It’s alarming to think that when electrical items or electronics are sent to landfill rubbish tips they can end up hanging around for thirty years or more, causing pollution and taking up space.

In an effort to combat mountains of household waste, the government is calling for electrical equipment to be disposed of in a more environmentally friendly way.  If you have an electrical item that needs to be thrown away – whether it’s hair straighteners or a fridge freezer- don’t just put it in the bin or dump it.  Electrical items need to be disposed of properly and if you visit your local recycling plant, you’ll find special containers designed for getting rid of electronics.

 

Whether you’ve just bought a new TV or are considering buying one, you may be tempted to fit the TV to a wall.  However, before you rush out and buy a wall mounting bracket from your local electrical store, it’s worth bearing in mind that this is a DIY job which can prove to be more complex than it seems.

In order to look good when fitted to a wall, a flat screen TV needs to be able to sit flush against the wall with no visible wires showing.  This is where we come in: our team can, if necessary, install new electrical sockets in carefully chosen locations to ensure that your TV looks fantastic and the installation is carried out to a high standard.

So whether you’re thinking of buying a new TV or already have a TV which you’d like to re-position, why not get in touch for further information on our TV installation services in Leeds?

A recent and very tragic house fire in Sheffield which killed five people has highlighted the potential risk posed by using faulty electrical charging devices.

Charging devices have become an indispensable feature of our daily lives: mobile phones, laptops, tablets, mp3 players – the list of items which need charging seems to grow all the time.

According to fire safety experts, the greatest risk posed by electric chargers is the cheap generic options which can be easily purchased online.  Just a quick browse on an auction side such as eBay will return details of literally thousands of charging devices, all considerably cheaper than their branded counterparts.  However there is no guarantee that these chargers meet UK and EU safety standards.

One of the main areas of concern is the use of generic chargers – the ones which are marketed as being compatible with a number of different devices.  The danger posed by generic charges comes from the fact that different devices require different levels of charge: generic chargers run the risk of overheating because too much energy is put into the device, causing the battery to overheat.

Branded chargers really are the safest option because they have been specially designed to charge a particular device.  Granted they’re not particularly cheap but where electrical safety is concerned, buying cheap chargers simply isn’t worth the risk.

September sees the start of a new academic year and many students are either leaving home for the first time or returning to university to resume their studies.

With this in mind, we thought we’d highlight the importance of electrical safety in rental properties.  Electrical safety in the home is, of course, hugely important and even more so in properties that are shared by lots of people.

There’s a wealth of advice and guidance available online giving information on the responsibilities of landlords when it comes to electrical safety.  The website of the Citizens Advice Bureau has lots of useful information on electrical safety in rental properties covering areas such the safety of electrical appliances and what to do if a landlord disconnects the electricity supply.  For details please visit www.adviceguide.org.uk

Another useful website is www.saferhouses.co.uk  This website covers the laws ensuring tenant safety in rental properties, including landlords’ responsibilities for providing fire alarm and detection systems and safe electrical installations.

Don’t forget that at Dalec we’re experts in electrical safety and are happy to offer advice and guidance on electrical safety in properties in Leeds.  Whether you are a landlord or homeowner, we’d be happy to help so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

At this time of year homes are at their most susceptible to burglary: during the build-up to Christmas intruders are all too aware that many of us stock up on electrical items such as iPads, laptops or cameras to give as gifts to loved-ones, leaving many homes at increased risk of being broken into.

With this in mind it can be sensible to review the security of your home and aside from installing a new or more advanced burglar alarm system; there are lots of things you can do to help protect your home from intruders.

Many burglaries are carried out opportunistically but in some cases, burglars will check out a property in advance so it’s wise to make that your home always looks occupied and to make sure that the entrances to your home are visible at all times.  Simple steps to take include using timer switches to turn lamps on and off automatically and dawn to dusk exterior lighting installed over your front and back door.  Don’t leave your curtains closed all the time when you’re away and if you can, ask a friend or neighbour to move the post from your front doormat.

A visible burglar alarm can prove a very effective deterrent so it’s important to ensure that the bell box of your alarm system is visible from the road.  If you don’t have an alarm it is possible to buy fake burglar alarm bell boxes and these are a good alternative if you can’t afford a full system.

Don’t overlook the security of your shed or garage as they can be particularly susceptible to theft at this time of year: simple alarm systems can be purchased to protect out-buildings and a decent bolt and padlock is usually sufficient to put off most opportunist thieves.

Here at Dalec we’re specialists in all aspects of home security and our services are available to homeowners in Leeds.  If you would like further advice or information on protecting your home, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.