With the whole of the UK currently in Covid-19 lockdown, more and more of us are resorting to our TVs and tablets for entertainment. And with the majority of the UK adult working population now converting at least one room into a home office, the level of domestic electrical usage has increased dramatically.
As a result, we need to be especially vigilant about our electrical safety throughout our homes, especially regarding our children. Not only that, it’s also important to keep an eye on our utility bills as they can form a significant part of our monthly outgoings.
It’s a little-known fact, but a TV or other appliance left on standby still uses up to 70% of the electricity it will require when fully in use. Given that, a great way to start reducing your electricity bill is to ensure that all TVs and gaming consoles are turned off when you’re not using them, and to avoid leaving your desktop computer or laptop in ‘sleep’ mode. In addition, one of the largest causes of electrical fire is to fail to disconnect the electrical supply when your laptop, phone or device is fully charged. Charging your phone or tablet at night can be extremely dangerous, for example.
Other great tips for improving your domestic electrical safety include the following:
- Avoid using anything other than the original charger that was supplied with your phone, tablet, e-cigarette or gaming console.
- If the original charger stops working and you need to replace it, we recommend selecting a branded version from a company with an established reputation. Please bear in mind that by buying a replica charger you may save a few pennies but you could endanger life.
- Make sure that your spare batteries are stored at an average temperature – extremes of heat or cold can be dangerous.
- Avoid damaging batteries by squashing or puncturing them, or – worse still – immersing them in water.
- Avoid covering your charger or charging device – such as a laptop lead – as they are prone to overheating and catching fire. It is especially important never to charge your phone while it is in your bed or under your pillow.
- At all costs, resist the temptation to overload your sockets or extension leads because that can quickly apply too much strain on the fuses and power load. Under no circumstances should you connect one extension lead into another.
Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical Services, is passionate about electrical safety and, while his focus is primarily on commercial premises and the rental sector, he believes that it’s valuable to educate homeowners on how to protect their families and save money. ‘Along with my team of engineers I spend my working life carrying out fixed wire testing and PAT testing in offices, factories, laboratories, GP surgeries and rented properties across Cambridge,’ comments Mark. ‘But with the London Fire Brigade reporting that in normal circumstances it attends an average of 24 fires every week that have been started by chargers, batteries and cables, we’re also keen to help everyone take simple steps to stay safe at home. During this period we’re likely to be using our phones, tablets and computers more heavily than usual, so we hope that our easy-to-follow guidelines will help to make a difference.’
At MS Electrical we specialise in keeping electrical safety in check by offering PAT testing and fixed wire testing in Cambridge. Should you have any concerns about your electrical safety please contact us for advice or to request a no-obligation quotation.