Safety is the top priority

Every year a number of deaths and injuries around the home are connected to electrical accidents. Sadly, many of these could have been prevented by carrying out a few basic checks.

We have develope a checklist to help you spot potential electrical problems before they happen.

Electrical safety checklist

Basic safety checks you can do around the home include the following:

Lights – all lights including lamps and ceiling fixtures must be inspected. Make sure your light bulbs match the wattage required. Bulbs with a higher wattage than necessary can overheat instantly.

Electrical heating equipment – if you have any portable electric heating equipment then best to check if it has a national or professional seal of approval to guarantee you are using the right product. Always keep heaters away from combustibles. Make sure your family stays out of its way as well.

Adapters – all adapters must be properly grounded when attached to power cords. Your Sydney electrician can tell you more about this but you also have to ensure that the grounding ware or metal tab on the adapters is always connected to the central screw on the cover of the outlet.

Cords – see if there are any cords that are damaged, cracked or frayed. Replace them immediately. Also, make sure no combustibles are near the chord. As much as possible keep rugs or furniture away from the cords. All extension cords must also have safety covers.

Outlets and switches – same with cords, all outlets and switches must have safety covers especially if you have children around. List all hidden switches and outlets. Take note if they are used or not and cover all with faceplates.

These are just some of the things that you can do to safeguard your home and family from electrical accidents. As much as possible, all electrical equipment, especially those frequently used, should be placed in an area where the air can circulate freely. They should also be located in dry locations free of any water risks.

And if you are not sure, and do find problems, remember you must engage a legally licensed local electrician to carry out any electrical work.

Find a local electrician in Sydney right here

If you are looking for a reliable electrician in Sydney you can also try one from our Tradebusters Connect Top 3 Local Choice directory. The details of highly recommended local electricians in Sydney are listed here and you can contact them directly today.