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With our UK summers getting hotter each year, heatwaves are becoming more of a regular part of life in Bournemouth, Ferndown and our surrounding areas. While the lovely sunshine is welcomed by many, this extreme heat can also put an extra strain on your beloved home’s electrical systems.
Why can heatwaves be a problem for your home electrics?
Most electrical systems in the UK are designed for moderate temperate conditions and not 30°C and above
Here’s what can possibly go wrong in a heatwave:
⚠️Older consumer units overheating
⚠️Overloaded sockets from air conditioning units & popular electric fans
⚠️Worn or loose wiring reacting to higher temperature expansion
⚠️Outdoor extension leads and cables becoming unsafe
⚠️Solar gain inside fuse boxes or loft-based installations (Solar gain means the increase in temperature as a result of sunlight)
⚠️These risks can lead to power cuts, tripping of circuits or in extreme cases, electrical fires.⚠️
Below are our expert tips to help protect your home or business when those summer temperatures soar.
Electrisafes’ Top Electrical Safety Tips for Hot Weather
⚡️Don’t Overload Extension Leads
⚡️With fans and other summer appliances running full-time, it’s tempting to plug multiple devices into one socket! But DONT! this can overload the circuits, especially with older wiring.
✔ Tip: Avoid “daisy chaining” leads or socket adaptors
âś” Tip: Use extension leads with surge protection
If you do frequently need more plug sockets, a local electrician near you can install permanent sockets indoors or outdoors safely
⚡️ Keep all your electrical equipment away from direct sunlight
⚡️Devices such phone chargers, entertainment systems such as projectors , gaming consoles and routers can overheat if left in strong sunlight, especially if in those hot conservatories or windows
âś” Tip: Move all your electronics to shaded and ventilated areas
Overheated devices can short-circuit or even catch fire, so this simple step could save lives. Also remember it’s important not to charge your devices on a bed or sofa!
⚡️If your consumer unit (fusebox) is in a cupboard loft or garage, it may be exposed to high temperatures. Heat combined with poor ventilation can cause those older systems to completely fail or overheat.
⚡️Check Your Consumer Unit (Fuse Box)
✔ Tip: Make sure there’s always airflow around your consumer unit or fusebox.
âś” Tip: If your fusebox or consumer unit is over 20 years old, consider a consumer unit replacement with modern, safer RCD protection.
Electrisafe can inspect your current electrical system and recommend upgrades if required, Electrisafe are NICEIC-approved, trusted by homes across Bournemouth and Ferndown.
⚡️Outdoor sockets, even those weatherproof sockets , can be at risk in higher temperatures , especially if they are worn or cracked . It’s not uncommon to see discoloured plastic or melting casings which in turn could lead to short circuits.
⚡️Avoid Using Outdoor Sockets in Extreme Heat
âś” Tip: Use outdoor sockets early or late in the day.
✔ Tip: Book in an electrical safety check if your outdoor electrics haven’t recently been inspected by a registered electrician
Electrisafe carry out garden electrical safety inspections throughout Bournemouth and the surrounding areas.
⚡️During a heatwave, your loft spaces can reach temperatures of over 50°C. If you have cables running through your loft, they could dry out or expand and become brittle over a period of time.
âś” Tip: Avoid storing items in your loft tightly against cabling.
When to Call a Local Electrician
If you notice any of the following during a heatwave, it’s time to get professional help:
⚡️Circuits are tripping repeatedly
⚡️Switches or sockets feel hot to touch
⚡️Lights are dimming or flickering
⚡️You can smell burning plastic
At Electrisafe, we offer local support for urgent issues as well as those scheduled checks and Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) for added peace of mind for your home.
Stay Cool & Safe This Summer
If you’re in need of reliable help or advice Electrisafe is proud to serve customers in Bournemouth, Ferndown, Northbourne and surrounding areas, offering you small maintenance jobs to consumer unit replacements and full lighting upgrades
đź“ž Call us today on (01202) 580525 or fill in our quick contact form for your summer safety check with your qualified local electrician or for any other electrical queries.
