Simple checks can save your life.
Millions of people in the UK expose themselves and their families to potentially fatal electrical accidents in the home by making simple blunders, down to a lack of knowledge about the dangers of electricity.
It is important to make sure that the electrical installation in your property is well maintained, and we recommend that you use an approved electrician like ElectriciansOnCall to check that it is safe.
However, there are a number of simple, visual checks that you can carry out yourself:
• Check that you have RCD protection in your fusebox (If in doubt arrange to have one of our engineers carry out a visual inspection, this simple and cheap procedure can quickly point out anything that could be a potential hazard with your existing installation without the lengthy and costly process of testing your circuits).
• Make sure that your plug sockets are not overloaded.
• Ensure that plugs and sockets are not damaged
• Check that visible cables and leads are in good condition
• Check that your light fittings are not visibly damaged and that downlighters are in good working condition
• Check that you are not storing combustible materials around your fusebox, electricity meter or electrical intake
• Don’t use the top of the microwave for extra storage
• Never trail cables under carpets or rugs
• Never take mains-powered electrical items into the bathroom
• Always switch off your electrical items when they are not in use for some time or when your planning to be away for a time
