Safety
10 electrical safety tips every homeowner should know
Simple, practical things that dramatically reduce the risk of electrical fires and shocks in your home.
1. Test your RCD every three months — press the button, it should trip. 2. Don't overload extension leads (max 13A total). 3. Have your installation EICR-tested every 10 years, or on move-in. 4. Replace any cracked sockets or switches immediately. 5. Never run cables under carpets.
6. Make sure your smoke alarms are mains-wired and interlinked. 7. Don't ignore burning smells — isolate the circuit at the consumer unit. 8. Keep a torch and phone charger somewhere obvious for power cuts. 9. Know where your consumer unit is. 10. Save an electrician's number in your phone before you need it.