How safe is your home? Important Electrical Safety
Are Your Electrics Safe in Your House?
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How safe is your home in regard to electrical safety? In a score of 1 to 10 where would you rank it? You probably are scratching your head trying to think of a suitable answer. It’s also not a surprise that you have never even thought about it. I mean, the house has been in your family for many generations, or it was only built about 10 years ago. Or maybe it still looks pretty and solid. And anyway, if you’ve never had any electrical issues except a bit of ‘flickering’ here and there, isn’t it right to assume it’s safe?
Well, did you know that bad electrical system/ circuitry is leading cause of injurious in the home? Also, are you aware that many people reside in homes whose electrical doesn’t meet the minimum required standards? UK regulations require the home’s electrical to be tested after every 10 years. These tests aim at verifying the health and integrity of the entire system. So, what checks take place?
1. PAT Testing
Periodic Appliance Testing is done to check whether the electrical appliances in your home are in good order and working as required. This is a vital necessity as more and more appliances find their way into the home. A competent electrician in Portsmouth will check the condition of the item to verify if the resistance of the circuitry is within range, and it doesn’t draw too much current (amperes). A bad appliance may not only overload or undermine a system but is also a risk. Imagine using motorised equipment, for instance, a vacuum cleaner, washing machine, or power tools (angle grinders, drills, buffers….) whose wires have been chewed by rodents or have frayed ends? Think of a spark being released near combustible substances like petroleum, cleaning agents, or cooking or welding gas (LPG, propane, oxy-acetylene, butane…)
2. Kitchen Equipment Assessment
This check is specifically targeted at the kitchen appliances. These include oven, ranges, dishwashers, microwaves and toasters among others. An electrician will check for current continuity, resistance, tightness of the connections, earthing, the health of the switches, insulation and much more. The heating element in cookers, ovens, toasters draws a lot of current and using several appliances at the same time may be overloading the system. Depending on the final outcome, you may be required to upgrade the system to accommodate the extra load. In a case of bad connectivity in the sockets or plugs, a replacement will be required.
3. Examining the Wiring/Circuitry
Do you ever take time to examine the wiring in your home? If you did, you probably may have come across bare/exposed wires because the covering got burned, or the sheathing was very brittle such that it disintegrates on touching it. Some areas may have corroded because of exposure to moisture. Part of electrical safety is to make sure the wiring circuit is complete, there is minimal resistance, and the connectors are tight enough. A loose point may lead to an open circuit which may cause the lights to flicker, a burning smell due to the sparks burning the protective rubber, or even a fire. By using specialised equipment, a sharp eye, and many years experience, Portsmouth electricians can detect any open circuit, worn-out sections, or a wire that is likely to fail sooner rather than later.
4. Checking the “Earthing/ Grounding”
Electricity is one of the feared elements in life. You can attest to this if you have ever touched bare wires on a live circuit. Other than receiving an electrical shock, you can easily get electrocuted. This is one of the reasons why electrical inspection is important. A standard requirement is to ensure the entire house is properly earthed/ grounded as this reduces the risk of shock. It’s important to ensure that the electrical equipment is earthed. However, the connections or the wires will become loose over time, or even break. Electrical safety testing helps to discover such faults and dictates the kind of corrective measures needed.
NB: Previously after an inspection, a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) that showed the status of the electrical system and appliance was provided. This has however been replaced by the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). As a homeowner, you can guarantee yourself, your family, and other people of maximum safety by undertaking an electrical safety assessment. These checks also prevent expensive repairs to the circuitry, appliances, or electrical fires.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a certified professional, you should consider Electrician Portsmouth. We are a leading UK-based electrical service and have been in operation for a long time. We understand the importance of electrical safety and have invested in the best skills (human personnel), equipment, and also technology. This allows us to deliver top-notch service around the clock. We are also licensed, certified, insured and accredited to leading organisations. Give us a call or visit our website to learn more about the service or to talk to a representative. Do you know that we offer a free quote on any service?
