According to the oxford dictionary the definition of an electrician is “a person whose job is to connect, repair, etc. electrical equipment”
Sounds pretty straightforward right?
Some would be fooled into thinking that it's an easy job, and that anybody can turn their hand to some electrical maintenance and whilst some minor electrical repairs are not illegal, they are not recommended either.
Whether you’re a homeowner or tenant, it’s highly likely that you’ve recently considered enhancing your home in one way or another. The past year has motivated us to tackle some of those outstanding, and in some cases, trifling home improvement jobs. From decorating, to improving audio-visual features, to home improvements spanning bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.
When searching for a qualified and registered electrician to complete either a project, maintenance or maybe even in an emergency where do you begin?
Now, more than ever we understand the need to support our local businesses and build lasting connections with people that we know that we can trust.
Using a local electrician has a number of benefits to customers.
Location
Are you worried about the fuse box in your house being too old? It is true that many households today still have old fuse boxes in their homes which are not in line with the current regulations. This could put your family or any tenants in unnecessary danger.
Ideally, everyone would replace their Fuse Box as soon as a newer version becomes available, but of course this simply isn’t practical.
A fuse box that keeps tripping indicates that there is a problem with either a faulty electrical item or wiring in your home.
RCDs (Residual Current Devices) look for abnormal currents and shut off the power supply the moment they detect anything unusual. They are a vital safety device and protect you from electric shocks, so while the tripping may seem annoying, bear in mind that it is keeping you safe whilst flagging to you that there is something wrong.
In these strange times, we are all spending a lot more time at home and if we are lucky enough, in the garden. But how can we make sure the places we want to relax in are as safe as possible?
The past few years have seen around 8,500 admissions to hospital for gardening or DIY related accidents a year. Lawnmowers and electric tools are at the top of the offenders list.
Electric mowers and other power tools should always be used with an RCD which will cut off the power quickly in the event of an accident.
Fuse Boxes – also known as Consumer Units – are used to control and distribute electricity around our homes. It is important for us all to know where the fuse box is located in our properties, in case we ever need to turn the electricity off in an emergency.
A fuse box contains three things:
a. Mains Switch
This allows you to turn off the electricity supply, and so should be easily accessible. Some homes will have more than one mains switch if there is more than one fuse box (e.g. if you have electric storage heaters)
A Fuse Box (also called a consumer unit) is designed to distribute electricity around a building and protect electrical circuits from surges in current by breaking the circuit if and when a surge occurs. Therefore, having an up to date one is an essential part of making sure your electrics are safe and up to standard.
It is surprising how many households still have old fuse boxes which are not in line with current regulations. This could put your family or any tenants in unnecessary danger.
As a Landlord, it is important to act on your electrical safety obligations, or you could be exposed to significant financial risk from fines, invalidated insurance and most importantly, an increased risk of harm to tenants. Dangerous electrics can contribute to a serious risk of fire, extreme cold, and insufficient lighting.
