Smarter homes

Energy safety tips for the home

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, 2.7 million people have an accident in the home each year. 5% of these are caused by gas and electric appliances which, when used incorrectly, can be hazardous.

Follow these gas and electricity tips to stay safe at home and avoid an accident.

Know the basics

Common sense goes a long way when it comes to gas and electricity safety. Learn where your fusebox and gas mains supply are, and keep switches properly labelled. Knowing how and where to access your gas or electricity supply will be the first thing you'll need to do in an emergency. Switch off or unplug items when not in use, and keep appliances well maintained.

Repairs and installation

For electrical wiring or gas appliances such as boilers, central heating or fireplaces, leave it to the professionals. Use a Corgi registered engineer for gas related work, and NICEIC approved electricians, which guarantees that repairs or installations are completed by a qualified expert. You should also get your boiler checked on an annual basis - if you're a landlord, this is a legal requirement.

Get a detector

Fit a carbon monoxide detector and a standard smoke alarm to detect gas leaks or fires, which are often caused by faulty electrics. Install both types of alarm on every floor of your home. You can get a smoke alarm from around £10 and a carbon monoxide detector for around £20, both available from a local DIY centre.

If you smell gas

In the event that you suspect a gas leak:

Open doors and windows
Turn off the supply at the meter
Do not use matches or naked flames
Do not smoke
Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, including light switches and doorbells
Call National Grid's free 24-hour national emergency number on 0800 111 999

Electricity do's and don'ts

Do:

Maintain flexible leads on all your appliances
Get an electrician to repair damaged cables or equipment
Be careful when using electrical appliances near water
Check the maximum voltage for electrical equipment is compatible with your plug sockets

Don't:

Use electrical equipment or switches with wet hands
Overload plug sockets
Exceed the recommended wattage or voltage specified by the manufacturer
Keep electrical leads hidden from view

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Did you know?

Half of all homeowners admit to saving money by asking a friend to complete a task a tradesman should do
One in five of those asking friends to help end up calling a tradesman anyway
The average electrical 'botch job' costs £400 to rectify
Homeowners in the South West are least likely to call professionals for home repairs
Homeowners in Scotland are most likely to call professionals for home repairs
A fifth of homeowners do not know how to wire a plug
A third of homeowners do not know how to turn off their gas supply

Source: Electrical Contractors Association, 2007