Now the season of goodwill has passed, many of us are now tasked with keeping up with New Years Resolutions. Alongside the popular resolutions of saving money, loosing weight and eating healthier, more people are starting to include home improvements as part of their bid to lead a healthier and happier life.
According to decorating site HGTV.com, maintaining a safer home comes up as number 2 in the top 5 household related New Year resolutions. By a safer home we mean ensuring things like carbon monoxide alarms are installed, smoke alarms are installed and electrics are tested for safety. All of these are essential tasks which will make a huge difference to the safety of your family if you follow them through......oh and by the way, if you can keep your resolution beyond the 18th January, you will be joining an exclusive group of only 48% who have not broken their resolutions – great work so far!
You're doing well so don't let a simple error of judgement spoil your good work
We all know the importance of careful prior planning, so by all means plan to your hearts content, however when it comes to doing, make sure you know what you should be handing over to the experts. Unfortunately many people get carried away on their New Year resolutions and try to do the whole lot themselves. However in the same way as you wouldn't ask a doctor to check your boiler, make sure that only an electrician checks your electrics.
You want to improve your home electrics, where should you start?
A great starting point which will tell you about the general health your home electrics are in is to have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) carried out. Not only is this peace of mind that all is well in your home electrically, it will also highlight areas which need to be concentrated on so you're not wasting money on things that are not necessary.
It is imperative that an EICR is carried out by ONLY a qualified AND registered electrician. An EICR is recommended at least every 10 years for home-owners and at least every 5 years in rented properties or with every change of occupancy. So if you have not had one carried out in these time-scales then it is highly recommended you have one carried out on your property asap.
Finding an electrician is easy, everyone knows one!
Are you sure about that? Most people will know someone willing to have a go at electrics, but how do you know for sure that they really are an electrician? Last month the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) published some worrying statistics that suggest that there are at least 20,000 unregistered electricians working in peoples houses at this very moment.
Worse still, many householders using the services of unregistered electricians believe they are actually using a genuine electrician simply because they have been recommended by a friend or they're doing work for another trades person working in the property.
A simple way to avoid this trap
Before you decide to use the services of an electrician, be sure to check their credentials. This means checking they are qualified and registered. You can do this by asking to see their certificate of qualification. All qualified electricians will be more than happy to show this either on request or as part of their portfolio of work.
To check your electrician of choice is registered, ask for their registration number of the electrical governing body they are registered with. In general, electricians are registered with the NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA. Do not take this registration number for granted, contact the governing body directly and check the registration number is valid and registered to that electrician. Unscrupulous electricians have been known to use someone another electricians number to claim they are registered.
Don't hold back on asking for credentials, as the householder, it is important you are happy about who is working in your home. You don't have to use the services of anyone you are not happy with whether they come recommended or otherwise.
Conclusion
Protecting your home and family from the dangers of DIY electrical work is the amongst the best New Resolution you can make not just this year but well into the future. Remember electricity does kill and injures 1000's every week, it can also be your best friend if used correctly.
Make sure you stay on good terms with it :)
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