During these extremely demanding times it is now more important than ever to stay electrically safe whilst at home. With many people taking up DIY projects over the Easter weekend our number 1 piece if advice for those of you thinking of doing some electrical DIY is simple:

DON’T DO IT

Many people now turn to Google or YouTube to search for DIY tips. But you need to make sure you’re getting guidance from a reputable source. Any electrical work needs to be undertaken by a competent electrician.

Electrical Safety First have put together the ‘Don’t Die for DIY’ campaign with handy tips for home DIY. Their top tip:

“Get advice from a registered electrician. The best way to avoid any electrical problems in the home is to seek the advice of a professional. If you’re not sure, don’t DIY.”

Here are some things you may want to consider instead:

Do not charge laptops or mobile phones on beds & sofas

Doing so constitutes to a fire risk as the battery heats up during charging which could set fire to beddings and fabrics. It is also important to unplug chargers when they are not in use. It is also important to not mix chargers – make sure to use the charger supplied with the electrical device in order to minimise fire risk.

This photo went viral last year showing what happened to a British teenager’s pillow when she decided to charge her phone and place it under her pillow during the night.

Avoid overloading sockets

With so many electrical devices and equipment in UK households, it is often too easy to overload sockets. This handy socket calculator by Electrical Safety First can provide some guidance. If in doubt, it’s always best to check with a qualified electrician.

Don’t “daisy chain” extension leads

Simply put: if your device cable doesn’t reach, don’t be tempted to extend it by using multiple extension lead. It is always safer to move your device closer and actually plugged it in directly into a permanent socket outlet.

Register your appliances

If you find yourself with more spare time why not make sure that all your electrical devices & appliances are registered? Should a problem occur, you will be able to contact the manufacturer for technical assistance.