If the weather forecasters are to be believed – although let’s face it, they often get it wrong – the UK is set to be basking in a heatwave come the end of August. A spell of warm weather means that we’ll all be want to keep our windows open more than usual as this is, of course, the best way to cool the house down.

Although having lots of windows open is a great way to let fresh air and a cool breeze in, it can present something of a security risk. Even if you’re just popping out for a quick trip to the shops it’s really important to make sure you close all your windows – and the doors of course! Window locks are a great way to add an extra level of security to your home and because they’re very cost effective and easy to fit, here at Dalec we always recommend them to our customers.

Window locks are particularly useful for increasing the security of ground floor windows and patio doors. Ground floor windows are a magnet to potential thieves as if they’re unlocked or left open, offer an easy to way to gain entry to a property. With this in mind, the importance of locking your windows and doors should never be underestimated!

If you wold like advice on any aspect of home security, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for further information. Our quotes are free and because our team operate throughout the Leeds area, we’re happy to visit at a time to suit you. Why not contact us today to arrange an appointment?

We install security lighting throughout Leeds

Although it’s only August and those long winter nights might seem like a long way off, now is the ideal time to start thinking about protecting your property with security lighting.

A highly effective way to protect your home or business from the threat of theft or even vandalism, security lighting will deter intruders whilst making it much easier to find your way around outside when it’s dark. There’s nothing worse than trying to find your keys on a cold, dark night but security lighting is a great way to solve this problem whilst helping to make you feel safer at night.

Security lighting for homes and businesses

A wide range of security lighting systems are available; from simple floodlights which are operated by a motion detector sensor, through to complex systems designed to be integrated with an intruder alarm or CCTV system. Whilst complex systems are generally best suited to business properties, increasing numbers are now being installed in domestic properties in conjunction with CCTV cameras. An excellent way to improve the security of your home, a CCTV and lighting systems will prove to be a highly effective deterrent to intruders and could even help to reduce your home insurance premiums.

Specialists in security lighting

Here at Dalec we are specialists in all aspects of security for home and business and we are happy to offer further advice on the most appropriate system for you. Our security lighting systems are designed to be highly flexible and whether you are looking for a simple security light to cover the entrances to your home, or lighting to illuminate the car park at your business, we can help.

Contact Dalec on 01535 606 006

To find out more or to arrange for a free, no-obligation quote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Fire protection services for homes and business in Leeds

Dalec is an established company and we have many years of experience in installing smoke alarms and fire detection systems in homes, business, schools and commercial buildings in Leeds and surrounding areas.

Several major fires have hit the news headlines over the past couple of months with the most recent being a devastating fire at a secondary school in the south of England. It’s worth bearing in mind that even the most basic of fire alarm systems and smoke detectors can prove to be an effective way to protect your home or business but to ensure that a system is reliable; it must be tested on a regular basis.

Different systems designed for a range of environments

A range of different smoke alarm systems are available and optical smoke detectors are specially designed to detect both invisible and visible smoke particles. Smoke detectors are designed to protect an area within a radius of 7.5 meters; however if a large area is to be protected, several detectors should be used to ensure that their radiuses overlap.

Kitchens or areas where sudden rises in temperature will naturally occur are bested protected by fixed temperature heat detectors. These highly effective sensors are specially designed to quickly detect any sudden rises in temperature, triggering an alarm to warn of the danger of fire.

Rate of rise detectors are designed to detect a fire as soon as the temperature in a room begins to rise suddenly. This type of detector is most suitable for use in environments which have a stable ambient temperature. Heat detector alarms cover an area of 5.3m but in large rooms several detectors may be required to ensure the radiuses overlap.

Contact Dalec for advice

Using a heat or smoke detectors is a great way to provide effective protection for your home or business from the risk of fire. Here at Dalec we are accredited and approved installers of a wide range of systems and if you would like further advice or a free, no-obligation quote, we’d be happy to help.

Certified alarm installation services in Leeds

Here at Dalec we know that buying and installing a new security alarm system can prove to be a big investment – especially if you’re installing an alarm in a business premises – and with this in mind it’s important to choose a reputable company. We’re incredibly proud of the high standard of the services we offer and because we are registered by the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your alarm will be installed correctly and safely.

It’s important to remember that the after-effects of a burglary can be devastating, whether in terms of the intrusion to your home and the loss of personal items which are impossible to replace, or the financial impact that it can have upon a business. Not only are our alarm systems installed to the highest standards, we also offer the expertise to ensure that your chosen system is designed to meet your requirements and the requirements set by your insurance company.

The Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board will only provide certification to alarm installation companies who are able to demonstrate through their procedures and inspection processes that they have the technical competence and managerial experience required.

Contact us for further information

So rather than choosing a second-rate alarm installation company why not choose to work with Dalec instead? If you would like a quote or further information on our alarm installation services in Leeds we’d be delighted to help – why not get in touch today by calling us on 01535 606 006?

Here at Dalec we are established electrical contractors with many years of experience in offering electrical services for residential and business customers throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire. Whether you are considering installing a new security alarm or would simply like to add extra plug sockets to your kitchen, we’d be delighted to help.

Security solutions to suit all requirements

We offer a wide range of security solutions, from the installation and maintenance of security alarms, through to access control systems, CCTV and fire alarm installation. Our security installation services are available to both home and business owners and are designed to offer cost-effective solutions designed to meet all budgets and requirements.

General electrical services

Our general electrical services cover everything from general re-wires through to electrical testing. Our expertise also covers electric installations and our team are happy to handle anything from the fitting of a new kitchen appliance to whole-house re-wires. Regardless of the size or complexity of the installation, safety is of paramount importance to the team here at Dalec and by choosing us you’ll be able to relax in the knowledge that your home or business is in safe hands.

Network installations

We have a wide range of experience in the installation of CAT5e and CAT6 networks and whether you need a single additional network port into or a full building system, we’d be happy to help.

Contact Dalec on 01535 606 006

If you would like to find out more about any aspect of our services, or to obtain a free, no-obligation quote, our team are available at a time to suit you. Why not get in touch for further information?

Are you a landlord in Leeds?

Here at Dalec we work with a number of landlords in Leeds, providing them with electrical installation services and advice on electrical safety. Although the landlords we work with are all aware of their obligations when it comes to electrical safety, according to the charity Electrical Safety First, there are many landlords who continue to put their tenants at risk of serious injury or via through badly installed or poorly maintained electrical installations.

If you’re a landlord you’ll be all too aware of just how complex the legislation surrounding electrical safety in rental properties can be so with this in mind, we’ll give a brief outline of what is required. Landlords are required by law to ensure that all electrical installations in a property are safe BEFORE a tenant moves in and for the duration of the rental agreement. Rental properties which are occupied by multiple tenants – flats, shared houses etc. – must be inspected by a qualified electrical every five years. Although properties which are occupied by a single tenant are not required by law to be inspected, it is recommended that a registered electrician inspects the property every five years.

It goes without saying that all appliances which are provided by landlords must be safe and in good working order and will ideally carry the CE marking; it’s also important that regular safety checks are carried out on appliances.

Contact Dalec on 01535 606006

 

Landlords should only use registered electricians such as Dalec to carry out work on their rental properties and if you would like further information on our electrical services for landlords in Leeds, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

An extremely important element of any fire alarm or security system, the installation of emergency lighting is vital in business, commercial, industrial or public buildings.

Emergency lighting is designed to provide a safe escape route if a fire breaks out or if there is a power failure. Unless you’ve been unfortunate enough to experience a fire at first hand, it’s almost impossible to imagine how difficult it can be to navigate around a building when it’s full of dense, black smoke. This is where emergency lighting can help to save lives as it’s designed to provide a powerful source of light which will switch on only once the alarm is triggered.

To ensure that an emergency lighting system works correctly it’s vital that the correct type of system is installed and that the system is planned carefully according to the nature and layout of the building. Here at Dalec we have many years of carrying out emergency lighting installations in office and commercial buildings throughout Leeds and once we’ve installed your system, we also have the expertise to test and maintain.

To find out more about emergency lighting, or to arrange for a free, no-obligation quote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

LED lighting is everywhere these days and as experienced electricians, we recommend them to our customers as being beneficial for a number of reasons. LED lighting offers huge possibilities and if you’ve been put off by the initial cost of buying LED bulbs, you might like to consider the following:

  • LED lighting is much more economical to run in comparison to traditional forms of lighting. The cost of paying for lighting is likely to amount to around 18% of your annual electricity bill which means that it takes up a significant proportion of the energy you use. With this in mind, LED has been shown to offer unparalleled energy saving opportunities.
  • In a trial recently carried out in the UK, OSRAM, the well-known lightbulb manufacturer, investigated how much money the average family could save each year if they replaced their traditional bulbs with LEDs. The results showed that LEDs offered considerable savings; with households saving between £215 and £343 on their annual energy bill.
  • LEDs can also prove safer than traditional light bulbs because the bulbs don’t heat up.  This can prove especially beneficial in environments such as children’s nurseries, schools, care homes and hospitals, and when lighting is used for display purposes.
  • LEDs lights last far longer than traditional light bulbs, typically around 50 times longer. This means that when used for 12 hours a day, a 50,000 LED bulb should last over 11 years.

LED lighting installed in Leeds

LED lighting can be used in the majority of domestic, industrial, commercial and business settings and if you would like to find out more, or to obtain a quote for installing LED lighting, we’d be delighted to help. For further information, why not get in touch with Dalec by calling 01535 606006?

Clever use of lighting is a great way to inject some personality into your home and rather than just opting for a single ceiling light, using a range of lighting is a great way to add warmth and a welcoming atmosphere.

Lighting can have a real impact upon the personality, mood and look of each room in the house and if you’d like to give your lighting a makeover, it’s best to start by thinking about each different room. For example, kitchens need a range of lighting; task lighting designed to target areas such as worktops or cooker hob, along with overhead lighting. Living rooms benefit from warm, low-level lighting such as table lamps or floor lamps, rather than overhead lighting which can seem stark.

A good way to think about the best lighting for each room is to consider the purpose of the room. The living room is the place where you’re likely to want to relax and unwind, for example, whilst the kitchen is where you’ll be getting things done and completing many of those household chores!

The lighting in open plan living areas can be harder to design, simply because open plan areas need to cover a range of functions/activities. If you have an open plan kitchen dining room, the chances are that it’s the place you cook, entertain and socialise. Overhead lighting will be necessary but you could consider fitting dimmer switches which will offer you the option to turn down the level of light, creating a cosier feel once you’ve finished cooking and are ready to sit down and eat. If you have a breakfast bar or kitchen island – anywhere that friends and family tend to congregate – this would look great when illuminated with overhead pendant lights. Corners of the dining area work well when lit with table lamps or floor lamps.

If you would like advice on using lighting in your home, or a free no-obligation quote for installing new lighting, we’d be delighted to help. Why not get in touch with Dalec today by calling us on 01535 606 006?

Although there’s no substitute for a working intruder alarm, when it comes to protecting your home whilst you go away on holiday there are lots of relatively simple things you can do to deter intruders and help prevent a break-in:

• One of the best ways to deter a potential intruder is to make your home look like it’s occupied when even when you’re not there. If you have a neighbour, friend or relative who’s willing to help – perfect – but don’t panic if not as there are still steps you can take. If you do have someone who’s prepared to visit your house every day or so, ask them to remove post from the doormat, water the garden (especially the front garden) and open the curtains in some windows, whilst closing the curtains in others. The idea is to make your house look lived in so the more activity the better!
• Alternatively if you don’t have anyone who can help you, those timer switches designed to be plugged into sockets can be very useful when used to set lamps to come on at different times of day. It’s also possible to avoid a build-up of post on the mat as the Post Office now offers a service where, for a small fee, they’ll keep hold of your post before delivering it all in one go once you’ve got home.
• Asking a neighbour to park their car on your drive is another good way to make the house look occupied.
• It can be very tempting to close the curtains when you’re away but remember that this looks completely unnatural and rather than acting as a deterrent is likely to advertise the fact that you’re away. Leaving all the lights on has a similar effect and rather than doing this, it’s much better to invest in a few timer switches.

As we said at the start of this post there really is no substitute for a working intruder alarm and if you’re home currently has an unreliable or outdated alarm, or you don’t have an alarm at all, we’d be delighted to provide you with a free no-obligation quote. Our electrical services are designed to cover all aspects of home security and if you’d like information on security floodlights or CCTV systems, we’d be happy to help with that too.

Why not get in touch today?