WHY CANT YOU MAINTAIN YOUR HOME GADGETS/APPLIANCES

It’s easy to use electricity safely at home if you understand the risks and take care. Our tips can be a helpful start.


General appliances

  • Remove electrical appliances with damaged/frayed cords or cracked or broken plugs
  • Turn off power points before plugging/unplugging appliances
  • Turn off all appliances such as heaters, ovens and stove tops when leaving your home
  • Maintain exhaust fans in a clean condition, free of lint
  • Ensure adequate space around appliances to prevent overheating
  • Remove all combustible material from stoves, heaters and lamps
  • Extension cords should not be used in wet areas – unless specially designed to do so
  • Licensed electricians should undertake all your electrical work and repairs.

Electricity and water

  • Be extremely careful when using appliances connected to power points near sinks, baths or swimming pools
  • If an electrical appliance has been immersed in water it must be discarded immediately
  • Switch off and unplug all portable electrical appliances, such as hairdryers, shavers, etc after use
  • Don’t use portable heaters in bathroom areas. Instead, you should have either a strip heater installed high on the wall or a ceiling unit installed by a registered electrical contractor
  • Don’t use extension leads or power leads in wet areas unless specifically designed to do so
  • Never touch anything electrical with wet hands or bare feet.

Kitchen appliances

  • Regularly clean range hood filters
  • Clean ovens and hot plates regularly to prevent the build-up of spilled fats and burnt foods
  • Install a ventilation system, flue or exhaust fan in the kitchen to remove fumes while cooking
  • Switch off and unplug your toaster before trying to remove toast, muffins or crumpets that are caught in the toaster
  • Remove bread crumbs from the toaster regularly as a build up can be hazardous
  • Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the room take something with you as a reminder that you are cooking (eg. a wooden spoon)

Extension leads

  • Extension cords with damaged plugs or cords should be discarded
  • Position extension cords along walls and around furniture
  • Extension cords should have 3 pins (plugs with 2 pins are not earthed and should be used only with double insulated electrical equipment)
  • Cords should not be draped over benches where they can be caught or grabbed.

Powerlines

  • Ladders, boat masts and poles should be kept well clear of overhead power lines
  • Monitor weather conditions. Powerlines can sag in extreme heat and sway in strong winds
  • Powerlines are difficult to see at dawn and dusk
  • Plant low growing plants near power lines.

Underground cables and pipes

Contact Professional Before you Dig it out.

Switchboard and fuses

  • Be familiar with where your switchboard is located
  • Keep access to your switchboard free of obstructions
  • Label switches, circuit breakers or fuses
  • Repairs or installation work must be undertaken by a licensed electrical contractor.
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