Although spring definitely isn’t here yet, it won’t be long until the days start getting longer and we start to think about tidying up the garden.

There’s no denying that electricity makes gardening much easier and it’s difficult to imagine managing without a lawnmower or electrical hedge trimmer, however the risk of injury (or worse) from electric shock is much greater than when using electrical equipment indoors.

It goes without saying that electricity and water just don’t mix so regardless of whether there’s a torrential downpour or heavy dew, never use electrical equipment outdoors until the ground has dried up.

However, provided you follow a few simple safety rules every time you use electricity in the garden, avoiding a serious accident is straightforward.

The best way to protect you from electrical shock and the risk of electrical fires is to fit a residual current device or RCD. Without an RCD, if you accidentally cut through an electrical lead, something as simple as mowing the lawn could kill you.

If you’re using a lawnmower or hedge trimmer it is very important that you make sure the cables, plugs and connectors are in good condition and free from damage. Always buy the best quality mower or hedge trimmer that you can afford and make sure you choose one that it made by a well-known brand. In addition you should read and follow the instructions carefully and check that the plug socket you use is protected by an RCD.

When you’re mowing the lawn make sure the grass is completely dry and that you wear shoes and not sandals or flip flops. Gloves and goggles are a good idea when using a hedge trimmer and make sure children and pets are kept well away from the appliance.

Come back next week to see our follow-up post which will offer more advice on using electricity safely in the garden.

Following on from our post last week on electrical safety in the garden, we thought we’d offer some more advice on using electricity safely in the garden.

Garden ponds make a great feature, especially with the addition of a water fountain, but when water and electricity are in close proximity, risk of electric shock is multiplied. Using a water pump that has been incorrectly installed or with a damaged main, has the potential to cause serious injury or even death.

If you decide to install a mains supplied electric water pump in your garden it’s important to buy one from a well-known reputable retailer and to buy the highest quality one that you can afford. Mains supplied water pumps must be protected by an RCD that it is tested every three months and installed according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Once the pump is installed, you should ensure that it is maintained so that it’s in good working order and if a problem arises, the pump must be disconnected immediately.

Extension leads and cables are an essential part of most peoples’ gardening kit and it’s almost impossible to mow the lawn or cut the hedge without one. However, before using an extension lead outdoors, you must make sure that it designed to be weather-resistant with moulded connections that will prevent moisture from seeping in.

Extension leads should always be uncoiled during use to prevent them from overheating and if you find any damage, the lead must be replaced.  Last and by no means least, always make sure your extension lead is stored in a dry place and that you follow the manufacturer’s’ safety instructions.

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.

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.

An extremely important element of any fire alarm or security system, the installation of emergency lighting is vital in business, commercial, industrial or public buildings.

Emergency lighting is designed to provide a safe escape route if a fire breaks out or if there is a power failure. Unless you’ve been unfortunate enough to experience a fire at first hand, it’s almost impossible to imagine how difficult it can be to navigate around a building when it’s full of dense, black smoke. This is where emergency lighting can help to save lives as it’s designed to provide a powerful source of light which will switch on only once the alarm is triggered.

To ensure that an emergency lighting system works correctly it’s vital that the correct type of system is installed and that the system is planned carefully according to the nature and layout of the building. Here at Dalec we have many years of carrying out emergency lighting installations in office and commercial buildings throughout Leeds and once we’ve installed your system, we also have the expertise to test and maintain.

To find out more about emergency lighting, or to arrange for a free, no-obligation quote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.