We find that many of our customers are unaware of the variety of different fire alarms available – not just the ones that detect smoke!

There are three main types of fire detectors, with some detectors designed to operate in conjunction with your burglar alarm. Ionisation detectors are best for quickly detecting fast flaming fires, optical detectors are best for picking up slow smouldering fires, whilst heat detectors are ideal for picking up fires in kitchens and garages.

A wide range of fire alarm systems are available, with different types being suited to different kinds of buildings. Fire alarm systems can vary hugely in complexity and price and here at Dalec we’re happy to offer advice on the best system for your home or business.

A fire alarm system can mean anything from a single panel with a trigger device and sounder – ideal for use in homes or smaller commercial buildings. More complex systems are obviously more suited to larger commercial or industrial properties. It is essential that a fire alarm system is designed to fit the property in which it is fitted, with a range of issues taken into account such as the number of people who live or work in the building.

If you would like advice on protecting your property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for further information.

We’ve all been there: being woken up in the middle of the night by the beeping of a smoke alarm with a low battery!

Of course it’s natural to want to a decent night’s sleep and most of us will get up and remove the battery.  However, it’s essential to make sure that you replace the battery as soon as possible – preferably the next day!  It’s also important to test your smoke alarms regularly – we recommend once a week – as this is the best way to ensure reliability and give peace of mind.  Not only does the alarm need to be tested, it’s also a good idea to make sure that the alarm is clean and free from dust.

Having a smoke alarm that isn’t working simply isn’t worth the risk.  Sadly people are killed in fires in their homes every year and these are deaths that could have been prevented with smoke alarms.  Here at Dalec we’re professionals in all aspects of fire protection and if you would like information on protecting your home from fire – whether through smoke alarms or a more complex fire protection system – we’re happy to help.

If you are a landlord in Leeds, there’s no doubt you’re aware of your obligations when it comes to electrical safety in your rental properties.  However, according to Electrical Safety First, many UK landlords are putting their tenants at risk of fire or serious injury through poorly maintained or badly installed electrical installations.

In brief, landlords are, by law, required to ensure that electrical installations in a property are safe, both before a tenant moves in, and for the duration of their rental agreement.  Houses which are occupied by multiple tenants must undergo an electrical safety inspection every five years.  Properties which are not occupied by multiple tenants are not required by law to be inspected but it is recommended that an inspection is carried out by registered electrician every five years.

Any appliances which are provided by landlords must be safe and at the very least, carry the CE marking.

It is also recommended that landlords use only registered electricians to carry out any work on their rental properties and that regular safety checks are carried out on appliances, as part of the rental agreement for the property.

Here at Dalec we are registered electricians working in Leeds – if you would like further information on any aspect of our electrical services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Summer seems to be here at long last and with this weekend being predicted to be the warmest of the year so far, most of us will be keeping our windows open in an effort to cool our homes down.

However open windows present a security risk and if you’re going out – even just a quick trip to the shops – it’s very important to make sure all your windows and doors are locked.  Window locks are simple and quick to fit and because they are a highly effective way to add an extra security feature to your home, we highly recommend them.

Window locks are especially effective when used on ground floor windows and patio doors.  These windows are often the first to be targeted by thieves – an easy way to gain entry to a property – gaining access through a window is often the first thing that an intruder will try.

If you’re interested in installing window locks on your windows, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The long summer evenings are perfect for sitting out in the garden and if you’re thinking of installing some garden lighting, you need to spend a little time thinking about how to install it safely.

Before installing garden lighting you’ll need to make sure you have a transformer – a device which is used to transfer voltage from one level to another.  A transformer is an essential requirement for the majority of garden lighting because garden lighting usually operates at 12 volts whilst the power outlets in your home usually operate at 240 volts.

The number of garden lights which can be operated from a single transformer is limited: you’ll need to look at the wattage of each individual light and multiple that by the total number of lights you intend to use.  For example, if each single light works at 20 watts and you want to use eight of these lights in your garden, you will need a transformer of at least 160 watts.

The cables you use to power your garden lighting can, in theory, be as long as you want, however power will be lost as the number of lights and the length of the cable increases.  Ideally the cable should be kept as short as possible and depending on the size of your garden; a number of transformers may be required.

It is also important to consider other issues when installing garden lighting such as using the correct cables and our services are available to cover this.