Electrical Safety

Electricity is part of our lives. We use it from the moment we wake up and throughout the day. As a result, we sometimes forget how powerful and dangerous it can be.

The number one cause of electrical problems at home is the misuse of electrical equipment. Keep an eye on your appliances on a day-to-day basis and immediately stop using anything that looks damaged. You don’t need to be an electrician to do basic checks - checking the wires, keeping them away from water and not overloading sockets are simple things you can do in your home to keep things safe.

Follow our top tips to avoid dangers in your home:

• Turn off electrical appliances when you’ve finished using them
• Check cables - if anything looks worn or loose, don’t use the item
• Don’t let the leads from your kettle, toaster or other kitchen appliances trail across your cooker
• If you see burn marks, sparks or your sockets feel hot call an electrician if you own the property or your letting agent if you rent your property
• Test your smoke alarm on a regular basis, just in case there’s an electrical fire
• Never use a bulb with a higher wattage than the light fitting says is safe
• Don’t run the cables from your appliances under carpets or rugs
• Never overload your sockets or adapters by plugging too many appliances into one place
• Defrost your fridge and freezer at least once a year
• Don’t leave your washing machine or tumble dryer on when you’re out of the house or overnight
• Check that your microwaves, fridges and freezers have enough space around them
• Never use water to put out an electrical fire! Visit fire safety page for more information

You can find even more electrical safety advice on the electrical safety council’s website.