Although the kitchen is said to be the heart of the home, unfortunately many homeowners fail to realise just what a dangerous place a kitchen can be!  Faulty wiring and poorly installed appliances are the cause of around 50% of house fires every year and with this in mind, the importance of electrical safety in the kitchen should never be underestimated.

The range of kitchen appliances seems to grow year on year and it’s now possible to buy machines that can do anything from make ice cream and popcorn, through to high-tech steam ovens and warming drawers.  There’s no doubt that appliances can really take the hassle out of cooking and cleaning but they must be installed and used correctly if they are to be safe.

Counter top appliances such as toasters and kettles should be positioned within easy reach of the nearest plug socket and plug sockets should never be overloaded with lots of appliances plugged into one socket.  Even if you have the tiniest kitchen, plug sockets MUST be positioned as far away as possible from taps and any other sources of water.  It is also important to mention that small kitchen appliances should never be positioned under or near blinds or curtains.

All electrical installations have strict safety requirements and if you are moving into a new property or are having a new kitchen fitted, we can offer advice on whether your kitchen meets current safety standards.  Here at Dalec our expertise covers a wide range of electrical installations and we’re happy to provide a free, no-obligation quote at a time to suit you – why not get in touch for further information?

LED light bulbs offer number of advantages over other bulbs.  An increasingly popular choice for residential and commercial buildings alike, it’s becoming evident that LED lighting is set to become the industry standard.

LED bulbs have the potential to last for more than 100,000 hours and to put this into perspective, that’s equivalent to more than 10 hours of continuous use.  In domestic environments LED bulbs are convenient but in locations where lighting cannot be replaced easily, this represents a significant benefit.

Although LED bulbs cost significantly more than others available, the enhanced lifespan of LEDs means that they are in fact a cheaper option in the long run.  It’s worth remembering that a single LED bulb will last for the same length of time as 10 halogen bulbs so it’s easy to see where savings can be made.

One of the main benefits of LED lighting is the low running costs.  One LED bulb has the power to produce light that is equivalent to an incandescent bulb of 100w but by using only a few Watts of electricity per hour, offering incredible savings on energy costs.

LED light bulbs produce very little heat which means that they aren’t warm to the touch unlike halogen or incandescent bulbs.  This makes LEDs very energy efficient and useful in locations where more traditional forms of lighting might be too dangerous or unsuitable.

Last and by no means least, LEDs are very eco-friendly as they do not contain any mercury and can be easily recycled without damage to the environment.  Not only are they cheaper in the long run and more reliable, but they make a great choice if concern for the environment is important to you.

If you would like advice on installing LED lighting in your home or business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for further information.

If you’re in the process of planning a new kitchen, one of the first things to consider is lighting.  Long gone are the days where the only option for lighting a kitchen was an unattractive fluorescent tube light, and thanks to the wide choice of lighting available, getting it right is easier than ever before.

The key to successful kitchen lighting is in ‘layering’.  This means thinking about lighting in terms of ‘zones’ and planning the lighting according to its use – lighting for working (cooking), dining, mood lighting and feature lighting.

Thanks to the wide range of kitchen lighting available, it is possible to light a kitchen without having to use ceiling lights.  Down lighters, spotlights, uplighters and lighting strips can be placed under or on top of kitchen units.

Efficient lighting to work under is important for every kitchen.  Direct lighting should be used wherever you prepare food – over worktops, the sink and  the hob – to ensure that cooking and chopping can be done safely and not in shadow.  Under mounted lighting is the ideal option here, provided you opt for recessed or semi-recessed lighting as exposed fittings will trap grease and dirt.

Open-plan kitchens which have a dining area will require a combination of different lighting for eating and relaxing after a meal.  This is where overhead pendant lighting can come in useful whilst lamps or wall lights can be a useful way to create softer mood lighting.

If you would like advice on planning kitchen lighting, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  Here at Dalec we’re electrical installation specialists and our services are available to residential and business customers throughout Leeds.

Holiday time is almost here and with the school summer holidays rapidly approaching, the chances are that you’ll be heading off for a week or two or the sun.

Keeping your home safe and secure whilst you’re away is very important and when you think that around a third of all burglaries are due to people leaving windows or doors unlocked, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce the chances of being burgled.

• Automatic timer switches are useful for making your home look occupied whilst you’re away: set timers to turn lamps on at dusk or even to turn on your TV for a couple of hours.
• Another good way to make your home occupied is to ask a neighbour to collect your mail for you – leave them a set of spare keys but make sure your name and address isn’t on them.
• Don’t forget to cancel milk or newspaper deliveries.
• Don’t be tempted to leave the curtains closed – although this will make your home look occupied at night, it will have the reverse effect during the day!
• If you have a burglar alarm make sure you use it!  If you’re worried that your alarm isn’t working properly, an alarm service engineer will be able to check that it’s in good working order.

Here at Dalec we’re specialists in alarm and security system installations and servicing.  Our services are available to residential and business customers and if you would like further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

It’s impossible to underestimate how much we rely on electricity in our day-to-day lives and whether you’re at home or work, electricity has become essential.  However, when things go wrong and an electrical fault occurs, it can cause untold disruption, especially in the workplace.

Here at Dalec we’ve provided high-quality, safe and certified electrical installation services for many years.  Our services are available to residential, business and commercial customers and whether you have a simple electrical fault which needs to be repaired, or are considering a major electrical installation, we can help.

As a reputable electrical contractors, we are members of the Electrical Contractors’ Association and our work has been certified to comply with Part P of the building regulations.  By choosing to work with an experienced, reliable electrical contractors such as Dalec, you’ll be able to relax in the knowledge that the electrical safety of your home or business is in safe hands.

Our services cover everything from the installation of a new plug socket to major wiring projects in new-build property developments.  If you would like to find out more about our services or to request a free, no-obligation quote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.