The days are getting longer and hopefully it won’t be too long before its warm enough to get outside the light the barbeque! Garden lighting is a great way to help you get the most out of the garden and there’s now a huge range of different types of garden lighting available, from solar powered lights to highlight borders and planting, through to lights designed to be recessed into paving slabs or decking.

Whilst garden lighting can look stunning, it does need to be installed correctly if it’s to be safe.  We all know that water and electricity don’t mix and when badly installed lighting comes into contact with rainwater or even dew, the results can be catastrophic.

If you’re considering installing lighting in your garden, you need to check that the lighting you choose is suitable for outdoor use.  Strings of lights, for example, look stunning when draped in the branches of a tree or along a fence but to be safe, they must be lights which are designed to be used outside.  This applies to any lighting you use in your garden and if in doubt, don’t use it.

Here at Dalec we recommend that all garden lighting is installed by a qualified, certified electrician.  Our electrical services are available to residential and commercial customers throughout Leeds. If you’re thinking about installing featuring lighting in your garden or business premises, why not get in touch with us first for expert advice?

The long Easter weekend offers a great opportunity to do a little DIY and if you’re anything like the team here at Dalec, the chances are you’ve been given a list of jobs to do that’s as long as your arm!

Love it or loathe it, DIY is something more and more of us are tackling and whilst putting up a shelf or a bit of decorating are pretty straightforward, when it comes to electricity, safety should be of paramount importance. The Electrical Safety First website is very helpful and contains lots of useful advice and can be found here.

If you’re planning on doing any DIY which involves electricity, be it the installation of a new appliance or changing a light fitting, you need to be very careful that what you’re doing is safe. It’s interesting to note that according to the Electrical Safety First website; around 50% of men admit that they feel they should tackle DIY jobs around the home themselves before calling for professional help. In addition, a survey carried out by Electrical Safety First found that nearly half of all severe electric shocks are caused by attempts at DIY.

Here at Dalec we know that if can be tempting to do electrical work yourself but electricity really is something that’s best left in the hands of professionals.  Our domestic electrical services are available to homeowners across Leeds and if you would like free, no-obligation advice on that DIY project you’ve got planned, why not get in touch with us?

We’d like to wish all our customers a very Happy New Year!  We hope you’ve had a happy and relaxing Christmas and if you’re anything the team at Dalec, you’ll be looking forward to a busy 2015!

This is a great opportunity to start another year of blog posts with a quick reminder on the importance of electrical safety in the kitchen.  Many people don’t realise that the kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house.  Over 50% of fires in the home start in the kitchen and with this in mind, electrical safety in the kitchen is absolutely vital.  The majority of kitchen fires are due to faulty wiring, pans left unattended or electrical sockets coming into contact with water.  Provided you follow a few simple safety rules you’ll be able to ensure that your kitchen is a much safer place to be.

Your kitchen is likely to boast a large number of electrical appliances and gadgets so having an adequate supply of electrical sockets is essential.  Never, ever overload sockets and regardless of how small your kitchen may be, you must make sure that electrical sockets are positioned well away from taps and any other sources of water.

If used incorrectly, even if electrical kitchen appliances meet current British safety standards, they can still be potentially dangerous.  Toasters, microwaves and kettles should always be turned off when not in use and it’s important to ensure that electric chords are kept well away from hot surfaces such as cooker hobs.  It goes without saying that small appliances should never be positioned under or near curtains or blinds.

It’s important to remember that if you’re planning on moving house or are considering having a new kitchen fitted, it’s essential that you choose registered electrical safety professionals such as Dalec for advice on the wiring in your kitchen.  We are specialists in all types of electrical installation and are happy to offer guidance on kitchen safety – from the best places for plug sockets through to safety checks on electrical wiring of any age.

If you run your own business, it’s vital that you protect your employees by ensuring that all electrical equipment is PAT tested on a regular basis.  PAT testing is an integral part of health and safety at work legislation and is incredibly important if you are to ensure that your staff and customers are safe at all times.

Annual PAT testing will ensure that the electrical equipment you use – whether it’s the kettle in the staff kitchen, photocopiers or computer equipment and specialist machinery – complies with the Electricity at Work Regulations which were put in place back in 1989.

Larger, fixed items of electrical equipment might need to be PAT tested less frequently and annual PAT testing is simply a guideline for portable electrical equipment with the regularity of PAT testing dependent on the type of environment the appliances are located in.

Here at Dalec we offer a wide range of electrical services for businesses in Leeds and are happy to give further advice and information on PAT testing.

We keep hearing about the benefits of buying local in terms of supporting local shops and community.  ‘Buying local’ can also apply to using services and here at Dalec we’re proud to offer a wide range of electrical services to businesses and residential customers in Leeds.

Choosing a local tradesman is not only a good way to support a local business, it can also help you save money on call out or travel charges.  In addition, you’re likely to find that local electricians, for example, are more likely to take pride in their work and their reputation in comparison to a large firm or national company.

Finding a reputable local electrician is easy if you ask friends and family for recommendations – using an electrician who has been recommended to you is a great way to give yourself peace of mind.  It’s also important to ensure your chosen electrician has been certified to carry out electrical work on your property so look out for the ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) logo.

Here at Dalec we’re very proud of our reputation for offering professional, safe and reliable electrical services throughout Leeds and if you would like further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.