History of Electric Heating

How you heat your home has come a long way in the history of electric heating. Perhaps you remember the one bar room heaters, popular in the 1960s. Or the portable fan heaters that make a noise as they work.

Now thanks to ‘smart technology’, you can heat your home at the touch of a button from anywhere in the world.

The technology of electric heating is changing rapidly. Given these points, if you’d like to know the latest ways of heating your home, you can contact us at IPF Electrical. Our engineers are happy to give you advice and make recommendations.

History of Electric Heating

We can trace the history of electric heating back to Thomas Edison. He’s the man who patented the electric lightbulb in 1880. As a result of this, the first portable electric heating system was produced by General Electric.

However, electric heaters also need a durable high resistance wire in order to work. In brief, a man called Albert Leroy Marsh discovered Chormel in 1905, an alloy created from nickel and chromium. This was 300 times stronger than other heating elements at the time and was the next step in electric heating.

In due time, further inroads were made in terms of electric heating thanks to ongoing British innovations. Along with this, portable technologies were also developing.

Meanwhile, thanks to consumerism, more families began to add heating systems to their homes. Over the next 50 years, bar heaters became the most prominent form of electric heating in homes. Mostly thanks to its easy use and portable design.

By the 1960s, electric storage heaters were mass produced and became a staple in many homes. The heaters stored thermal energy throughout the night heating up homes during the day.

In the modern era, we now have ‘smarter’ and more portable heaters. Moreover, we can customise the heaters ourselves, thanks to Bluetooth and wi-fi technology. Additionally, modern heaters are also more energy efficient than ever before.

Modern Day Electric Heating

Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters

In brief, the design of this storage heater utilises low cost energy to make it more economical for homeowners. Therefore, it is the most highly rated storage heater for the use of off peak energy on the market today.

A thermostat system allows you to really control what temperature is being outputted into your home. With intelligent sensors as well, it allows the storage heater to react to changing temperatures within your home.

In terms of efficiency, quantum is up to 27% cheaper to run than a standard storage heater system.

Fan Heater

A fan heater works by using a fan to pass air over a heat source, known as a heating element. This heats up the air warming up the room. A fan heater can heat a space faster than a heater without a fan, but it does create a noise.

Usually, electric fan heaters can be less expensive to buy than other heaters due to its construction. All electric resistance heating is 100% efficient which means that all energy input goes into the room.

On the other hand, they can be more expensive to run than fuel powered heaters due to the cost of electricity. Therefore they are better suited to occasional use rather than as regular heat sources.

Infrared Heater

Infrared heaters work by converting electricity into radiant heat. You may like to think of it as the same form of heat that emits from your own body.

For example, infrared is the direct transfer of heat from the heater to the object. This takes place without heating the air in between. Overall, infrared heating is an emerging technology and relatively new to the market.

In fact, Infrared radiation lies on the electromagnetic spectrum. The infrared part lies between microwaves and visible light waves.

Portable Heater

You can use a portable heater, or space heater to heat a single, small area.

The portable heater’s power comes from electricity or a burnable fuel such as natural gas. Overall, they are usually electric because they need a permanent exhaust to burn the fuel.

Convection Heater

A convection heater is a type of heater that uses convection currents to heat and circulate air. These currents circulate throughout the body of the appliance and across its heating element. This process heats up the air, reducing its density relative to colder air and causing it to rise.

For the heating element, convection heaters usually use metal coils, nickel chromium, resistance wire, thermal liquid or ceramic.

Tubular Heater

Next, there is the tubular heater. This tube shaped heater provides heat through electricity, heating the element inside the tub structure with the heat radiating out.

Primarily, tubular heaters provide background heat. Henceforth, they are good for keeping frost away from rooms that are not used very often.

Future Technologies

In conclusion, the digital age is incredible for electrical appliances of all kinds, including heating systems. By and large, simple switches and turn dials are giving way to LED screens and digital programmes.

Ultimately, users can create their own heating schedules on an hour by hour basis every day off the week. Furthermore, all the information is stored in a memory bank in the event of a power cut.

On the whole, there is a greater emphasis now on energy efficiency as more people are conscious of how we use fuels. With this in mind, it’s worth noting that modern heaters are much more energy efficient in comparison with electric heaters from 60 years ago.

To Conclude: History of Electric Heating

To sum up, the trend towards smart technology is happening so quickly, sometimes it can be hard to keep up.

‘Smart technology’ takes the form of smart meters, WI-FI controlled heaters or internet-enabled thermostats. Essentially, electric heating benefits enormously from smartphones and internet devices. Mainly because it can provide customers with a point of contact they can access from anywhere in the world.

At IPF Electrical our team of experts has been working in the industry for many years. They are trained to the highest levels of industry standards as well.

Get in touch today and we can advise you on the very latest technology and energy efficiency in electrical heating.

The Ultimate Guide to Electric Heating

Winter is just around the corner, which is when we all start planning to heat our homes. The most important thing is to use efficient electric heating appliances for your home. Check out the ultimate guide to electric heating to help you choose the best option for you and your home.

What is Electric Heating?

We need to choose the appliances that suit our needs and are affordable. Achieving warm houses with low running costs is not an easy feat. Electric heating is a low cost way of heating your home this winter.

Some homes in the UK don’t have mains gas. If this is the case for you, then you could use electricity to heat your home. Virtually every household in the UK has access to the electricity grid, but if you don’t then electric heating is an option to consider.

The Types of Electric Heating

Tubular Heater

We begin with the tubular heaters. These compact and tubular-shaped heaters are particularly suited for prolonged heating of an area. It has low running costs. These heaters will cost as little as half a pence per hour, depending on your usage type.

The tubular heaters’ design is very compact and can easily fit into any area you want. Also, a wide variety of sizes ranging from 1 to 6 feet of tubular heaters are available. These heaters usually come in power outputs ranging from 60-360KW.

Convection Heater

The heating elements in the convection heater heats the surrounding air. This hot air rises and circulates before the cooler air replaces it. The cooler air is then heated up.

This cycle is continued until the entire space is thoroughly heated and warmed up. Conventional heaters are silent when being used. However, they can even rack up your electric charges depending on your usage. Therefore, make sure you don’t use the heater for prolonged constant hours.

Portable Radiator

Portable radiators are usually filled with oil. They look very similar to fixed radiators. These fixed radiators are important part of gas or oil central heating systems. The best part is that these are portable and can be plug in directly to the mains.

These heaters work on a convection basis and heat the air around before the colder air replaces it. Later, making the entire room warm. These are generally heavy and sturdy and so offer a safe to use portable heating option. These heaters are thermostatically controlling. But are slow to heat up and respond according to the various temperature adjustments.

Infrared Heater

These heaters use electromagnetic radiation to create heat and direct it outwards via a shield. They are one of the quickest types of heaters, that easily warm up your house.

The only concern is that using infrared heaters may raise your electric charges if used for prolonged hours. These types of heaters are famous for outdoor settings such as patios.

Fan Heater

Unlike other heaters, which take time to warm up the area, fan heaters provide heat instantly. Though they are a little noisy compared to other heaters.

The only drawback while using the fan heaters is that they have limitations. In which it doesn’t allow the usage of heaters in wet and humid conditions. They also come with a safety risk. Which states that the heater should not be left unattended if not used properly.

Modern Storage Heaters

Finally, modern storage heaters are a form of electric heating. Typically, modern storage heaters will come with thermostats, remote controls, programmable timers and fans to dispense the heat.

They retain more heat than traditional models. This means that they won’t use all of the heat that has been saved up during the day. Therefore, this makes the evenings warm and not cold. One of the most popular models we sell is the Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters.

What is the Most Suitable Heating?

The type of electric heating you choose all depends on your requirements. If you have a small home and only want to heat it in the evenings, then you have several options to choose from.

Mentioned below are some key points you should consider when choosing your house’s most suitable electric heating:

– Only heating single rooms
– The air temperature changes per hour are relatively high
– Well-sealed and well-insulated homes
– How long you need the heating for

For example, if you are only wanting to heat your bathroom for a short period of time, then we would recommend a portable radiator or tublar heaters. They work best for a bathroom as it is a small, compact area.

Whichever form of electric heating you choose, IPF Electrical can help you. If you would like more advice on the type of electric heating to choose, feel free to Contact Us.

To Conclude: The Ultimate Guide to Electric Heating

If you are looking for an alternative for your heating, then electric heating might be for you. However, it can be expensive as we discussed during the article and you might want to look into other sources to heat your home. Feel free Contact Us at IPF Electrical if you have any questions.

Do you want to find out more about electric heating? Check out our article, What is Electric Heating?.

What is Electric Heating?

Some homes in the UK don’t have mains gas. If this is the case for you, then you could use electricity to heat your home. Virtually every household in the UK has access to the electricity grid. There are advantages and disadvantages to electric heating, as there is to gas. In our latest article, we will discuss the different types of electric heating. If you’ve been asking yourself ‘What is electric heating?’ – we’ve got the answer!

How Does Electric Heating Work?

There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to what electric heating is. Not many people know how electric heating really works, whether they need it, or much at all in general. Have you found yourself wondering what electric heating is? We are going to go in depth on how it works, so you can make an informed decision on whether or not you want electric heating. Electric central heating works the same way a typical central heating system works. But it uses an electric boiler and electric radiators.

Using Electric Radiators

If you have gas heating, the radiators work by conducting heat from the hot water in the radiator pipes into the air. But if you have electric radiators, it uses electricity. Electric radiators are 100% energy efficient. They take every single watt of electricity and convert it into heat. This means there is no wastage and it doesn’t take long to warm up.

The process of electric radiators work similarly to how a hob or a kettle works.The elements are heated up in the radiator, and then the heat is transferred to your home. They are made from fine grade aluminium, which is a great conductor of heat, and tungsten heating elements (which you will find in your kettle). This ensures that there is maximum heat dissipation for the smallest amount of energy usage. Electric radiators are very energy efficient and don’t waste any electricity.

Using Electric Boilers

Typically, if you have electric radiators you will need an electric boiler. The electric radiators only heat your home, they do not heat your water. This means you will need a boiler to heat your hot water.

An electric boiler works in exactly the same way a gas boiler does. It heats up all of the water turning it into hot water, and then takes it to your taps all over your house. The boiler works in the same way the electric radiators do. They have the same tungsten heating element and use this to heat the water up. One advantage of this is that the electric boiler will run almost silently, unlike gas boilers.

At IPF Electrical, we install electric radiators for your home. If you would like to find out more or request a quote. Then you can get in touch with us here. 

The Types of Electric Heating

Night Storage Heaters 

Night Store Heaters are Electric Heating. These are one of the most cost-effective forms of electric heating. Are you getting a better idea of what electric heating is now? 

Electricity is cheaper at night. This means when you use the night storage heaters during the night, you will be paying less money to heat your home. The way they work is they heat up a heat-retaining ceramic brick with the storage heater. This heat is then released during the day into your home. It gives out the heat slowly. 

However, once the heat runs out you have to wait until the night to reheat them. This makes the evenings the coldest, as by this time the heating would have run out. There are also other types of storage heaters that might work better for your needs.

Modern Storage Heaters

Storage heaters were first introduced in the 1960s. Since then they have improved and become more modern. Typically, storage heaters will now come with thermostats, remote controls, programmable timers and fans to dispense the heat.

If you purchase a high-retention storage heater, they will retain more heat than traditional models. This means that they won’t use all of the heat that has been saved up during the day. So, this makes the evenings warm and not cold, unlike night storage heaters. Many people will prefer the modern storage heater to the night storage heater as they will heat your home for longer. One of the most popular models we sell is the Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters.

Electric Radiators

Another type of electric heating you can use is electric radiators. The advantage to electric radiators is that you can turn them on and off whenever you want. If you aren’t at home during the day, you can turn them on when you get in. This will help reduce your energy bills. They also require less maintenance than normal radiators as they won’t need bleeding.

To Conclude

If you are looking for an alternative to gas central heating, then electric heating is for you. Now you understand what electric heating is, you can decide on the type of electric heating that you want in your home. Whether you choose electric radiators or storage heaters, IPF Electrical can help you. Feel free to Contact Us if you have any questions.

Can Electric Heating Save You Money?

As the cold weather is upon us and the nights draw in, you will find yourself turning your heating on more often. You will want to keep your heating bills low and there are many ways that you can do this. Many people will tell you to pop a jumper on or turn your heating down. But if you want a warm home this winter, then we would suggest having electric heaters installed. But can electric heating save you money? 

Change Your Energy Tariff

First things first, you might want to change your energy supplier. If you want to save money on your energy bills, then you need to switch to a cheaper supplier. If you haven’t switched energy tariffs before, then you could easily save £200-300 per year. Make sure you shop around for a new supplier and choose the best one for the amount of energy you use.

We recommend you use a comparison site to compare different energy companies. These sites typically have the best deals for your energy. Take a look at Compare the Market or U-Switch to find your new energy supplier.

Upgrade Your Old Storage Heaters

Next thing you should do is upgrade your old storage heaters. Outdated storage heaters are less efficient. Over time, the elements get less productive and will use more power to produce less heat. And in the new storage heaters, the insulation is more effective. It will save you money and you have all the same controls as a gas boiler system.

At IPF Electrical we fit The Dimplex Quantum storage heaters. Tests show they have savings of 47% against electric radiators. And the Government have called for all new homes to have no gas for cooking or heating from 2025 onwards. Gas boilers will be replaced by low-carbon heating systems. You should take this into consideration when upgrading your heating.

Electric Radiator VS Central Heating Radiator

Electric radiators are easier to install and will reduce the amount of damage to your interior. As they are easy to install, you could do this yourself. But we recommend getting an electrician to do this to prevent any mishaps and ensure they are correctly installed. Electric heating is 100% energy efficient, so you are not wasting any electricity.

Central heating radiators are plumbed in and will have to be done by a professional plumber. This is a costly expense. And when you want to move your radiator it will cost you damage to your walls. If your boiler breaks down, then your heating won’t work either. But if you have electric heating then you can still have a warm home.

But can Electric Heating Save you Money?

The short answer is yes! You don’t have to call out a plumber when your radiators aren’t working. They require less maintenance and you don’t have to bleed them to get rid of the dirt either. And the amount of energy you put in, you will get out as heat as they are 100% energy efficient. 

Choose your Electric Radiators

Now is the time to choose the electric radiators you want in your home. We have determined that electric radiators are the best for your home. They require less maintenance and are a modern technology that will save you money.

At IPF Electrical there are many different electric radiators that you can choose for your electric heating. Some of the main brands that are on offer are:

• The Rointe D Series
• The Dimplex Q-Rad
• The Haverland RCTTi

To Conclude

If you are looking for a less maintenance heating option, then electric heating is for you. By choosing the right energy tariff you can save money on your energy bills this winter. But remember to shop around and see what deals are out there, choose the best deal for you and your family. 

Having electric radiators installed can save you money. And we strongly advise that you swap out your storage heaters or central heating radiator for electric radiators. At IPF Electrical we can help you choose the best electric radiators for you and your budget. Feel free to get to Contact Us if you have any questions.

What Are The Benefits To Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters

With more and more homes being fitted with storage heaters, there has been a shift in what brands are being used as well as their benefits. One of the top brands now is Dimplex. By creating the products they do, this has installed confidence back in the ways of storage heating. At IPF Electrical we are specialist engineers. In our latest article we take a look at What Are The Benefits To Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters.

What Is A Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters?

The Dimplex Quantum Storage Heater is designed and manufactured within the UK. It has been designed to utilise low-cost energy to make it more economical for homeowners. It is the most highly rated storage heater for the use of off-peak energy on the market today. With most storage heaters having a bad reputation, the Dimplex line more than stands head and shoulders above the rest for quality, energy savings and also cost savings.

What Are Their Benefits To Dimple Quantum Heaters?

Now we understand what a Dimplex Quantum Storage Heater is, we can look deeper into the benefits in which they bring to your home. As mentioned above, storage heaters do have a bad reputation. However, Dimplex have gone above and beyond to make sure this is not the case. Some of the benefits they can bring to your home include the following:-

Better Controls And Sensors

Most storage heaters on the market today have very standard input and output controls. However this is not the case when it comes to the Quantum system. A thermostat system allows you to really control what temperature is being outputted into your home. Fitted with intelligent sensors as well, it allows the storage heater to react to changing temperatures within your home.

Dual Supplied 

A dual supplied storage heater like Dimplex is great for those unexpected moments when heat is in need. This way the main source of heat will be from off-peak energy as it is cheaper. However, it can also draw on peak supply heat to ensure that you are never without it.

Energy Retention Qualities

Within the Dimplex system are a range of energy retention cells. This ensures that the heater takes in more energy and also stores heat for longer. Therefore reducing any wastage and also ensuring that it takes less energy to heat your property for longer.

Lower Running Costs

As with the majority of heating systems, owners are always looking for the cheapest options. A Dimplex Quantum has been shown to be around 27% cheaper to run than a standard storage heater. And up to 47% cheaper than a standard radiator system. This can mean huge savings to your home per year. This mainly due to the way the Dimplex operates and ensures that during off-peak energy times more is collected.

Functionality

The Dimplex model brings smart weekly planning to ensure that you get the best out of your heating solution. The preset models including holiday mode. This means that input and output is reduced to ensure that there is a reduction in cost as well. This is also great for those that need heating at various times of the day. The off-peak heat generated is then used to its full potential.

Are They Easy To Install?

Yes, the storage heaters are very easy to install. They need to be done by a registered and experienced professional. This is due to them needing to be connected to your homes electrical supply. Once they have been fitted to the wall and wired in, they are ready to be completed with a controller programming setup.

To Conclude

Storage heaters do not have the best reputation due to the way in which they heat your homes. However, the Dimplex Quantum is a very different type of storage heater. When looking at what the benefits to Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters this is very clear to see. The advances in technology have been taken onboard in these situations and looks to really focus on the users needs. At IPF Electrical we are electrical specialists. For more information on our services please do Contact Us.

Understanding Social Housing Electrical Testing

The requirement for homes to be safe is very prevalent in today’s world. No more so than those that offer homes to housing associations. As a landlord or a local council it is important to make sure that tenants are kept safe and free from accidents. At IPF Electrical we are accredited electrical specialists. In our latest article we look at how understanding social housing electrical testing can benefit you.

What Is Electrical Testing And Why Is It Important?

Electrical testing is the process of ensuring that the electrical equipment and installations within a property are working as they should be. The tests most commonly carried out are a fixed wire test, EICR and also PAT. These help to ensure the occupants of homes are kept safe and the correct preventative measures are taken. 

What Are The Legal Regulations?

There has been a range of new rules which cover the renting of homes to housing association tenants. This is due to the need to ensure that tenants are kept safe within their home environment. The law that was passed this year is the Electrical Safety Standards In The Rental Sector (2020). Failure to comply and produce the necessary documents could result in a fine of up to £30,000.

How Often Should They Be Inspected?

Due to changes in regulations which came into effect on July 1st 2020 the standard time for electrics to be tested is now every 5 years. This must be completed by a qualified individual. It is also a legal requirement that if you are offering social housing that you are able to provide a copy of the tests if asked to do so. As well as being able to provide it to local authority if they ask. Within this document will be the results from your test and also the date of your next test which you will need to provide to the next person who inspects electrics in your property.

What Tests Are Carried Out?

With a number of new regulation changes those offering social housing are having to ensure that they have all of the necessary documents in place. These changes have been brought in by the government to ensure that occupants of various housing situations are kept safe and limit any accidents from occuring. The two main tests that need to be carried out are as follows:-

PAT Testing 

Portable Appliance Testing or as it better known PAT testing is the testing of portable appliances. Portable appliances include things such as fridges, washing machines, TV’s, kettles and space heaters. When offering out homes to housing association occupants it is paramount to ensure that the safety of any furnishings offered at a high. PAT Testing will allow this to happen.

The varying products that are apparent in people’s homes need to be tested dependent on their risk of breaking as well as usage. High usages items or highly portable items such as a toaster are more likely to be broken than a washing machine. Therefore outside of the 5 year ruling, these may need to be tested with the change over of occupants.

EICR

An EICR or Electrical Installation Condition Report is a comprehensive inspection of the electrical installations within the property. It is the duty of the landlord to ensure that the electrical infrastructure within the home is at the standards it should be. As well as being safe for tenants to live in. 

The EICR test should be carried out by a registered electrician. The check will look at the wiring of the property and ensure that it is fit for purpose. With a change in law this year, the government has said that a valid EICR needs to be carried out once every 5 years. And as of April 2021 this will apply to all tenancies regardless of start date.

Who Can Conduct The Test?

When it comes to conducting the above tests, this needs to be carried out by a registered and competent individual. At IPF Electrical we pride ourselves on having achieved accreditations with some of the industries leading providers. This shows our commitment to always being able to provide the best industry standards. Alongside this our team are highly experienced and competent.

To Conclude

Understanding social housing electrical testing will ensure that if you are offering this sort of accommodation that you are compliant. With the introduction of new regulations and rules, it is important for landlords to have all of this in place. At IPF Electrical we are accredited industry experts in electrical testing. For more information on our services and what we offer then please Contact Us.

Electrical Safety In Your Business

Ensuring that employees are kept safe within your business is such a key focus point. With a list of safety regulations to adhere to, more and more owners are taking note. This therefore means learning and looking at how to reduce the risks upon your staff. At IPF Electrical we are specialist electrical installation experts. In our latest article we take a look at electrical safety in your business.

What Is Electrical Safety 

Electrical safety refers to any safety precautions that are taken to negate risk to others or yourself when using specific equipment. The rise in accidents and injuries with electrical equipment has meant that there has been a large focus on ensuring that you are safe when it comes to using appliances within your business.

What Laws Govern Electrical Safety In The Workplace?

Protecting your employees is definitely something you need to consider when in the workplace. So much so that in 1989 the government introduced the electricity at work regulation. This is in place to ensure that all employers, employees and even self-employed individuals are safe in the workplace. Duty holders are responsible for the following:-

• Have the electrical system constructed in such a way that prevents danger.
• Maintain the electrical systems as necessary to prevent danger. Which includes a 5 years fixed inspection. 
• Carry out work on electrical systems as necessary to prevent danger.

As this is law which has been passed in England failure to comply could lead to prosecution and also large fines. Ensure that you have your electrical safety sorted within your workplace.

What Am I Responsible For?

As an employer you are responsible for making sure that your employees are safe as well as ensuring that all necessary preventative measures are being taken. This means that you need to ensure all is being done from an electrical safety standpoint. Alongside this, you are responsible for the following elements of electrical safety in your business:-

• Use the correct cable connectors or couples to join lengths of cable together and do not allow taped joints. 
• Electrical installations are installed and maintained by a regulated individual.
• Socket outlets are not overloaded by the use of adaptors.
• Fixed equipment should have a clearly identifiable switch to cut off power in an emergency.
• Portable equipment is PAT tested as required and recorded as necessary 

These are just some of the things you can do to ensure that you staff are safe within the workplace. Failure to do so can result in accident or injury.

What Preventative Measures Can I Take?

Before an accident is to occur it is key to make sure that you have taken all the preventative measures possible. This helps to make sure that from a legal standpoint you have done all you can. This will take someone with knowledge of electrical safety to implement, but in the long run it can be very beneficial. Some of the preventative measures include the following:-

Maintenance of Equipment 

Maintaining the equipment that you have is one of the best ways to ensure that your electrical safety is up to date. With most appliances being used regularly there may be signs of wear and tear which you need to look at. By doing this you can ensure that all staff are protected from accident or injury whilst using that said piece of equipment.

Testing 

Testing equipment is another way to ensure the safety of your employees. PAT Testing is one of the most popular ways and allows electrical specialists to see if that item is fit for purpose or needs remedial work carried out. A PAT test is denoted by a green or red sticker on the back of an item. If the item has a green sticker then it is good to use. If it has red then do not use it. This is a very good way to also track testing.

Correct Working Knowledge 

Outside of the usual electrical testing methods, ensure that all users know how to operate specific equipment safely. This will ensure that your employees also take the right preventative measures when using the equipment in and around your office.

Carry Out A Risk Assessment 

Identifying risk is just as important as preventing it. The first port of call would be to carry out a risk assessment. Here you can negate risk as well as ensuring that you are legally compliant with those safety regulations we mentioned at the start of this article.

To Conclude

Electrical safety within your business needs to be a top priority. With more and more electrical equipment being used than ever it is key to make sure that all of your staff are safe from accident or injury. Some of the measures you can take are very basic to ensure this is the case as well as being legally compliant. At IPF Electrical we are specialists in electrical installations. For more information on our services and the areas in which we cover please feel free to Contact Us.

5 Electrical Safety Tips You Must Follow

With an increase in the amount of appliances people are now using in their homes, the chances of electrical accidents and incidents occurring has greatly increased. When it comes to electrical safety most people are unaware of some of the basic preventative measures they are able to take to ensure they are safe within their homes. At IPF Electrical we advise clients daily on the reasons why we take electrical safety so seriously. In our latest article we take a look at the 5 electrical safety tips you must follow. 

Why Is Electrical Safety Important?

The importance of electrical safety is present in everyday lives. With more and more things becoming technical, connecting these to your home or business presents further chances of issues with your electrical system. This is why having regular tests carried out be that of your electrical system or even PAT tests can really help to reduce the risk of accident or injury. 

What Are The 5 Tips

As mentioned, with such an emphasis on electrical safety within your home, the 5 tips that we have put together are ones in which we discuss with our clients on a daily basis. Understanding these tips and also implementing them will definitely help to make sure that in the long run you are safe from incidents or accidents. The 5 electrical safety tips you must follow include the following:-

Have Your Electrics Tested

We will begin with our key area of expertise. Having your electrics tested may not be top of your list, however it is advised that homeowners have this done at least once every 10 years. By testing your electrics you can ensure that your consumer unit and also electrical installations are still up to the same standard they were when first installed. This is key as general wear and tear does occur.

Replace or Repair Damaged Cords

Damaged cords are one of the single biggest reasons for fires and electrocution. Therefore they present one of the highest residential safety risks there is. All power and extension cords should be checked regularly for faults. And as they are very commonly used in homes, they are more susceptible to damage. Ensure that all power cords are able to move freely and are not stapled or placed under rugs or furniture. This will decrease the chance of trip hazards as well as potential overheating.

Most of the time people will use a power cord as they do not have access to the necessary amount of points in which they need within their home. To eliminate this, asking for a registered engineer to come to your home and fit more points is definitely a safer option.

Unplug All Unused Appliances

One of the simplest and most basic ways to ensure that you are kept safe, or limit any potential accidents is to unplug or switch off all appliances when you are not present within the building. This does not only save you power by reducing any “phantom drain” but also ensure that any unused appliances are not in a position where they are going to overheat or have the chance to powersurge.

Keep Electrical Outlets Away From Water

It goes without saying that water and electricity definitely do not mix well. Therefore keeping them apart is vital for the safety of those within your home. Mixing water with electricity is a one way trip to potential electrocution which can be fatal in some instances. Ensure that when replacing fittings, or using appliances that your hands are also dry at all times to avoid this from happening. If an appliance is exposed to water then allow it adequate time to dry before using once again.

Always Follow Appliance Instructions

Appliances come with instructions for a reason, and this is not just due to showing you how to use something. It also ensures the safe use of this appliance. With electricity involved there is always a chance that an accident could occur. So reading the instructions is a great way to understand what you should and shouldn’t do. If you are still unsure, then contact the manufacturer for more details. If not there is an abundance of reading material online.

To Conclude

Electrical safety is prevalent in everyday lives, so ensuring that you keep on top of it is a must. Our 5 electrical safety tips you should must know is key to keeping people feeling safe and assured when at home. Electrical systems need to be maintained and tested to ensure that they are running as they need to be. At IPF Electrical we are specialists in electrical testing and also installations. For more information on how we could help to keep your home safe please do Contact Us.