Electrical safety is always important, especially when you have children and toddlers in the house. Whether you are installing wiring for the first time or doing a safety check in an existing home, follow these tips to make sure your electrical systems are in good working order.
Tip 1 – Overloaded Electrical Sockets
Overloaded sockets are a common cause of household fires. Never put more plugs into the socket than there are spaces for, and avoid using multi-socket adapters and extension leads. Remember one plug per socket.
Tip 2 – Socket Covers
Although electrical sockets are too small for little fingers, they are not too small for other more imaginative items such as food, small toy parts, cutlery and other items. Take the precaution of inserting socket covers into all empty sockets in your home.
Tip 3 – Teach Your Children to Always Dry Their Hands
Electricity and water don’t mix. If you touch an electrical socket or electrical items with wet hands, you could give yourself an electric shock. Educate your children about this and teach them that they should always dry their hands after washing them.
Tip 4 – Check the Plugs and Wiring on Your Appliances
Make sure that you check the condition of every appliance plug and its wire in your house. Wires should be checked for any scorching or fraying that has occurred. If you find any, do not use that appliance until the wiring has been repaired.
Tip 5 – Running Appliances Overnight
Do not run appliances such as the washing machine overnight. If you leave an appliance unattended while you are sleeping, you will be unaware if anything goes wrong.
Tip 6 – Running Appliances Simultaneously
Beware of running large appliances at the same time like the washing machine and the dishwasher as these use a lot of power and can overheat the system.
Tip 7 – Switch Off at Night
Switch your electrical appliances off at night unless they are needed (like the fridge and freezer).
Tip 8 – Electrical Chargers
Don’t leave electrical chargers plugged in if they are not needed, like your mobile phone charger or laptop charger as these easily overheat.
Tip 9 – Trailing Wires
Don’t leave wires trailing around your house. Even if they don’t seem to pose an electrical hazard, they are easily tripped over. If you have lots of wires in one place, use a cable tidy. In particular, don’t leave wires trailing anywhere where they can trail into water.
Tip 10 – Fitting Sockets
If you are fitting sockets in your house, make sure that they are fitted a safe distance from any water sources like the kitchen sink. Try and leave a space of at least 30 cm. Don’t ever fit sockets in bathrooms apart from shaver supply units unless they are a distance of at least 3 meters from the bath or shower.
Tip 11 – Lighting and Water
If you are putting in lighting, make sure you install a pull-cord switch in the bathroom just in case of wet hands. Enclosed ceiling lights are also preferred in places where there might be splashes or your children may have wet hands.
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