Electricians support for older homes
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If you have just moved into a new home, then it should be re-assuring to know that qualified electricians have taken care of the hard bits.
From the building's inception to creation with bricks, mortar and all; dedicated tradesmen have worked together to bring you a safe and well designed home.
But for tenants of older properties, the role of an electrician is paramount, as many old homes were made pre-dating the modern safety standards that exist today. Many older buildings may suffer from hidden nasties, such as leaking, rot, subsidence or goodness forbid - infestation.
If you have any concerns that your home isn't as safe or well maintained as it should be, then calling on a trusted tradesman who specialises in electrics is certainly a good idea. Something that will be checked nearly straight away is the presence of earthing anywhere where an electrical supply exists. Earthing is a fundamental safety system used in electrical installations.
It works in co-ordination with circuit breakers, fuses, and residual current devices to ensure that an electrical supply can be disconnected quickly in the event of a fault. This is essential in the prevention of reducing electrical shocks.
All electrical sources in the house should default back to these circuit breaker/fuse locations, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with its location should your power cut out or for when your electrician arrives.
Sockets are the most common electrical point within a house, some people having up potentially dozens in a large property. If you notice any loose contacts with a plug, or more worryingly, sparks; then immediately desist using the faulty point.
Needless to say, always avoid contact with sockets if you have wet hands or damp appliances too.
Lighting, the next essential and abundant energy resource in the house follows the same rules. Changing a light bulb is straightforward, but in older properties there may be unfamiliar connections or even fixed lighting systems that will require the help of a specialist.
Bathrooms and kitchens are definitely areas to avoid should you have any electrical concerns.
Known in the trade as "special locations", bathrooms and kitchens are more vulnerable to coming into contact with water; particularly shower units and electrics near the sink.
Take extreme caution when operating with multiple electrical points in these areas and consider turning off mains wired appliances such as showers, cookers and washing machines as routine.
In any case, a qualified electrician is always at hand if needed.
From the building's inception to creation with bricks, mortar and all; dedicated tradesmen have worked together to bring you a safe and well designed home.
But for tenants of older properties, the role of an electrician is paramount, as many old homes were made pre-dating the modern safety standards that exist today. Many older buildings may suffer from hidden nasties, such as leaking, rot, subsidence or goodness forbid - infestation.
If you have any concerns that your home isn't as safe or well maintained as it should be, then calling on a trusted tradesman who specialises in electrics is certainly a good idea. Something that will be checked nearly straight away is the presence of earthing anywhere where an electrical supply exists. Earthing is a fundamental safety system used in electrical installations.
It works in co-ordination with circuit breakers, fuses, and residual current devices to ensure that an electrical supply can be disconnected quickly in the event of a fault. This is essential in the prevention of reducing electrical shocks.
All electrical sources in the house should default back to these circuit breaker/fuse locations, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with its location should your power cut out or for when your electrician arrives.
Sockets are the most common electrical point within a house, some people having up potentially dozens in a large property. If you notice any loose contacts with a plug, or more worryingly, sparks; then immediately desist using the faulty point.
Needless to say, always avoid contact with sockets if you have wet hands or damp appliances too.
Lighting, the next essential and abundant energy resource in the house follows the same rules. Changing a light bulb is straightforward, but in older properties there may be unfamiliar connections or even fixed lighting systems that will require the help of a specialist.
Bathrooms and kitchens are definitely areas to avoid should you have any electrical concerns.
Known in the trade as "special locations", bathrooms and kitchens are more vulnerable to coming into contact with water; particularly shower units and electrics near the sink.
Take extreme caution when operating with multiple electrical points in these areas and consider turning off mains wired appliances such as showers, cookers and washing machines as routine.
In any case, a qualified electrician is always at hand if needed.
Posted by : HomeImprovement
@ Aug 04, 2011
