Our guide to candle safety

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Hopefully we’ll soon have some lovely long summer evenings to sit out and enjoy the garden. Candles have become an incredibly popular garden accessory and whilst the soft light they cast is beautiful, it’s important to remember that they must be used safely if you are to protect your home and family from the risk of fire.

Unfortunately candles are responsible for increasing numbers of house fires and with this in mind; we thought we’d publish our top-tips on how to enjoy candles safely:

  • Burning candles should never be placed near curtains or other fabric, including outdoor parasols, wind breaks, tents, gazebos, cushions or door curtains.
  • Candles should always be placed in specially designed candle holders; try to choose candles holders with wide, stable bases which can’t be easily knocked over.
  • Burning candles should only be placed on heat resistant surfaces.
  • Candles should always be kept out of reach of children and pets.
  • Candles must never be moved whilst they’re burning.
  • Last and by no means least, it goes without saying that candles should NEVER be left unattended or burning when you go to bed or go out. Always double-check that candles have been fully extinguished – smouldering candles still have the potential to start a fire.

If you have smoke alarms don’t forget to check them every week to ensure they’re working properly and if you don’t have them, you should arrange to install them yourself or have them fitted as soon as possible.

Here at Dalec we provide a range of affordable fire protection systems for home and business owners throughout Leeds. From the installation of simple smoke alarms, through to the design of fire alarm systems for business premises, no job is too small for us. To find out more or to arrange a free, no-obligation quote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling us on 01535 606 006.

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Electrical services for homeowners in Leeds

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Here at Dalec we offer a wide range of electrical services designed to cover all aspects of electrical installations for homeowners in Leeds. Whether you’re simply looking for advice on electrical safety, or are about to carry out major renovation work on your home, we can help.

Our general electrical services including general rewiring, through to electrical testing to ensure that the electrics in your home are safe and are working properly. Our team regularly carry out appliance installations, rewiring, socket replacements, lighting installations along with general repairs and maintenance.

In addition to general electrical and installation services, we also provide a comprehensive range of domestic security services to homeowners across Leeds.  We have the expertise to design and install bespoke security systems to suit your lifestyle and budget, or to upgrade or repair existing systems. We also offer an alarm maintenance package designed to offer peace of mind that your alarm is working exactly as it should be.

We are a reputable, established company and by choosing Dalec, you’ll have the reassurance of knowing that the electrical work carried out in your home is safe and meets the standards set for electrical installations.

No job is too small or too large for the team here at Dalec.  If you would like further information or a free, no-obligation quote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Why invest in an intruder alarm for your business?

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If you’re going to invest in protecting your business from theft, installing an intruder alarm probably offers the best value for money in comparison to other security measures.

Which is the best intruder alarm for you?

A wide range of different types of intruder alarm are available with the most basic systems consisting of a keypad to operate the system, a control panel and sensors which are designed to detect movement and activate the system. These basic systems are often referred to as ‘bell only’ systems and as such are the cheapest option to install.

Increasingly sophisticated alarms systems are now widely available and are designed to make the most of the latest technologies. Of course the level of sophistication will have an impact upon the cost of a system and whilst you’re unlikely to need the type of alarm used to protect priceless works of art, features such as dual technology motion sensors and alarm activations direct to your mobile phone are great ways to provide peace of mind and enhanced protection.

Basic alarm systems usually sound a simple bell alarm or siren once triggered and depending on the type of alarm you choose, it’s possible to buy systems which will contact a control centre which will then contact the police, or even to fill the premises with dense smoke, designed to make it difficult for intruders to escape.

Contact Dalec for advice on protecting your business

Here at Dalec we have many years of experience of advising businesses throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire on the best ways to protect their businesses. Whether you’re considering installing a new alarm system, or have an older system which requires a repair or maintenance, we’d be delighted to help. To find out more or to arrange a free, no-obligation quote, please call us on 01535 606 006.

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Safety advice for electrical DIY

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Love it or loathe it DIY is something most of us end up doing and with spring rapidly approaching, the chances are you’re thinking of tackling those maintenance or decorating jobs you’ve been avoiding all winter.

Whilst DIY jobs are often unavoidable, it’s alarming to think that DIY mistakes are responsible for over half of all the electrical shocks which happen in homes in the UK. Around half of all men prefer to try and carry out repairs themselves, rather than asking using a professional electrician.

Serious electric shocks can be caused by a wide range of DIY errors but the most common include drilling into wiring, cutting power leads and attempting to repair electrical items whilst they’re still turned on.

With this in mind, the importance of electrical safety whilst carrying out DIY tasks is of paramount importance and although it can be very tempting to turn to the internet for DIY tips, it’s very important that the advice you use is from a reliable, reputable source.

If you need any electrical work or repairs, the best advice is to always use the services of a qualified, professional electrician.  However, if you are doing DIY, provided you follow the following safety advice, you should be safe:

  1. Always make sure you know where the cables are in your walls BEFORE you start drilling. Accidentally drilling, nailing or screwing into cables hidden inside walls is one of the most common DIY mistakes but provided you use a good quality cable detector, you’ll be able to locate buried cables and help avoid the risk of an electric shock.
  2. Turn off the power! Although this sounds obvious, you’d be surprised how many people fail to do this. Any work that is carried out near electrical wiring or power supplies must be done whilst the power is off so make sure you shut down the fuse box and where possible use battery-powered tools. In addition, it’s a good idea to double-check that the power is turned off before you start by plugging in an appliance into a socket and checking the mains lighting is off.
  3. A residual current device (RCD) can help to save your life as it will cut off the power if you make a blunder. You should have one fitted to your fuse box and if necessary, use a plug-in RCD.
  4. Power tools should be checked before you use them: make sure they are in good condition and if you can see any signs of damage such as frayed wires, make sure the equipment is repaired or replaced beforehand.
  5. Keep your eye on the power lead at all times as this can help you avoid tripping over it or accidentally cutting through it.
  6. Last and by no means least, if in doubt use a reputable electrician such as one of the team here at Dalec.

Our electrical services are available to residential customers throughout Leeds and for us no job is too small. If you would like to find out more, or to obtain a free, no-obligation quote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01535 606 006.

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The benefits of wireless intruder alarms

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Over recent years professionally installed wireless intruder alarms have almost replaced wired alarm systems, thanks to wireless alarms having shed their reputation for being unreliable and susceptible to outside interference.

Although wireless alarms have been available for many years, alongside a reputation for unreliability came the significant cost of wireless systems in comparison to their wired counterparts. However, over the last couple of years a number of alarm manufacturers have produced a number of extremely reliable, cost effective systems. Affordable, reliable wireless alarm systems are now available, designed to be used in domestic and small commercial buildings.

Wireless intruder alarms installed in Leeds

Here at Dalec we have many years of experience in installing intruder alarm systems across Leeds and we work closely with our clients to offer advice and guidance on the most suitable system for their property and lifestyle. Wireless alarm systems are now generally cheaper to install than wired systems and when this cost saving is combined with the enhanced reliability now available, we think wireless systems are pretty hard to beat.

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of wireless intruder alarm systems, or to obtain a free, no-obligation quote, we’d be delighted to help. Our qualified, experienced team operates throughout Leeds and we’re happy to arrange an appointment at a time to suit you. Alongside our alarm installation services, we also have the expertise to service and repair alarm systems and we also install a range of other security systems, including CCTV, access control systems and fire alarms. Why not get in touch for further information?

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Is your alarm system working as it should be?

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Whilst there’s no denying that installing a security system is one of the very best ways to protect your home or business from intruders or theft, even a state-of-the-art system will fail to provide reliable protection if it isn’t serviced and checked on a regular basis.

Here at Dalec we are a local alarm installation, servicing and repair company and our services are available to home and business owners in Leeds and surrounding areas. We have a team of highly experienced, fully-trained engineers who are on hand to provide a rapid response to alarm breakdowns and we also carry out regular servicing and maintenance on a range of systems.

Not only is alarm servicing important if you are to ensure that your system is reliable and working properly as failure to maintain a system can mean that a business or commercial premises doesn’t meet legislation or health and safety requirements. It’s also worth remembering that if your alarm system fails to work properly and you have a break-in, your insurance could be invalidated and this is something which applies to residential and commercial properties alike.

Whether you would like to find out more about alarm servicing, or to obtain a free, no-obligation quote for a brand new system, why not get in touch with Dalec on 01535 606 006?

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We install CCTV systems designed to reduce the risk of a break in

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CCTV is becoming increasingly popular with home and business owners alike; largely thanks to the significant impact it can have on reducing the risk of a break in. Here at Dalec we provide a range of CCTV systems which can be designed to meet the requirements of residential, commercial and business customers.

A visible, effective deterrent

A CCTV system will act as a highly effective deterrent and often the sight of the camera alone is enough to put off a potential intruder. In addition, CCTV systems are widely used to help prosecute crimes, with the video footage used as evidence by the police. Our wide range of experience covers the installation and maintenance of CCTV systems, so whether you would like to increase the level of security in your business premises, or to enhance the protection of your property or car, we can provide a complete design, installation, monitoring and maintenance service.

We stock a comprehensive selection of analogue and digital recording equipment and also supply and fit a wide range of cameras and monitors, designed to complement your recording equipment. In addition, our latest product range now includes an internal stand-alone covert CCTV system which uses a smart card with the capacity to take up to 1650 images which can then be downloaded onto a PC. Offering superb image quality, this user-friendly system can be used in different locations, something which would be impossible with a hard wire system.

Unbeatable protection for your home or business

CCTV offers one of the very best ways to protect your home, family or business from theft, intruders or vandalism. Thanks to developments in technology and the increased availability of broadband, it is now possible to view remote images from your mobile phone or tablet, providing you with reassurance that your property is safe and secure whilst you’re away. To find out more about the benefits of protecting your home or business with CCTV, why not get in touch with the team here at Dalec? Our services are available to customers throughout Leeds and we’re happy to provide you with a free, no-obligation quote at a time to suit you.

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Our advice on how to use garden lighting safely

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With only a couple of weeks to go until the clocks go forward and we move into British summer time! As the days grow longer and warmer, we’ll be spending more time in the garden and outdoor lighting is becoming increasingly popular with homeowners.

Installing lighting in your garden is a great way to add an attractive design feature and will help you maximise the time you spend outdoors on long summer evenings. However, if you’re thinking of installing garden lighting, you’ll need to spend time thinking about how you’re going to install it safely.

First things first and before you start any kind of electrical installation you must make sure that you have a transformer which is a device used to transfer voltage from one level to another. A transformer is an essential piece of kit when it comes to garden lighting; the reason for this is that garden lighting normally operates at 12 volts, whilst the power outlets in your home operate at 240 volts.

The next thing to do is to work out how many garden lights you can safely operate from one transformer: to do this you’ll need to look at the wattage of each individual light and then multiply that by the total number of lights you want to use. If each one of your lights operates at 20 watts, for example, and you want to use eight of them in your garden, you will need to use a transformer of at least 160 watts.

The cabling for garden lighting can be as long as you want but you’ll need to bear in mind that the longer the cable, the less power it will have. It is much better to use as short a cable as possible and, depending on how big your garden is, you might end up needing several transformers.

Any electrical installation can be daunting, especially when working with electricity outdoors. Here at Dalec we are specialists in domestic electrical installations and if you would like further advice or a free, no-obligation quote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. No job is too small for us and as our team are available throughout Leeds, we’re happy to visit you at a time to suit you.

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Running a business in Leeds? We can help!

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Here at Dalec our electrical services are available to business and domestic customers alike and whether you run a commercial or industrial business, we can help.

We know that carrying out any kind of renovation or installation work can prove to be very costly for business owners, not only in terms of the cost of the work, but also as a loss of productivity and disruption to the working day. We take great pride in the efficiency and reliability of our electrical repair, installation and maintenance services and our work is carried out with the minimum of fuss and disruption.

We can help will all types of electrical installations for businesses, including the design and installation of fire protection and security systems, lighting, rewiring, general repairs or routine maintenance.

Our services are available throughout Leeds and surrounding areas and if you would like to find out more or to obtain a free, no-obligation quote, we’d be happy to visit you at a time to suit you. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch for further information.

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Is your garage or shed protected from theft?

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There’s been a recent spike in bike thefts, particularly from garages and sheds in Wharfedale, with Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Addingham and Ben Rhydding being particularly hard hit. Wharfedale has become incredibly popular with cyclists over recent years – thanks in part to the Tour de France back in 2014 – and it’s very possible that this is why burglars are targeting this area.

Although many homes are protected with a security alarm, garages and sheds tend to be overlooked and left unprotected. However, when you stop to consider that your garage can be home to some pretty expensive kit – bikes, cycling equipment, golf clubs, power tools or even the lawn mower – protecting the garage or shed starts to seem like a very sensible idea!

Our expertise covers all aspects of home security and our team are more than happy to provide advice on the best ways to ensure your garage, shed our outbuildings are safe and secure. Many of the homeowners we meet simply don’t realise that it’s possible to protect a shed or garage with an alarm and if you already have a security system, one option can be to incorporate your outbuildings into the existing system.

Another practical, yet relatively cost-effective solution to protecting the garage or shed is security lighting. Dusk-to-dawn lights are designed to switch on and off automatically when it goes dark and the sun comes up, whilst motion sensor lights are triggered by movement. Another good way to protect your garage or shed, security lighting is very low-maintenance and easy to install.

If you would like to find out more about protecting your shed or garage, why not get in touch?

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