you still need to have the appliance looked at to rule out other problems with it.

• You cannot smell, see or taste CO. If you can smell fuel like gas or oil, this is a different problem.

Installing a CO alarm is often seen as a hassle for householders who just feel like CO alarms get in the way and they don't know which ones to get. Firstly, CO alarms come in a range of options. Here at Fulcher Edwards, we often install dual fire alarms and CO alarms. These 'all in one' mains powered devices save on ceiling clutter and ensures reliable operation of both your fire and CO alarm system. However, no specialist technical skill is required to obtain CO protection in your home. It it possible to purchase CO alarms that are free standing and require no screws or attachments.

As electricians in South East London, we are often asked where the best place is to install CO alarms. We always recommend following the manufacturers instructions for best placement of your CO alarm. However CO is slightly lighter than air and therefore does rise so it makes sense to place a CO alarm on a ceiling away from corners where air can stagnate.

• No fixing of CO alarms is needed, however do take care over where CO alarms are placed. Having a CO smoke alarm is 100% better than not having one at all however.

Never under estimate how dangerous carbon monoxide can be. Many householders we speak to think that CO is the result of poor household maintenance or negligence. This is far from the case. There are survivors of CO who have had a lucky escape with CO, however 40 people die from CO poisoning every year in the UK. A room with extremely high levels of CO within it will kill you within less than 3 minutes and you would become unconscious after 2-3 breaths. Symptoms of CO poisoning are often mistaken for other Winter 'bugs' and include head aches, dizziness and nausea. If you are suffering from these symptoms and do not have a CO alarm, we highly recommend you do so ASAP. CO levels can rise to dangerous life threatening levels quickly without your knowledge.

• Never under estimate the danger of CO poisoning. Any home which have fuel burning appliances such as a boiler, gas oven/hob, log burner, open fire, gas fire is at risk.

Pay attention to your CO alarm once installed. In the same way you test your fire alarm, here at Fulcher Edwards we recommend you test your CO alarm at the same time. The recommendation is to test your smoke alarm once every week. In addition take note of any screen display messages. CO alarms have a CO sensor and it is vital that this works as it should. Regular servicing of mains powered CO detectors will ensure that the sensor is working correctly. CO sensors normally have a lifespan of 6 years, it is recommended that the alarms are replaced after this time if it is not worth replacing the CO sensors.

• Test and maintain your CO alarm in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.

Get a CO alarm before you switch on your heating this year

If you haven't switched on your heating yet this year, then this is an ideal opportunity to get yourself protected from the dangers of CO. With the weather gradually turning chillier, we will start to see increases of CO problems. Make sure you won't be this years victims.