Here at Dalec we spend a lot of time carrying out PAT testing for business, commercial and industrial clients.  PAT testing is pretty straightforward but is a job that’s absolutely vital if you are to ensure that the electrical equipment on your business premises is working safely and effectively.

But what is PAT testing and why is it so important?  PAT stands for portable appliance testing and is a simple test which should be carried out on a regular basis on appliances such as kettles, microwaves, printers and computer monitors.  PAT testing should be carried out an annual basis by a certified electrical company such as Dalec.

PAT testing is necessary to ensure that appliances are working safely and that they don’t pose a risk to the people using them.  A PAT test is very quick to carry out and involves a visual inspection of the item and a check to ensure that there is no damage, exposed wires or faulty cables. Our team of engineers are available to PAT test your appliances on-site at a time to suit you – if you would like further information on this or any of our services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The New Year sees a return to university accommodation for students with the spring term being seen by many as a good opportunity to look for somewhere to live for the next academic year. With this in mind, we thought we’d offer some electrical safety advice for students living in private rented accommodation.

The number of university students increases year on year which means that almost half now rely on private rented accommodation.  However, according to research recently carried out, the safety of students is being put at risk by negligent landlords and letting agents who fail to address their safety concerns.

Whilst the majority of landlords and letting agents take the safety of their tenants very seriously, research has shown that one in four students has come across faulty electrics in their private rented accommodation.  In addition, it has been found that many landlords have failed to repair exposed wiring or didn’t fix issues problems concerning light fittings and sockets.

So what can students do to ensure that their private rented accommodation is safe?

• First and foremost it’s essential that you ensure that your property is fitted with a working smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector.  Legislation has recently changed and rented accommodation should now have a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector on every floor where there are bedrooms.
• Before you move in, make sure that your landlord hasn’t overloaded any electrical sockets.  This can lead to overheating which, in turn, can cause a fire, so make sure that any appliances which are supplied with the property have been installed before you move in.
• Repairing electrical problems or faults is the responsibility of your landlord and not you, so if they ask you to carry out any repairs you should always refuse.  Landlords should employ a registered, qualified electrician to carry out all electrical work.
• All appliances supplied with the property should be in good working order and not show any signs of wear or damage.  Look out for old-fashioned, non-standard plugs and any signs of overheating or scorching.
• It is a legal requirement for your landlord to ensure that any electrical installations in your property are repaired and in good working order.  Watch out for fuses which constantly trip, scorch marks around sockets or lights which flicker.

Here at Dalec we are qualified, experienced electricians in Leeds and our services are available to landlords.  If you would like further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Most of us couldn’t manage without our washing machine and tumble dryer but there have been a number of reports recently of these appliances catching fire. Tumble dryers and washing machines contain powerful motors and moving parts which can get extremely hot, so if you don’t maintain your machine properly, there is the danger that it could catch fire.

With this in mind, it’s important that you remember to:

• Read and then follow the manufacturer’s safety advice and usage instructions before you use your appliance.  Make sure you keep the instruction manual in case you need to refer to it in the future.
• Never, ever leave your appliance unattended whilst it is running.
• Don’t overload your tumble dryer or washing machine – make sure you know what the maximum load size is and stick to it!
• Don’t wash or dry clothes which have come into contact with, or have been used to soak up flammable liquids.
• Tumble dryers must be well ventilated and you should make regular checks to ensure the vent pipe is free of kinks or blockages or has been crushed in any way.
• Clean your tumble dryer vent EVERY time you use it.
• Tumble dryers should be regularly serviced by a qualified engineer.
• If you spot warning signs such as a smell or burning, clothes which feel hot at the end of a cycle or take longer than they should to dry, clean and check the filer and vent pipe immediately.  If you still have concerns, stop using the machine and get help from a qualified engineer.

If you’re considering having electrical work carried out in your home or business premises, it’s important to choose a qualified electrician.  Electricity is dangerous and when installations or repairs are carried out by someone who doesn’t have the relevant skills or qualifications, it can prove to be very dangerous indeed.

Electricians who carry out installation work in England and Wales must adhere to current Building Regulations and in Scotland this is known as the Building Standards system.  At present there is no legal equivalent in Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the internet, checking whether an electrician is legitimate is easier than ever before.  The best place to start checking if an individual is qualified is to find out whether they are a member of a Government approved schemes.  Here at Dalec, for example, we’re listed on the Registered Competent Person Electrical website and have ECA Certification on the ELECSA website which means that we have been approved by the Government to carry out electrical work on your home in compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations scheme.

Checking that an electrical contractor is just one step you can take but if you are worried about someone’s qualifications, don’t be embarrassed about asking to see their qualifications.  If you are working with someone who seems reluctant to do this, this should be seen as a warning sign.

Last and by no means least, get a few quotes before choosing a contractor.  At this point it’s worth remembering that cheap doesn’t mean quality and if it seems too good to be true then it probably is.

The simple answer is yes, they do matter! Electrical safety in the home or workplace is essential and regardless of the size or usage, electrical items can cause injury, electrical shock or worse. However, many people still believe that it’s OK to use electrical items which aren’t up to the job and don’t meet the minimum UK safety standards.

Regardless of whether we’re talking about a washing machine or a phone charger, either has the potential to cause a house fire or significant injury. This why product recalls can be so important and although the number of product recalls are actually fairly low, the number of recalled products which are returned by consumers is also very low.  This means that there are potentially unsafe electrical items being used in households across the UK.

So how do you find out if the electrical items in your home are safe to use? The electrical safety charity, Electrical Safety First has a very useful list of electrical items which have been recalled since 2007. Checking their list against the electrical items in your home is a very sensible precaution to take.

Alongside checking for products recalls, the best way to protect yourself from sub-standard electrical items is to only buy from reputable retailers. Never, ever buy second hand electrical items and remember if the price looks too good to be true, then it probably is!

Here at Dalec our services are available to homeowners and business customers throughout Leeds.  If you are concerned about any aspect of electrical safety, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for advice.