We can avoid many fires in the home by checking electrical appliances.

We can avoid many  fires in the home by checking electrical appliances.

Recently, we have highlighted fires in Domestic properties caused by:  a freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and laptop. All common items in any home.These fires have caused injury and death and could be avoided.
In Commercial properties it is a Legislative requirement to have Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) carried out on a regular basis. There is no such requirement for personal electrical items in the home to be tested.

In this age of austerity, the incidence of fires in electrical appliances will rise due to people not being able to afford new appliances as their current appliances grow old and people trying to carry out DIY repairs.

It is too easy to check YouTube for tips on repairs but unless you are competent you may create a dangerous situation which could affect you and your family.

Here are some tips on how to keep your home safe:

Electrical Safety

Follow this safety advice to avoid a fire caused by electrical appliances in your home

 Did you know faulty electrics such as overloaded sockets and faulty electrical appliances cause around 7,000 house fires across the country every year?

General Advice

• Make sure all electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark when you buy them.
• Don’t overload your sockets - keep one appliance to one socket where possible.
• Unplugging appliances when you are going to bed or not using them helps to reduce the risk of fire.
• High powered appliances such as washing machines should have a single plug socket.

Electrical Appliances

• Never put anything metallic in the microwave
• Do not leave your washing machine on overnight or when you go out
• Clean the filter on your tumble dryer regularly and remove fluff
• Clean behind the fridge/freezer in order to avoid the blocking of air vents

Electric Blankets

• Don’t leave electric blankets folded when storing them over summer months as this damages the internal wiring – store them flat or rolled up.
• If your electric blanket isn’t thermostat controlled, unplug the blanket before you get into bed.
• Don’t buy second hand blankets; check your blanket regularly for wear and tear.

Please read about our changes in electric blanket testing for 2012