Wake up, don't fake up!

The first day of the wake up, don't fake up campaign from the electrical safety charity Electrical Safety First took place on Sunday. Electrical Safety First have partnered with the City of London Police to help to spread an important electrical safety message about the safe use of electrical beauty products such as hair dryers, hair straighteners and curlers.

As electricians in South East London, we know how easy it can be to fall into the trap of purchasing fake electrical products – especially when looking good is concerned! There is nothing worse than your hair straighteners packing up when you have a big night out planned! Being offered a pair of cheap hair straighteners can seem like a real life saver in times like these!

Beware of fake electrical items!

Getting your hands on those straighteners is only a short term fix if the straighteners turn out to be fake. Imagine that, plugging them in to find they catch fire when in use – or worse still actually electrocute you. That's not even worth thinking about – dying to look good? That should never happen!

The market for fake electrical beauty items whether that be a hair dryer or electric shaver or anything in-between is huge. Products that seem to match the hair dryer sold in Superdrug for twice the price can be sold in on line shops or on market stalls can seem really tempting. Unfortunately these very products have also revealed some nasty electrical injuries or serious burns to the face and hands.

Many fake electrical products lack basic safety features that you probably take for granted on genuine products.

What is so wrong with fake electrical items?

Everyone likes a good deal and if that good deal is safe and fit for use than of course no one would stop you. However fake electrical items can and do kill and failing that, can cause expensive electrical damage in your home or could even burn it down! Is it really worth the risks to safe a few quid on a hair-dryer?

Fake electrical beauty products can overheat and catch fire. Often this is because the wiring inside them is not suitable and literally just melts with the heat. This is even more scary when electrical beauty products are often used around the face.

The problem with fake electrical products is that they nearly always look the same as the genuine product at a glance. Below are the typical problems found with fake electrical items:

• Poor outer casing

Take a closer look at the plastic casing of the product and it can often appear to be badly constructed. Look out for cracks in the plastic where bare wires can be seen or badly fitted cable again where wire could be seen.

• No CE mark

No CE mark would mean the product doesn't comply with strict UK or EU law meaning you would be at risk of electrical shock or injury. Although electrical items have been known to be stamped with a fake CE mark, not having one at all would definitely mean to avoid at all costs!

• No box or instructions

When you purchase a genuine electrical product, you would get a box and instructions written in English. If you find you are presented with a product with no box and no instructions then this is bad news. All electrical products have to be supplied with instructions and suitable packaging.

• No guarantee

Fake electrical products are nearly always a waste of money as there is no way of returning them if/when a fault develops. All you can do is discard it and buy a new (genuine) item!

Damage to home electrics

Is is not just the electrical item itself that is the risk. Plugging it in can cause overheating to your socket too. In turn this can lead to overheating of internal wiring in your home and worst case fire. Imagine if you accidentally left a pair of fake hair straighteners unattended and the damage they could potentially cause.

As electrical contractors in London, we have carried out extensive electrical repair work for householders who have unfortunately fallen victim to fake electrical items.  If you feel that you have used fake electrical products and are concerned about the damage they could cause, unplug immediately and ask a qualified, registered electrician to carry out an EICR on your property.

Fake electrical products are no fun. Save your pennies and buy the real deal. It might cost you more in the beginning but longer term, you'll be pleased. Fake electrical products could cost you your life or home....there is no person in this land who would be prepared to risk so much for something so little.

Are you using a dangerous electrical appliance?

Product recalls – everyone knows about them, yet how many of us actually know for certain that all our electrical appliances in our home are actually safe?

Unless your product is registered with the company your purchased it from and they have your correct address details, it is pretty much down to you to find out for yourself about electrical items that form a product recall. There is no central place to check currently so you have to be pro-active and the truth is that we lead such busy lives, finding out about potential product recalls do not even feature on our ever lengthening 'to do' lists!

A cold wake up call!

One of our electricians here at Fulcher Edwards helped out a valued customer last week when our team went to fit a smoke alarm system – one of the many electrical services in London that we offer.

During the course of the day, our electrician noticed that the customer had a Beko fridge freezer. He took a minute to look at the serial number inside the fridge as he had also had the same fridge that was part of a product recall. After checking on line on the Electrical Safety First's product recall list, he discovered that the customer was at risk of fire.

The customer was not aware that the integrated fridge freezer was a fire risk as it was in her house when she purchased it. Thanks to the observance of our electrician, she contacted Beko who have arranged to make a free of charge modification.

This story had a happy ending, but how many appliances are disappearing under the radar without notice?

Don't underestimate the danger

It is not only large electrical appliances that have the potential to cause electric shock or fire, small products like adaptors, chargers and small items such as computer routers all present the same dangers.

Many product recalls of this nature originate from China where genuine products have been copied or universal products are manufactured which do not meet strict EU or UK standards. Such products are widely found on line and in most cases carry no guarantee or exchange service meaning the product simply has to be destroyed. This is at best – many of these products are so poorly made that bare live wire is often exposed leaving users at risk of electric shock.

The latest product recall on the electrical safety first website is a X-360 slim AC adapter. It is a black power supply sold for use with the Xbox 360, but is not a genuine product. If anyone in your household has an Xbox 360 and has purchased a cheap version of a power pack, check to see if it is this one. The plug and supply cord do not meet the required standards leaving users at risk of electric shock.

Where to find information about recalled products

As one of the leading electrical companies in London, we actively promote the dangers of electrical items and the damage they can cause. They are not just a risk, they present a real danger to life and can cause costly damage to the electrics within your home. Unfortunately we find ourselves carrying out increasing amounts of electrical work in homes in and around South East London which has been caused by dangerous electrical items that are either fake or were under a product recall notice.

Although there is no single place to check for product recall notices, the electrical safety charity Electrical Safety First has a product checker of all electrical items that have been recalled since 2007. It is worth checking through this list from time to time as it also contains instructions on what to do if your electrical item is affected.

The most important thing to do is not to knowingly use a product you know to be under a product recall or which you suspect is dangerous. Contact the retailer or manufacturer for advise if you feel a product you are using has developed a dangerous fault.

Never take a risk with electricity it is simply not worth it.

Are you at risk of electrical fire in your home?

Electrical fire is now the most common cause of house fire in the UK. Traditionally when people think of a house fire they believe the cause to be something controllable such as a candle, unattended cigarette or cooking fire.

The alarming thing about electrical fire is that there is very little control over them. Many electrical fires begin by the householder not even being aware of an electrical problem in the first place. A common cause of electrical fire is by overloading sockets.

Are you overloading your sockets?

As electricians in South East London we regularly see extension lead and plug overload in peoples homes. In older homes, extension lead use is very common as there is often simply not enough sockets in the home to cope with the number of electrical items in use.

Extension lead use can be safe but it can also be extremely dangerous if the extension lead becomes electrically overloaded. Unfortunately many householders are not aware about extension lead overload, let alone to know if their extension leads are actually electrically dangerous.

One of the most dangerous rooms in the home for overloading sockets in the kitchen. This because high powered appliances such as washing machines, kettles and even toasters can overload an extension lead and cause an electrical fire.

What do you use if you need additional plug sockets in your home?

The safest option is to have a qualified and registered electrician to install additional sockets in the areas of your home where more sockets are needed. However extension leads can also be a low cost option so long as you do not become dependant on them in your home.

The type of extension lead you use in your home matters. It could be the difference between an electrical fire starting or not.

Firstly multi plug adapters should never be used anywhere in your home. These are similar to a large plug but contain several plug sockets. Plug adapters have been known to cause damage to the actual plug socket itself due to the weight and also have the added risk of overheating and starting a fire inside the wall.

The extension lead you should be using is otherwise known as a 4 way bar adapter which contain a line of sockets with a lead that plugs into a wall socket. Some extension leads come in a reel allowing you to pull out the length of cable you need. As electrical contractors in South London we do not recommend using these as the cable could overheat easily. The number of sockets available on an extension lead can vary but here at Fulcher Edwards, we recommend no more than 4 sockets on an extension lead to avoid the very real risk of overload.

Never buy an extension lead without first checking the current rating of the extension lead. You need to ensure that the extension lead is 13A. Less than this and it will become overloaded as soon as you plug anything into it! Some extension leads we have seen in well known supermarkets have had current ratings of 10A or less. The current rating is marked clearly of the extension lead back or side.

Best uses for extension leads

Extension leads are best used for low voltage electrical items in your home – items such as televisions, games consoles, sky boxes, portable telephones, laptops and chargers. For this reason they are best suited for living rooms, home offices or bedrooms. Ideally households should not be reliant on extension leads. If you are using several in one room – or even using them in every room, you need to be seriously considering additional sockets.

Worst uses for extension leads

Extension leads should not be used in kitchens. Even small appliances such as a kettle and toaster plugged into an extension lead would overload it. Large appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers should have their own individual socket and should never be plugged into an extension lead.

Find out if your electrical items are causing extension lead overload

The electrical safety charity Electrical Safety First has an excellent tool which allows you to check if your sockets are overloaded. Its a quick and easy way to find out if you are using extension leads safely in your home.

Never take a risk with extension leads and if you suspect a problem with them, stop using and unplug immediately.

Extension leads can be convenient but used incorrectly could have devastating consequences.

10 most dangerous electricity mistakes

Mistakes with electricity can happen easily and it's every day mistakes that quickly land householders in deep water.

Take a look at the list below to see what mistakes you could be making in your home. Any of these things could quickly land you in deep water and put you at serious risk of electric shock or injury.

Simple mistakes that endanger the lives of householders

As electricians in South East London we come across these problems on an almost daily basis in peoples homes. If you are making any of these mistakes you are putting yourself in electrical danger.

More than 80 million accidents happen in British homes each year causing injury or property damage due to unnecessarily risky behaviour, according to new research.

1. Drying clothes on an electrical heater

2. Repairing an appliance while it is still plugged in

3. Leaving a hair straightener on unattended

4. Taking batteries out of smoke alarms to silence them

5. Drilling through wires in the wall to hang pictures

6. Trailing cables under a rug or carpet to keep them out of the way

7. Trying to dry objects that aren’t food in the microwave

8. Overloading electrical sockets and adapters

9. Using damaged electrical sockets that have burn marks on them

10. Using unregistered tradesmen

New laws for landlords on their way

There has been a lot of coverage recently in the media regarding the condition of some rental properties with reports that tenants live in conditions which could endanger their lives. Electrical safety is no exception to this rule, yet many landlords chose to ignore the condition of their property electrics and seemingly wait for something to happen.

The decision of whether to make compulsory a requirement to provide an EICR at least once every 5 years is yet to be made, however a law is due to come in later this year that will keep tenants safer in their properties.

What is the new law?

From October 2015, landlords will be required to by law to fit working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in their properties.

Alarmingly 26 deaths and 670 injuries occur every year in UK rental properties where neither of these items were provided. In many rental properties, it is found during property inspections that tenants have actually fitted their own smoke alarms and provided their own carbon monoxide detectors. It is fortunate for the landlord that the tenants have taken this approach as many do not.

The decision has received strong support from a private consultation held about the condition of property in the private rental sector. There is also support expected from all 46 fire and rescue services across the UK many of whom will provide free services to fit and install fire alarms.

The law is designed to bring properties in the rental sector in line with existing building regulations in particular the fact that new build properties are required to have a hard wired smoke alarm system installed. Landlords will be required to fit a smoke alarm on every floor of their property and a carbon monoxide alarm in the vicinity of any fuel burning appliances such as gas boilers, log burners, coal fires etc.

Are you a landlord affected by these changes?

As electricians in South East London we are aware that most landlords already comply with the upcoming law as they already supply smoke alarms in their properties. Landlords of properties of multiple occupancy will already be familiar with the current laws surrounding smoke alarms, however the new law will require all landlords to provide working smoke alarms in their properties, however it will be the responsibility of the tenant to ensure that the smoke alarm continues to work by testing it regularly.

As fire alarm specialists here at Fulcher Edwards we are currently working with several landlords in the London area to ensure their rental properties are going to meet the required standard. It is not as simple as giving your tenants a couple of smoke alarms and expecting them to fit them themselves, it will be your responsibility as a landlord to make sure that they are fitted correctly in the right areas of your property.

By opting for the security of mains powered smoke alarms and not reliant on battery power alone, you will have maximum peace of mind as a landlord. At Fulcher Edwards we design, install and commission fire alarms systems in properties of all sizes. It is even possible to combine smoke alarms and carbon monoxide testers in one unit so both requirements are being met in one go.

Households without any working smoke alarm are 4 times as more likely to die in a house fire as against households that do.  

Are you in danger of electrical shock or injury?

Electricity is very often taken for granted and it is only when something goes wrong that many people realise the true potential of electricity. When electricity goes wrong it goes wrong in spectacular style.

In fact electricity kills 7 people every week and injures 1000's more. It is often silly mistakes that leads to electricity injury rather than knowingly taking risks with electricity. Do you really know how electrically safe your home is? The truth is many homes in the UK are actually electrically dangerous and whether or not you own or rent your homes makes no difference. 

Unfortunately many people think that because their electrics are working then they must be safe. Don't wait for something to happen to your home electrics before you get them checked out.

Who should check your electrics?

The checking of your home electrics should be carried out by a qualified and registered electrician. Anyone offering electrical services in London should be qualified and registered to carry out work and electrical investigations within your property.

Unfortunately we have heard several stories of landlords, well meaning friends or unqualified individuals making assumptions on the condition of home electrical systems. Remember that electricity can kill and if you have any concerns about your electrics, you need to contact a qualified and registered electrician.

Working on your home electrics is mostly illegal

Did you know that carrying out work yourself on your home electrics is actually mostly illegal? You can replace like for like but like the vast majority of our clients here at Fulcher Edwards, you'll be looking for something different – perhaps an upgrade to chrome sockets or new lighting.

People who carry out DIY electrics are not only putting themselves at risk of electric shock but also their family and friends. You might think you know what you are doing but the truth is many people are quite literally shocked when they realise that what seemed like a simple job wasn't quite as straightforward as they hoped.

Also how safe is your work? Does it meet todays standard. Substandard electrical work can lead to house fire and expensive damage to other parts of your home electrical system. As electricians in East London we see the result of DIY electrical work on a daily basis. Our advise to you is not to attempt it and contact an electrician to do the work for you.

Are your home electrics keeping you safe?

The main reasons for needing an electrician to assess the safety of your electrics are:

• Not having them checked for more than 10 years (or 5 years in a rented property.)
• Carrying out DIY electrical work
• Having a wooden backed fuse box

Having an electrical safety inspection (known as an EICR) is highly recommended during these time scales to ensure your home electrics are working as they should and provides you with peace of mind. An EICR can save you from an expensive electrical job further down the line.

Make sure your next home is not an electrical death trap

Moving house is always a stressful time – whether you rent or own your home, finding your next home can be a bewildering choice. Most people have a tick or wish list of what features their next home must have, but how much notice do you take of the electrics? Sure you might have a cursory look at the sockets – a little knowledge will tell you if they're in need of replacing.

Factoring in the cost of electrical upgrades will be necessary in many homes, so before you buy or agree to rent, make sure you are happy with the electrics or provision is made to upgrade them to suit your needs.

Look beyond the location and window frames!

A house in the best location and with excellent kerb appeal, may be hiding a multitude of electrical sins under it's wings. Don't fall for the looks alone, scratching more below the surface when viewing could uncover electrical problems that you may not have been aware of until you had already moved.

• Lack of electrical sockets

Many homes in the UK were built when reliance on electricity wasn't so huge. It is not unusual to see homes built in the 1960's or 1970's have just a couple of single sockets in the living room and perhaps one double socket in the kitchen. When you consider how many electrical gadgets we own – from TV's to games consoles, sky boxes to cordless telephones, it is quickly obvious that two single sockets would be nowhere near enough to cope with the demand!

The reality is, many people are living in households with not enough sockets for their needs. In turn this is creating a reliance on extension leads. This in itself is not the crime of the century, however extension leads used in locations such as a kitchen where most powerful household appliances are located, are when dangerous electrical issues such as overheating, fire and electrical shock or injury could occur due to unintentional extension lead misuse.

What needs to change: If purchasing a house which appears to have had no electrical updates carried out recently, it is a good idea to ask a qualified and registered electrician to carry out an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) to ensure the wiring is safe. You can request an EICR prior to purchase so you know what you dealing with. If the wiring is sound, it would be a good idea to ask the electrician to install additional sockets where they will be needed. As electricians in East London, we bring many owned and rented homes up to modern living standards by simply installing extra sockets in prime locations such as the kitchen and living room.

• Age of electrical accessories

Signs that the property needs electrical attention sooner rather than later is the age of electrical accessories. As electricians in South East London we still come across homes that have not had any electrical work carried out since the 1920's! So when we say old accessories we really do mean old! Look out for round switches and sockets rather than square. The pins and switches will also be round. Additionally look out for old style sockets installed in skirting boards rather than on the wall and take a look at the light fittings – if you don't see a PVC cable hanging down into the light pendant, this means that the wiring may well be outdated and needs attention from an electrician.

What needs to change: Electrical accessories of this age will need to replaced as chances are they're going to be unsafe. Using an electrical installation of such an age will be putting you and your family at risk of electrical shock and injury. The property may well need a full rewire, so make sure you factor in the cost of this in the offer you make on the property. Ask an electrician as soon as possible to advise on the best solution.

• Wiring condition

A common problem we see in homes here at Fulcher Edwards is the condition of internal home wiring. Many householders assume that because the sockets and switches seem modern that the wiring will be fine too. Unfortunately we have seen too many times shocking wiring systems that are either out of date, have been tampered with or are showing signs of deterioration due to age. Many home owners want to upgrade their switches and sockets from white to chrome for example only to find out from the electrician that the wiring is in a dangerous condition.

What needs to change: Old wiring in itself is not necessarily a safety issue so long as there is no sign of tampering and it is being kept as it is. However wiring of this age would not allow for upgraded electrical accessories. Wiring that is found to be dangerous would require a full or partial rewire dependant on the overall condition of the home electrical system. This is why as electrical contractors in London, we advise that an EICR is carried out to ascertain what condition the electrical installation is in your London property.

Many people assume that because the sockets and switches seem OK that everything else is. If you rent your property, ask your landlord for the EICR certificate. If there isn't one, what are they trying to hide?

• Look out for DIY electrical work

Some signs of electrical DIY are obvious, others less so. One of the easiest methods of looking out for substandard or DIY electrical work is to look for cables that are situated on walls in a haphazard way. A prime example of this is cable running up the centre of a wall that has been covered with wallpaper. You will be able to see the cables underneath the wallpaper. Whilst this does not automatically mean the installation is unsafe, it gives you a good idea of the standards, and the fact that someone thought this was acceptable.

If the seller or landlord mentions that electrical work has been carried out recently, ensure that you see the Part P certification for the work as this is a legal requirement. Without it, you have no way of knowing if the work is even safe.

Well maintained property electricals are a valuable property asset (rewires are pricey.) They also provide you and loved ones with peace of mind day to day.

What needs to change: Signs of DIY electrical work and uncertified recent electrical work will need to be corrected by a qualified and registered electrician. If no EICR has been carried out on the property in the last 10 years (or 5 years in a rented property) then this should be carried out as a priority to ascertain what condition the electrics are currently in.

• How old is the fuse board or consumer unit

If you are looking for a swift answer as to the likely condition of the property electrics, then take a look at the fuse board/consumer unit. The age of the fuse board does not automatically deem the electrics safe or unsafe, but it will indicate how likely it is that you need to spend money on upgrading the electrics. Fuse boards with a wooden back could have been installed as long ago as the 1950's and chances are will need to be upgraded to ensure electrical safety. Older fuse boards may still be safe so long as they are checked over by an electrician to ascertain this fact. However, if you are looking for the highest standard of electrical safety in your property, the consumer unit should be fitted with a working RCD. The presence of an RCD is normally marked clearly on a switch located on the consumer unit itself as either RCD or T (for test.) Sometimes the RCD can be separate but either way will be clearly identifiable.

What needs to change: A fuse board with a wooden back needs prompt attention by an electrician, older fuse boards or consumer units without an RCD would benefit from testing for safety by a qualified electrician. As far as electrical installations in London go, we would not necessarily recommend a consumer unit upgrade if the householder didn't want to spend the money as long as the consumer unit was safe as it currently stood. However, to obtain the recommended level of electrical safety, it would require a consumer unit upgrade if no RCD was present.

A consumer unit upgrade can cost a fair chunk of money – make sure you account for this in your purchase price!

• Check the earthing to the property

This is something that is nearly always overlooked by house buyers and almost always by tenants. Correct earthing in a property is essential to avoid serious electrical injury and shock from the lack of earthing. Lack of earthing to a property can cause items such as taps, boilers and other metallic surfaces to become live without warning. If you touch such items, you then act as the earth with the electricity passing through you. A very scary prospect.

You can check for earthing by looking at the gas and water pipes to the property. You should see the earthing conductors clamped to the pipes. If you don't see anything like this, then you should contact an electrician as soon as possible to rectify this problem and avoid an horrendous electrical shock taking place.

Electrical Safety will always be important

Leaving electrical safety to chance is never a good move and if there is a problem it won't just go away. This 'Think Electric' video was used by Electrical Safety First back in 2008. The principles still have not changed, so for more information or to recap on our blog post, give it a click!