Electrical Safety is paramount in the Winter. Electrical faults can cause house fires and let’s face it, we all use electricity for a lot of things and that use increases dramatically in Winter.
With more electricity demand when we are inside a lot more, we are potentially drawing more power and more current because we're using more devices and appliances.
If you have anything that is giving you problems, it could cause overloading and that’s incredibly dangerous. Problems such as flickering lights, power points or other electrical appliances making noises, sparking, overheating, or faulty appliances.
In this case, you need to stop and have an electrician check it out, have it fixed or simply replace the gear.
We don't want to take any chances.
Make sure if you are using multi-boards that you get the good ones with overload protection. Don’t buy the cheap and nasty ones – it simply is not worth the risk.
The last thing you want is someone being electrocuted or your house catching fire just because you wanted to save a few dollars.
Take precautions with extension leads and where you run them. For example, you don’t want them near moisture or outside. It is worth having them checked regularly and if you think there is a problem with a lead, get a registered electrician to have a look. Do not try and fix electrical gear yourself.
We all need to ensure our switchboards and main meter stations are up to code and operating okay.
If you get them assessed, only use a registered electrician, who will look after you from a safety perspective – but it is equally importantly from an insurance perspective.
Another thing to be vigilant about is cleaning the lint filter in your clothes dryer every time you dry a load of washing. If the filter can’t breathe, you risk your dryer causing a fire.
With fridges you need to make sure there is good ventilation behind them and make a point of assessing your old appliances because as they age and wear, things can go wrong.
Sometimes, upgrading is going to save you money in the long term but most importantly you are giving yourself the best shot at electrical safety.
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