Electrical safety advice for homeowners in Leeds
Although there’s no deny that it’s possible to grab a bargain and make savings by buying goods online, when it comes to electrical safety, that low price item could end up being deadly.
UK consumers put an awful lot of trust into online shops and marketplace. Many people assume that buying online will protect them from counterfeit goods. However, there have long been reports of sub-standard and fake electrical items appearing on popular online shopping sites, with investigations uncovering dangerous electrical goods such as hair dryers, hair straighteners, phone chargers and even tumble dryers. Not only is this a con, it can also prove extremely dangerous when it comes to electrical safety.
Fake or counterfeit electrical goods are not only more likely to go wrong and break down, they can also pose a serious risk to your safety. Electrical fires can start without warning, putting your family and home in danger. So how do you protect yourself?
- First and foremost, the very best way to protect yourself is to only buy electrical goods from a reputable retailer. Yes, you are likely to pay more but we think it’s impossible to put a price on safety.
- If it seems to good to be true it probably is! The old saying ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ is definitely true and it really is worth paying a bit more for a branded product from a reputable retailer.
- Don’t put your trust in online reviews. Remember that many of the people who leave reviews might not be aware themselves that the item they are reviewing is fake. In addition, bear in mind that some sites even pay sellers to leave positive reviews.
- For further advice on avoiding counterfeit goods and what to do if you if you think you’ve bought something fake, the Electrical Safety First website has a very useful page on their website.
Always use a reputable electrician
Last and by no means least, always make sure you use a reputable electrician if you’re having electrical work or repairs carried out in your home. Our team have the qualifications and expertise to ensure repairs and installations are carried out in line with safety legislation and regulations. If you would like to find out more, or to obtain a free, no-obligation quote, why not get in touch with Dalec today?
