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.

When water and electricity mix the results can be deadly.  With this in mind, we thought we’d give you a few tips on bathroom safety.

When it comes to electrical safety, the bathroom can become the most dangerous room in the house.  Electrical installations in bathrooms come with their own set of special safety requirements and most electrical work must comply with Part P of Building Regulations.

For any electrical work in the bathroom we strongly recommend using registered electricians such as Dalec.

Power sockets- with the exception of shaver supply sockets – are not allowed in bathrooms unless they can be installed at a safe distance of at least three metres from the sink, bath or shower.  Shaver supply sockets must also be installed at a safe distance from the shower or bath to avoid contact with water.

The best type of bathroom lighting is a recessed light or a light that is enclosed and does not hang down.  Ceiling mounted pull-cord switches are the safest option for bathroom lights as everyday light switches can be dangerous when operated with damp hands.

The safest way to heat your bathroom is with a central heating radiator but if you do have an electric heater, it must be installed at a safe distance from the sink, shower or bath.  Again, a pull-cord switch outside the bathroom is the safest way to operate a bathroom heater.

Electric showers should be installed by a qualified electrician and must be supplied on their own circuit, directly from the fuse box.

Last and by no means least, never, ever bring a mains-powered appliance such as a hairdryer into the bathroom as the results can be deadly.

Homes come in all shapes and sizes and whether you live in a tenth-floor flat or a large detached property, here at Dalec we’re happy to offer advice and guidance on the best burglar alarm for you.

Studies carried out by the Metropolitan Police have shown that a burglar alarm which is correctly installed and maintained will ensure that your home is less likely to be burgled.  However, there are a number of different types of alarm available and many homeowners are daunted by the choice so we thought we’d cover the basics of what to consider.

The best type of alarm for your home depends on several things, such as the type and size of property, your personal preferences and your budget.  However you’ll need to begin by thinking about what you’d want to happen in the event of the alarm being triggered.  For example, a bell-only type of alarm will simply sound in the event of a break in but will not contact anyone, such as the police or a registered contact.

Alarms with a built-in speech dialler are designed to automatically contact you or a nominated contact (such as a neighbour or friend) when the alarm is triggered.  The other option is to choose an alarm which is part of a monitoring contact: alarms of this type require an annual or monthly subscription payment for a company to take action or call the police in the event of the alarm sounding.

Costs can vary hugely between the different systems and we’ll carry out an initial assessment of your property to find the best alarm to suit your home and your budget.  If you would like further information on our burglar alarm installation services in Leeds, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We’re often asked by customers if their home needs re-wiring and it’s a question that can usually be quickly be answered after a simple visual inspection by one of our electricians.

The majority of British homes didn’t have electrical wiring installed as standard until the inter-war period and it’s not uncommon for us to come across homes that still have the original wiring.  During the 1950s electrical and lighting circuits were encased in lead or rubber – wiring of this type can deteriorate very quickly leaving wires exposed.  Old wiring can be extremely dangerous and if you’re concerned about the wiring in your home, it’s essential to call a qualified electrician as soon as possible.

Rewiring a home can be expensive but by working with a reputable electrical company such as Dalec, you’ll have the reassurance that the work carried out on your home is being carried out to the highest safety standards.  If you are concerned about the wiring in your home – regardless of the age of the property – we’re happy to offer free, no-obligation quotes or advice at a time to suit you.  Why not get in touch with us today?

Here at Dalec we are accredited and approved installers of fire alarm systems and smoke alarms for commercial properties, homes, schools and businesses in and around Leeds.

Even the most basic smoke detectors and fire alarm systems can go a long way to protect your home or business.  Smoke alarms should be tested on a weekly basis and the batteries replaced at 6 monthly intervals – regardless of whether the alarm is beeping to warn of a low battery.

Several different types of smoke alarms are available and optical smoke detectors are designed to detect smoke particles whether they are visible or invisible.   Smoke detectors have an individual coverage radius of 7.5 metres; however it is important to ensure that the individual radiuses overlap to ensure that there are no ‘blind-spots.’

Fixed temperature heat detectors are ideal for use in rooms that tend to have higher ambient temperatures and in rooms where sudden rises in the ambient temperature are commonplace, for example drying rooms and kitchens.

Rate of rise detectors can be used to detect a fire as soon as the temperature in a room rises.  This type of detector incorporates a fixed upper temperature limit which will trigger the alarm if the rate of the temperature rise has been too slow to trigger the detector.  Rate of rise detectors are best suited to environments with a stable ambient temperature.

Heat detection alarms cover an area of 5.3m but again the radius must overlap to ensure that there aren’t any blinds spots. .

If you would like further advice on protecting your home or business from the risk of fire, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.