A third of all accidental house fires are caused by faulty or misused electrical equipment but you can carry out a few simple checks and precautions to make your home safer:
- Unplug electrical appliances when not in use (unless designed to be left on e.g. Fridge)
- Register your appliances so you will be notified of any safety repairs/recalls
- Maintain tumble dryers and washing machines clean and clear excess fluff
- Keep all appliances clean, safe and in working order
- Make sure appliances have a British or European Safety Mark
- Don’t overload plug sockets – extension leads/adaptors have a limit to how many amps they can take, try to keep one plug per socket especially for high powered appliances
Visit the Socket Overload Calculator and check your risk.
- Unplug electric blankets before going to bed (unless it has a thermostat for all-night use)
- Keep electric blankets flat folding damages the internal wiring, store flat/rolled instead
- Always buy new electric blankets and check regularly for wear and tear
- Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them to dry clothes
- Use an ironing board and turn off after use and leave to cool on a heat resistant surface
- Devices e.g. laptops should be on a well-ventilated surface and not on beds or sofas
- Switch off hair straighteners/curling tongs after use and leave to cool on a heat resistant surface away from curtains, carpets and anything else that can catch fire
- Regularly check for worn/frayed wires ensure cables are secured properly to the plug
- Use an Residual Current Device (RCD) it’s like a circuit breaker to protect against electric shocks and electrical fire risk
