Your essential winter electrical checklist – 2024
Keeping your home safe over the festive period
It’s the winter season once again!
With the colder temperatures and darker nights sweeping in, your household will be increasingly relying on your lighting, heating and cooking appliances to get you through the season; as well as Christmas tree lights and perhaps even outdoor fairy lights to make things festive.
All that electrical usage can place greater strain on your home’s wiring and appliances; and that’s not even getting into the havoc that the harsh winter weather can cause to your home and to the facilities supplying your electricity.
So unfortunately, winter can end up being a time of power cuts and tripped circuits, too; but don’t worry.
We’ve put together this quick winter electrical checklist to help your family manage the festive season.
Your home winter electrical checklist
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Watch out for overloads
It’s an issue which comes up a lot on the JC Electrical UK blog, but it’s especially a problem when it comes to winter.
Overloading your home’s circuits can lead to tripped circuit breakers, blown fuses and flickering lights at best, or a house fire at worst. Here’s what to do to prevent overloading.
- Don’t exceed the maximum amps on extension leads. The max limit on most extension leads is 13A/3000W; check the plus on your appliances to see how many amps/watts each one uses.
- Never daisychain extension leads. There’s a much greater risk of overloading the circuit when doing this.
- Avoid operating too many appliances at once. Pay particular attention to things like vacuum cleaners, microwaves, hairdryers, electric heaters and other devices which produce a lot of heat; these draw a lot more power than others and can quickly overload circuits when used at once.
Check your outdoor lighting
Sensor-operated driveway and garden floodlights serve a couple of important purposes; they deter burglars, and they can prevent trips and falls in the dark.
The winter season exacerbates both of those risks. Burglars are more likely to target homes during the festive period, where homeowners are buying expensive gifts for their loved ones.
Meanwhile, icy weather can make the simple route from your car to your door a lot more treacherous.
Be sure to check your outdoor lighting is in full working order as soon as you can. Do any bulbs or switches need replacing? Are the sensors working properly?
If you need to replace any lights, go with LED lights. They’re more energy efficient and much longer lasting, and they won’t blow like traditional bulbs; although be aware that they can grow dimmer over time.
Check smoke alarms
As well as the electrical hazards, the festive period can also pose greater fire risks too.
Real Christmas trees, present wrapping, tinsel can provide plenty of combustible materials; while electric heaters and faulty tree lights (particularly the same old ones we keep using year after year) can quickly start the blaze.
Test your smoke alarm frequently, and replace the batteries in battery-operated alarms at least once a year. While you’re there, don’t forget to do the same for your carbon monoxide alarms.
Stay up to date with weather forecasts
If the cruel winter weather does affect your electricity supply, it’s best to be prepared.
With this in mind, remember to check local forecasts in your area for any coming storms, cold snaps or flooding. When the temperatures are down and even the early evenings are darker, you don’t want to be caught unawares.
Keep battery-powered emergency devices topped up
We don’t realise how much we rely on our devices and appliances until we can’t use them, eh?
Whether it’s torches to find your way in the dark during a power cut, a radio to tune into local news updates, or phones to call the emergency power cut services, make sure any essential battery-powered devices are either kept charged up or stocked with fresh disposable batteries.
You should also keep track of where these things are, so you’re not fumbling around for them in a pitch-dark house later!
Don’t forget other power cut essentials
Loss of electrical power can really grind your home to a halt. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of some of the things you should have ready in case of a winter power cut.
- Candles and matches. These are invaluable for seeing your way around when the lights are out. Just be sure not to leave them unattended!
- Blankets and jumpers. It’s not only the lights that go out during a power cut, but likely your boiler as well. Make sure you can keep yourself warm even in freezing temperatures.
- Food. Remember, you won’t be able to cook anything while the power is out, so have some ready-to-eat and ideally non-perishable food to hand.
- Water. Your water supply might be affected if you live in a flat or use a private borehole, where electric pumps are needed to get the water up to you. (Winter storm flooding and frozen pipes can also potentially cause problems for your water supply.)
Read more: What to do if your home suffers a power cut
Contact your electrician if you need any urgent repairs
If any outlets, switches or appliances have any minor issues, don’t let them become serious problems in the middle of your celebrations.
Reach out to your electrician and get them to come out while they’re still available; otherwise, you could be left waiting until the new year to fix the problems!
JC Electrical UK’s electrical experts can provide urgent electrical works for domestic and commercial properties across the Greater London area during the winter period. Get in touch on 0208 839 9561 today.
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