Tips For Electrical DIY

Are you aware that half of all severe electrical shocks in UK homes are caused by DIY mistakes?

A Guide To Fuseboxes and Consumer Units

A fusebox, also referred to as a consumer unit, is the control and distribution centre for electricity in your home. The fusebox is composed of the main switch, fuses and/or circuit breakers, and Residual Current Devices (RCDs). It's crucial to know its location so you can quickly turn off your power supply during emergencies. In this blog post, we'll briefly describe the components of your fusebox so you can better understand how it works.

A residual current device or RCD for short

A Guide To Residual Current Devices (RCDs)

An RCD, or Residual Current Device, is a crucial safety mechanism that's engineered to protect you from potentially deadly electrical shocks if you come into contact with a live element like an exposed wire. It can also offer some defence against electrical fires. RCDs provide a degree of personal protection that cannot be matched by conventional fuses and circuit breakers. In this blog post, we will explain how RCDs work in more detail and how they keep you safe.

An electrician holding a clipboard in front of an electrical panel

Guide to Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR)

Electrical installations deteriorate over time due to age and use, making regular inspections vital for safety. From June 2020, private landlords in England must conduct periodic inspections every five years. These inspections help identify overloaded circuits, potential shock risks, fire hazards, defective work, and missing earthing or bonding. In this blog post, we'll explain how Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) work and why they're important.

How To Avoid Electrical Fires

Every year, over half of accidental domestic fires in the UK are caused by electricity. Most of these fires are caused by electrical products, either due to misuse or faults. Over half of these electrical fires start in the kitchen, where cooking appliances and white goods are the main culprits. In this blog post, we go through some tips to help you keep your home and loved ones safe from electrical fires.

How To Check Your Plugs Are Safe

Regular inspection of plugs and their cords is a good habit to maintain, as they can deteriorate over time. In this blog post, we explain the simple steps to check the condition of the standard square-pin plug typically found on all modern devices.

A person putting their small electronic items into a recycling box

How To Recycle Your Electrical Appliances

Choosing to recycle is the most eco-friendly and responsible way to discard broken or obsolete electrical items, ranging from large kitchen appliances to smaller handheld devices. In this blog post, we explain how and why to recycle your electrical items.

How To Safely Use Extension Leads And Adaptors

The more wall sockets you have in your home the less you will need an extension cable or adapter. However, many portable electrical items like lamps and chargers are supplied with relatively short cables, and you may need more sockets for multiple items. While extension leads can be very useful in these situations, they can also pose significant safety risks if not used and maintained properly. In this blog post, we will go through some tips to help you use extension leads and adaptors safely.

How To Stay Safe With Electricity Abroad

When traveling, remember that electrical safety standards vary widely from country to country, and the UK's are among the highest. In this blog post we go through some tips to help you stay safe with electricity abroad.

How To Stay Safe With Electricity In The Bathroom

Water is an effective conductor of electricity, which means the combination of the two can be deadly. Consequently, the bathroom can be considered the most hazardous room in terms of electrical safety. The impact of an electric shock is significantly amplified when the skin is wet as the body's resistance is reduced. Unsurprisingly there are stringent requirements for electrical installations in bathrooms. In this blog post, we'll explore how this is done.

A person mowing the lawn with a lawn mower

How To Stay Safe With Electricity In The Garden

Electrical equipment can significantly ease gardening tasks. The danger comes from any kind of moisture being present, using equipment outdoors when it's raining or even when dew is still on the ground. Always ensure that conditions are dry before you start. In this blog post, we'll go through some safety tips to stay safe with electricity in the garden.

How To Stay Safe With Electricity In The Kitchen

Over half of all unintentional house fires originate in the kitchen. Government data indicates that the highest number of accidental fires caused by electricity at home are due to inappropriate use of electrical cooking appliances, such as microwaves and ovens. Exercising extra caution when using electrical appliances is crucial. The combination of water, hot surfaces, flexible cables, and electricity can pose severe risks. In this blog post we'll go through some tips to stay safe with electricity in the kitchen.

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