Ensuring your home is safe should be one of your top priorities. Whether you live alone, with family and friends, or with your pets, making sure your electrical items are safe and secure is very important. Here are some top tips for electrical safety at home, giving you peace of mind day and night.
Make Sure Sockets are Secure
Sockets that are exposed can create an electrical safety issue. You should ensure that there are no exposed holes or gaps around the plug sockets in your home. There should be no wires exposed as this can be particularly dangerous. If you have any gaps and exposed wires in your home, contact a professional electrician to fix this problem.
Buy Certified Electrical Items
When buying electrical items, ensure they are certified. Visit reputable electrical supply stores, and check for safety certification on the packaging and the items you are purchasing. Buying certified electrical appliances means that you can be confident the items are more likely to work well. It also means there is likely to be a warranty included if anything goes within a certain time period.
Don’t Overload Sockets
If you have an extension lead, don’t use too many electrical appliances at the same time. Doing this could cause your fuses to trip, which can result in your electricity being cut off. This is known as overloading and can create an electrical safety hazard in your home. Use one appliance at a time to ensure maximum safety.
Keep Electrical Items Away From Water
The combination of electrical appliances and water can be very dangerous and create a risk of electrocution. Keep all electronics away from water and make sure your hands are completely dry before handling any electrical items. Aside from this serious health and safety risk, water can also cause lasting damage to your electrical appliances.
Allow Ventilation
Overheating can cause a fire hazard in your home, so it’s important to create enough ventilation when using electrical appliances. Keep your electrical items out of the sunlight and a good distance away from other electrical appliances. Clean the air vents of large appliances such as microwaves to allow the air flow to function properly and prevent problems.
Switch Electrical Appliances Off
Switch off all electrical appliances after using them, particularly heating equipment such as hair straighteners. Don’t leave electrical items plugged in or switched on overnight and when leaving the home. Switch off your appliances and unplug them completely when cleaning or repairing them.
Keep Electricals Away From Pets and Children
Keep your electrical items away from pets and children as much as possible. If it’s not possible to keep them away completely, use covers to protect them or place them on a higher surface and out of reach. Tie up any loose wiring and keep it away from your pets and children.
Looking after yourself and your home is paramount, and electrical safety plays a large part in this. By taking several steps, you can ensure your home is as safe as possible and you feel comfortable using all your appliances.
