Autumn is definitely here and now that the nights are drawing in it’s getting dark earlier and earlier.  With this in mind we thought we’d cover the importance of lighting the outside areas of your property.

Lighting the outside of your home is very important and is a very effective way to help deter intruders.  Outside lighting is available nowadays in a huge range of designs, with lighting combinations suitable for large detached houses through to terraces and flats.  Outside lighting is not only important for security though as being able to see is very important when trying to open your front door late at night!

If you’d like to improve the outside lighting on your property, you need to begin by thinking about where you need the light, and which areas should be well lit in terms of security.  A light over the front and back doors are obvious choices, but don’t forget other areas such as over patio doors or on the side of the house to help illuminate your driveway or a passageway between the house and garage, for example.

Outside is available in a wide range of types of lighting area available, from dusk ‘til dawn through to sensor security lighting. Dusk ‘til dawn lighting will automatically come on when it goes dark and switch off again at first light.  This type of lighting is increasingly popular with our customers and is a great way to avoid lights being on all the time – especially when you are away.

Sensor security lighting is triggered by movement and is an effective way to deter intruders.  This type of lighting does have its drawbacks though and remember that the light will turn on even when your cat walks across the lawn!  Security lights do need to be positioned carefully to ensure that they don’t shine directly into neighbouring properties.

Here at Dalec we provide a range of effective lighting solutions for residential properties.  If you would like further information our electrical services in Leeds, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you run your own business you are required by law to ensure that high standards are met when it comes to electrical safety.  In order to minimise the risk of injury or accidents, portable electrical equipment should be checked and maintained, however the majority of office equipment is very low-risk.  With this in mind, you may be wondering exactly what your obligations are.

Although computer equipment poses little risk, it must still be maintained to ensure that it is safe to use.  Portable appliance testing (PAT testing as it is often called) helps to ensure this and it’s important to remember that faulty or damaged equipment can cause burns, electric shocks or even start a fire.

The term ‘portable equipment’ covers a whole host of things and applies to any electrical equipment which can be moved whilst it is connected or disconnected from the mains power supply.  The majority of IT equipment falls into this category, as do toasters, vacuum cleaners, desk lamps, kettles etc.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all the computer equipment in your office is safe and this rule applies to employers, self-employed people and employees.  However, to complicate matters, the law doesn’t specify how frequently testing should take place.

It is not true that PAT testing should be carried out on annual basis as the frequency of testing depends on the type of equipment and where and how it is used plus how at risk it is of becoming damaged.

The electrical equipment used in the majority of low-risk offices such as offices, call centres or shops, for example, poses very little threat and these days the majority of computers, printers, scanners etc are supplied with pre-wired plugs and cables; this means that regular visual checks should be sufficient.

However, because some electrical equipment such as mobile phones, laptops or tablets are frequently plugged in and then unplugged again, this can mean that the power cable can become damaged.  Again visual checks should be carried out on a regular basis to ensure that this sort of equipment is safe to use.

Here at Dalec we are specialists in all aspects of electrical safety for business customers and if you would like further advice on electrical safety for your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Following on from last week’s blog post on using alarms and smoke detectors to protect your home from the risk of fire, we thought we’d take the opportunity to cover mains powered smoke alarms.

Replacing the battery in a battery powered smoke alarm is, of course, very straightforward but you’d be surprised how many people take the dead battery out, only take to months or even years for them to replace it.  An alarm with no battery is of course completely useless but it’s also important to remember that the entire alarm should, ideally, be replaced every ten years to ensure that it continues to operate successfully.

Mains powered smoke alarms provide peace of mind and bypasses the risk of failing replace dead batteries.  A wide range of mains powered smoke alarms are available and here at Dalec our team are happy to offer advice on the most suitable alarm for your home.  One important note: building regulations came into effect in 1992 which required all new build properties to have at least one smoke alarm wired directly to the mains.  Wired alarms which are more than ten years old should be replaced and with this in mind, there are likely to be many people living in new build properties and who are relying on alarms which are long overdue for replacement.  If you are in any doubt as to the age or effectiveness of your mains alarm, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for advice.

Remember that installing and maintaining smoke and heat alarms could give you those extra few minutes you need from which to escape a fire.

LED – or light emitting diodes – to give them their full title, are the very latest in lighting technology.  Small, solid and incredibly energy efficient, LED light bulbs are being touted as the most economical way to light your home of office.

LED technology offers a number of advantages of incandescent, compact fluorescent and neon lighting; namely an exceptionally long life span – up to 60,000 hours is possible – and an increase of around 90% in energy efficiency.

Although the price of LED light bulbs had come down considerably over recent years, they are still more expensive in comparison to ‘traditional’ low energy bulbs.  However, when consider that because LEDs are so energy efficient and long lasting, they have the potential to save you money on your energy bills and on maintenance and replacement costs.

Alongside the energy efficiency benefits of LEDs, they also offer improved safety.  LED lights generate almost no heat, making them ideal for use in children’s bedrooms, nurseries, schools, hospitals and care homes.

LED lighting is becoming hugely popular and if you’re wondering whether they are worth the investment, we think the answer is ‘yes’! If you would like more information on the benefits of using LEDs in your home office, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The simple answer is yes, they do matter! Electrical safety in the home or workplace is essential and regardless of the size or usage, electrical items can cause injury, electrical shock or worse. However, many people still believe that it’s OK to use electrical items which aren’t up to the job and don’t meet the minimum UK safety standards.

Regardless of whether we’re talking about a washing machine or a phone charger, either has the potential to cause a house fire or significant injury. This why product recalls can be so important and although the number of product recalls are actually fairly low, the number of recalled products which are returned by consumers is also very low.  This means that there are potentially unsafe electrical items being used in households across the UK.

So how do you find out if the electrical items in your home are safe to use? The electrical safety charity, Electrical Safety First has a very useful list of electrical items which have been recalled since 2007. Checking their list against the electrical items in your home is a very sensible precaution to take.

Alongside checking for products recalls, the best way to protect yourself from sub-standard electrical items is to only buy from reputable retailers. Never, ever buy second hand electrical items and remember if the price looks too good to be true, then it probably is!

Here at Dalec our services are available to homeowners and business customers throughout Leeds.  If you are concerned about any aspect of electrical safety, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for advice.