The importance of electrical safety in rental properties

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More and more of us are renting rather than buying property and whilst living somewhere as a tenant can make life easier when it comes to household repairs and improvements, the importance of electrical safety is still incredibly important.

Whether you are tenant or a landlord, the importance of electrical safety is something that cannot be overlooked.  Electricity is incredibly dangerous and when you consider that around 30 deaths are recorded in the UK as a direct result of electricity, understanding the importance of electrical safety in the home is vital for landlords and tenants alike.

Although most rental properties are generally well-maintained, unfortunately some fall far short of the required safety standards.  If you are considering renting a property you need to remember that it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that the electrical systems and equipment are safe, well-maintained and of a high standard. In addition, your landlord should supply copies of the operating and safety instructions for any appliances or electrical systems within your property.

Electrical safety in rental properties is absolutely essential and if you would like further advice or information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  Here at Dalec we are experienced, qualified electricians in Leeds and our services are available to landlords and residential customers alike.

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Transform outdoor spaces with garden lighting

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Garden lighting does so much more than simply provide illumination and getting the lighting in your garden right will emphasise the plants and help you create a lovely ambience for al fresco dining.  When used carefully, garden lighting offers the opportunity to see your garden in a whole new light.

Getting garden lighting just right requires a little forethought and planning.  Before you starting planning the design of your garden lighting, walk around your garden at dusk and try to view it from as many different angles as you can.  Think about how lighting could impact on different plants; plants with strong architectural shapes such as trees for example can look stunning when lit from behind.

It’s easier than ever before to be creative with garden lighting.  Decking or patio areas can be illuminated effectively by mini uplighters, whilst spotlights are ideal for illuminating garden features such as statues.

Lighting can also be used to illuminate water features which are best lit from above.  Underwater lighting is a great way to achieve a dramatic look but it’s very important to use lighting products which have been specially designed for this purpose.

Garden lighting must be low-voltage and creating a low-voltage system requires the installation of a transformer which should be fitted in an undercover location or inside waterproof housing.  This is not a job to tackle yourself though as it’s important that any cables are installed in safely and in the correct positions.

Here at Dalec we are qualified electricians with experience of installing lighting in a wide range of different locations and if you would like advice on installing lighting in your garden, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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How to use candles safely

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Flickering candle light is a great way to create a lovely relaxing atmosphere in the home or outside in the garden and with the long summer evenings on the way, you may be considering buying candles.

However, candles must be used safely and because they are known to be the cause of increasing numbers of house fires, candle safety is vital wherever you choose to use them.

Here at Dalec we are specialists in the installation of fire protection systems and our top-tips for candle safety are as follows:

  1. Never, ever place candles close to curtains, garden parasols, soft furnishings or fabrics of any description.
  2. Always place candles in a candle holder which has been especially designed for the purpose.
  3. Make sure candles are well out of reach of children and pets.
  4. TVs and other electrical equipment are not heat resistant and as such candles should never be placed upon them.
  5. Don’t move a candle whilst it’s burning.
  6. Last and by no means least, NEVER leave unattended whilst they are burning.  When you go to bed, double check that all candles have been properly extinguished as candles which have been put out can still smoulder and have the potential to start a fire.

We have the expertise to install fire protection systems to suit all budgets and requirements.  Whether you are interested in a simple smoke alarm or a full-scale fire protection system we can help – why not get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote?

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Is your kitchen safe?

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Although the kitchen is said to be the heart of the home, unfortunately many homeowners fail to realise just what a dangerous place a kitchen can be!  Faulty wiring and poorly installed appliances are the cause of around 50% of house fires every year and with this in mind, the importance of electrical safety in the kitchen should never be underestimated.

The range of kitchen appliances seems to grow year on year and it’s now possible to buy machines that can do anything from make ice cream and popcorn, through to high-tech steam ovens and warming drawers.  There’s no doubt that appliances can really take the hassle out of cooking and cleaning but they must be installed and used correctly if they are to be safe.

Counter top appliances such as toasters and kettles should be positioned within easy reach of the nearest plug socket and plug sockets should never be overloaded with lots of appliances plugged into one socket.  Even if you have the tiniest kitchen, plug sockets MUST be positioned as far away as possible from taps and any other sources of water.  It is also important to mention that small kitchen appliances should never be positioned under or near blinds or curtains.

All electrical installations have strict safety requirements and if you are moving into a new property or are having a new kitchen fitted, we can offer advice on whether your kitchen meets current safety standards.  Here at Dalec our expertise covers a wide range of electrical installations and we’re happy to provide a free, no-obligation quote at a time to suit you – why not get in touch for further information?

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Wall-mounted TV installation: call in the experts and get it right first time

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A huge range of state-of-the-art TVs are now widely available and more and more of us are choosing to install our TVs on the wall, rather than putting the TV on a table or cabinet.

A wall-mounted TV is not only a great way to free up space in your home, it also means that everyone in the room can get a good view, no matter where they’re sitting. However, installing a TV onto a wall isn’t as easy as it looks and as with all electrical installations, it’s really important to get it right from a safety point of view.

Here at Dalec we find ourselves installing increasing numbers of wall mounted TVs and many of the home owners we meet have tried to carry out the installation themselves but have found it too complicated.

The first thing to remember is that TVs are heavy and obviously the bigger the TV, the more it will weigh. Buying a TV wall-mounting kit from your local electrical store is something many people do, failing to realise just how difficult it can be to get the installation right.

At Dalec our team can offer advice on the best place to mount your TV, before we install it safely, ensuring that no unsightly wires, cables or sockets are visible. So if you’re considering in investing in a new, wall-mounted TV, why not get in touch with us first? We’re electrical installation specialists and our services are available to residential and business customers throughout Leeds – we’re happy to offer a free, no-obligation quote at a time to suit you.

 

 

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LED bulbs offer a lighting solution for the future

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LED light bulbs offer number of advantages over other bulbs.  An increasingly popular choice for residential and commercial buildings alike, it’s becoming evident that LED lighting is set to become the industry standard.

LED bulbs have the potential to last for more than 100,000 hours and to put this into perspective, that’s equivalent to more than 10 hours of continuous use.  In domestic environments LED bulbs are convenient but in locations where lighting cannot be replaced easily, this represents a significant benefit.

Although LED bulbs cost significantly more than others available, the enhanced lifespan of LEDs means that they are in fact a cheaper option in the long run.  It’s worth remembering that a single LED bulb will last for the same length of time as 10 halogen bulbs so it’s easy to see where savings can be made.

One of the main benefits of LED lighting is the low running costs.  One LED bulb has the power to produce light that is equivalent to an incandescent bulb of 100w but by using only a few Watts of electricity per hour, offering incredible savings on energy costs.

LED light bulbs produce very little heat which means that they aren’t warm to the touch unlike halogen or incandescent bulbs.  This makes LEDs very energy efficient and useful in locations where more traditional forms of lighting might be too dangerous or unsuitable.

Last and by no means least, LEDs are very eco-friendly as they do not contain any mercury and can be easily recycled without damage to the environment.  Not only are they cheaper in the long run and more reliable, but they make a great choice if concern for the environment is important to you.

If you would like advice on installing LED lighting in your home or business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for further information.

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How energy efficient is your home?

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These days we take electricity for granted and very few of us stop to think about how much electricity we use on a daily basis.  From boiling the kettle to switching on a light or charging a mobile phone; it all adds up and because the price of electricity continues to rise, energy efficiency is something should all take more seriously.

Becoming more energy efficient will not only help you save money by reducing your electricity bills, a reduction in the amount of energy you use also means that fewer fossil fuels are burnt.  Fossil fuels are burnt in order to produce electricity and this in turn increases carbon emissions which have been linked to global warming.

The way in which electricity consumption is measured can be very confusing – working out how much electricity you’ve used by looking at your bill can prove almost impossible!  One of the best ways to keep tabs on how much electricity you use is to invest in an energy monitor.  These small portable gadgets are designed to tell you (almost in real-time) how much energy you are using, either in pounds and pence or in kilowatt hours.

There are many things you can do to reduce the cost of your energy bills.  Energy-efficient household appliances can prove to be very useful but there’s little point in splashing out on brand-new appliances unless it’s time to replace them.  Some energy-efficient appliances can be very expensive to buy so it’s important to take into consideration how much money you’ll save.  Or, if you want to try something radical, you could switch to one of the green electricity suppliers or even think about generating your own electricity.

Small changes though can make a big difference and as we’ve covered in previous posts, remembering to unplug your mobile phone charger once your phone is charged and turning the TV off at the mains at night, can all help.

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The importance of getting kitchen lighting right

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If you’re in the process of planning a new kitchen, one of the first things to consider is lighting.  Long gone are the days where the only option for lighting a kitchen was an unattractive fluorescent tube light, and thanks to the wide choice of lighting available, getting it right is easier than ever before.

The key to successful kitchen lighting is in ‘layering’.  This means thinking about lighting in terms of ‘zones’ and planning the lighting according to its use – lighting for working (cooking), dining, mood lighting and feature lighting.

Thanks to the wide range of kitchen lighting available, it is possible to light a kitchen without having to use ceiling lights.  Down lighters, spotlights, uplighters and lighting strips can be placed under or on top of kitchen units.

Efficient lighting to work under is important for every kitchen.  Direct lighting should be used wherever you prepare food – over worktops, the sink and  the hob – to ensure that cooking and chopping can be done safely and not in shadow.  Under mounted lighting is the ideal option here, provided you opt for recessed or semi-recessed lighting as exposed fittings will trap grease and dirt.

Open-plan kitchens which have a dining area will require a combination of different lighting for eating and relaxing after a meal.  This is where overhead pendant lighting can come in useful whilst lamps or wall lights can be a useful way to create softer mood lighting.

If you would like advice on planning kitchen lighting, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  Here at Dalec we’re electrical installation specialists and our services are available to residential and business customers throughout Leeds.

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Bathroom lighting to create the right mood

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Following on from last week’s blog on kitchen lighting, I thought I’d offer advice on planning bathroom lighting.

It goes without saying that electricity and water don’t mix and with this in mind, when choosing lighting for your bathroom, you should select lighting which is specially designed for use in high-moisture environments.

When planned carefully, bathroom lighting can be used to create the right mood: too bright and the light will seem harsh and cold, but if it’s too dim you’ll find it difficult to see what you’re doing! Using a ‘layered’ approach to lighting is the easiest way to avoid extremes – the best way to do this is to install spotlights over the bath and shower, with task lighting around the mirror and wall lighting to create a relaxing atmosphere.

These days bathroom lighting is available in a huge range of styles and designs and it’s even possible to install LED lights into the floor or around the base of the bath to create a relaxing mood.  Spotlights make effective task lighting whilst warm white LED recessed spotlights can be used over the bath or shower.  In addition, by fitting all the lights to different switches you’ll be able to adjust the mood.

When buying bathroom lighting it’s very important to make sure that the lights are suitable for use in a bathroom and to check how far from a water source they can be fitted.  Here at Dalec we are specialists in domestic lighting installations and if you would like advice on choosing bathroom lighting, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Give yourself peace of mind with mains powered smoke alarms

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Following on from last week’s blog post on using alarms and smoke detectors to protect your home from the risk of fire, we thought we’d take the opportunity to cover mains powered smoke alarms.

Replacing the battery in a battery powered smoke alarm is, of course, very straightforward but you’d be surprised how many people take the dead battery out, only take to months or even years for them to replace it.  An alarm with no battery is of course completely useless but it’s also important to remember that the entire alarm should, ideally, be replaced every ten years to ensure that it continues to operate successfully.

Mains powered smoke alarms provide peace of mind and bypasses the risk of failing replace dead batteries.  A wide range of mains powered smoke alarms are available and here at Dalec our team are happy to offer advice on the most suitable alarm for your home.  One important note: building regulations came into effect in 1992 which required all new build properties to have at least one smoke alarm wired directly to the mains.  Wired alarms which are more than ten years old should be replaced and with this in mind, there are likely to be many people living in new build properties and who are relying on alarms which are long overdue for replacement.  If you are in any doubt as to the age or effectiveness of your mains alarm, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for advice.

Remember that installing and maintaining smoke and heat alarms could give you those extra few minutes you need from which to escape a fire.

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