Everyone loves a good holiday, but no one wants to be welcomed home by a fire, missing possessions, or a freezer full of spoilt food! If you are planning on going away it is important to take some steps to ensure your home’s electrical safety. The following tips can help you lower the chance of electrical issues putting your home at risk.
Unplug Appliances
Check that all non-essential appliances like your computer and kettle are switched off and unplugged – particularly heaters, irons and anything else that might cause a fire. Rather than just switching things off at the wall, unplug them altogether just to be safe.
Timers
As a security measure, it’s best not to advertise to the passing world that your home is unoccupied. Investing in timer switches for your lights (and even your TV or radio) to go on and off at set intervals gives the impression that someone is home, reducing the appeal of your home for burglars. Make sure to use indoor timers and outdoor timers in the correct areas of your home.
It’s important to check that all these lights, TVs and radios are not faulty if you are timing them to switch on and off. If you suspect something is faulty, either have a professional licensed electrician check it for you or simply leave it off!
Motion sensor lighting is also a great idea to discourage potential burglars.
Smoke Alarms
It is imperative to ensure that your smoke alarms are all in working order and change the batteries if required. Let a trusted neighbour know the dates that you will be away so that they can check the house or call 000 if they hear the alarm go off. You don’t want your unsuspecting neighbours to simply assume a smoke alarm activation is caused by burnt toast or similar.
Clean Out
It’s a great idea to minimise the amount of food left in your fridge and freezer while you’re away on holiday. By doing so you reduce the amount of food that could be potentially spoiled if there is a power cut for any reason while you are away.
Home Phone
Turn down the ringing volume on your home phone – long unanswered rings are a great way to announce to people passing by that no one is home!
If you are planning on going away on holiday and want a professional and experienced electrician to help you make sure your home will be safe, feel free to get in touch with the friendly staff at Quick Spark today. We can carry out a general wiring safety check, install timer switches and motion sensor lighting, and attend to any electrical issues before you go away. This will leave you with peace of mind to enjoy your holiday, knowing that your home is safe
