Have you ever had to rush back to your house to check you’ve switched the water off or turned the heating out? You’ll appreciate a smart home.

Remote controlled appliances mean your white goods can be monitored from anywhere, cameras connected to your phone let you watch over your pets whenever you fancy, and voice assistants give you a helping hand around the house.

What is a smart home?

The term ‘smart home’ is used to describe a house that contains a communication network that connects different appliances and allows them to be remotely controlled, monitored and accessed, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Smart devices connect to the internet and many have smartphone apps allowing you to access and control them remotely over wi-fi.

It’s becoming easier to connect an entire home too. Broadband is faster, more reliable and more affordable than ever before. The improved signal range of Wi-Fi routers means that a single router can offer wireless coverage across more rooms in our homes, allowing more devices to be connected.

What’s more, low-priced networking equipment has made it cheaper to extend home networks into rooms that were difficult to cover using just a single Wi-Fi router. Even previously difficult properties, such as older homes with thick walls, can now benefit from a home network that covers the entire property.

What can a smart home do?

Using the technology within the house, you can control and see what is going on in your home, even when you’re not there using a smartphone, tablet or sometimes computer. For instance, if you’ve just got a brand new puppy and want to ensure they’re behaving themselves, you can install a home camera that allows you to check in on your pets whenever you want.

There is also the potential to make a big difference in the cost of your utility bills, as now there’s no need to burn money by forgetting to turn the heating off when you leave for work. By monitoring your heating, water and electricity, there’s far less chance of a large bill sneaking up on you.

Smart homes can also protect the most vulnerable in society. Some devices can trigger an alert if an elderly person fails to take their pills, falls over or is behaving outside their normal routine.

Smart home devices can also work together and for the few that don’t all is not lost, because a free service called If This, Then That (IFTTT) allows you to set up automated rules that combine smart devices with apps and information, like weather reports or your phone’s location. So even if devices aren’t designed to work together: your smart heating can switch on when you leave the office; or switch off if there’s an open window.

We will be launching our range of smart home solutions soon, in the meantime if you would like to know more or to book a free smart home consultation give us a call on 02393 100 260

Business security systems protect employees, assets and customers. But false alarms can result in unwanted fees and fines.

According to a report from London Fire Brigade, False alarms account for around 40,000 call outs every year, making up a third of all incidents for fire crews in London alone.

To cut back on false alarms and the cost associated with responses, alarm companies implement false alarm protocols. These are a set of procedures that monitoring centres go through to ensure the validity of a threat. Below, we explain the protocols for the alarms we install and how your business can benefit from them.

Burglar Alarms

If a burglar alarm is tripped or an emergency signal is sent from your business, the Monitoring Center will place a call to the primary telephone number provided by the customer. If the person answering the Monitoring Center’s call provides the correct passcode, then no further action is taken. However, if the correct passcode cannot be provided, the enhanced verification contact will be called. If that contact is unable to verify the alarm is false, the Monitoring Center will notify the police and an emergency contact.

Panic Alarms

Some businesses have panic buttons installed for employees to press should they experience a dangerous situation, such as a robbery.

When a panic alarm is signalled, the Monitoring Center will contact the police. After 30 minutes, a Monitoring Center operator will call the telephone number provided by the customer, or an emergency contact will be notified.

Fire Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

In compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements, the fire department will be notified upon receipt of the fire alarm signal or if carbon monoxide detectors go off inside your business.

The Monitoring Center will call the phone number provided for your business and ask for the correct passcode. If the person answering provides the correct passcode, the fire department will be notified and they may or may not choose to cancel the response. But if nobody answers the call from the Monitoring Center, there is a busy signal, no passcode, or an incorrect passcode, an emergency contact will be called.

For carbon monoxide alarms, the customer is instructed to leave the premises even if they have the current code, and the fire department is notified to check the premises.

How to Avoid False Alarms

We understand false alarms happen, but there are ways to help reduce the risk. Below are some tips to prevent the police from being dispatched to a business unnecessarily:

• Give everyone who will be using the alarm system, a code to arm and disarm the alarm panel.
• Tell everyone who will be using the alarm system the verbal passcode to give to your central station representatives if they call.
• Properly educate everyone who will be using the system on how to use it correctly.
• If an alarm is triggered accidentally, the central station will attempt to call the number on file. Have your passcode easily accessible to provide to your central station representative to verify that the alarm was false.
• Educate everyone who will be using the alarm system about electronic verification and how it works.
• If using an entrance/exit delay to give you extra time while activating/deactivating your alarm, ensure the delay is long enough for everyone who will be using the system.
• Test and maintain your alarm system on a regular basis.

If you have questions about false alarm protocols or are looking to get an alarm system installed into your business premises, give us a call on 02393 100 260 to find out more.

The only guaranteed way to save money on your electricity bill is to cut down on the amount of electricity you use.

Sounds simple, but putting this into practice can be harder than you might think.

Here are our 20 top tips for saving electricity at home:

#1 Switch to LED Bulbs

They’re far more efficient than incandescent light bulbs, last longer and can provide a cleaner, more natural looking light.

#2 Install smart switches

There’s loads available, from simple timed switches to ones that can be controlled remotely from your smartphone. This makes it much easier to ensure that your electronics aren’t left on standby.

#3 Turn it off at the switch

Leaving electronics on standby means that electricity is still being used so they can be turned on at a moment’s notice. Turning these appliances off at the wall stops this from happening – you could even use a smart switch as mentioned in the point above! (This counts for your lights as well, an LED will reduce cost but turning them off will cut it completely).

#4 Clean the coils on your fridge

Chances are you’ve never bothered to do this. The coils on the back of your fridge can get really dirty which reduces efficiency, so aim to give them a clean at least once a year. Your fridge will last longer and cost less money to keep running!

#5 Keep your fridge and freezer full

A full fridge-freezer needs less energy to keep cold as the items inside maintain the temperature.

You don’t always need to do a food shop to make this happen – simply filling up a jug with water for the fridge will have the same effect, plus this allows you to always have cold water straight from the fridge, saving water when running the tap. To keep your freezer full why not fill the empty spaces with paper?

#6 Keep your fridge and freezer warmer

Turning your fridge and freezer up by just one degree won’t make any difference to you, but it can save a whole lot of energy over the year.

#7 Defrost frozen food in the fridge

Not only is this more hygienic to do, but the frozen food will also help keep your fridge cool meaning that it needs much less power to run.

#8 Be efficient when cooking

Use lids when boiling pans on the hob and make sure that you’re using the right saucepan on the right ring. This can make a huge difference, speeding up cooking times and using far less energy. Another great tip is to use the whole oven when you’re cooking so that the energy being used to heat the oven isn’t wasted.

#9 Wash clothes on a lower temperature

Most of your washing can be done at a lower temperature – like 30 degrees – and still, provide the same results. Doing this will help to reduce your electricity consumption as your washing machine won’t need to heat the water to such a high temperature.

#10 Air dry wherever possible

Tumble driers can consume huge amounts of electricity. If it’s a nice day, dry your washing outside or leave it to air indoors if it isn’t so nice outside. Be cautious drying clothes directly on the radiator though, as you’ll prevent the heat from spreading through the room, so your heating system will have to work even harder to bring the room up to temperature.

#11 Utilise the sun for warmth and light

The sun is an excellent form of energy, just look at the renewable electricity we generate from it! Keeping your curtains open during the day can help bring warmth and light into your home, reducing your need for the energy required to heat or light your house.

#12 Don’t boil a full kettle

Unless you’re making tea for eight people, there’s not much call to keep the kettle full. Not only does it take longer to boil, it requires more energy to do so – simply filling for roughly the amount you need to use can save you money and time with every cuppa.

#13 Purchase energy efficient appliances

This is an expensive one to get into, but if you’re upgrading appliances then making sure you get one with a high-efficiency rating will help save you money every day that it’s running.

#14 Generate your own electricity

If you’re really serious about saving electricity in your house, then investing in solar panels or other renewable technology is a great way of doing this. It will take a few years to break even on this investment, but you’ll start saving money on your electricity bills straight away as you can use the electricity you generate rather than taking it from the grid.

#15 Spend less time in the shower

Especially true if you have an electric shower and a water meter. Spending even a minute less in the shower every day can make a real difference to your annual consumption, although how much will depend on your shower unit.

#16 Set your thermostat a little lower

While not strictly saving electricity as most homes in the UK use gas for their central heating, setting your thermostat just one degree lower can have significant savings on your energy bill as a whole.

#17 Open the window instead of using an extractor fan

Zero electricity usage, plenty of fresh air and it stops condensation, what’s not to love? This simple change can make a real difference over the course of a year.

#18 Use the microwave when you can

Microwaves are far more efficient than traditional ovens as they use less energy and take far less time to achieve the desired results.

#19 Regularly service your appliances

Making sure that your boiler, fridge and oven are running as smoothly as possible is key to efficiency.

Servicing doesn’t always have to come at a cost, things like cleaning the coils on your fridge, for example, is free, but it can go a long way in making your appliance cheaper to run.

#20 The dishwasher may be better

If you have a new energy efficient dishwasher, you may find that it actually uses less energy and water to use the dishwasher than it does cleaning by hand. This is especially true when running your dishwasher with a full load, as you’d need to be able to wash at least eight full settings plus general serving and cooking utensils in one wash using as little water as possible.

L.E Electrical has been delighting our customers with responsive, trusted and professional electrical services since 2010. We are Portsmouth’s number one choice for electrical and security services in the residential and commercial sectors, We are experts in our field. We are available 24/7 for your electrical servicing needs. Get in touch with us today by calling us at 02393100260 or emailing us directly at admin@le-electrical.co.uk.

Christmas is a special time for celebration and should not end in tragedy because of the extra hazards that are present at this time of year. In recent years there has been an increase in reported accidents to UK Trading Standards for Christmas lighting products and in some cases, resulting in public recall notices by major high street retailers.

Whether you decide to decorate the entire house or simply just your Christmas tree, there are a number of electrical hazards that you should be aware of. Christmas is a common time for house fires, and a large proportion of these fires are directly caused by faulty electrics or electrical issues.

To reduce any unexpected accidents ruining your celebrations, we recommend taking a few minutes to read our Christmas electrical safety tips and advice.

Precautionary Christmas Decoration Measures:

Christmas lights are often neglected for a whole year and many are kept uncovered in the worst of conditions. If Christmas lights are left in unsecured packaging, we recommend discarding them immediately and replacing them with a brand new set. It is important that you thoroughly inspect and test your Christmas lights prior to decorating.

As experienced electrical contractors, we recommend following a few simple steps before you begin decorating:

Inspect Christmas Lights for any Damages

Before you begin to lighten up your Christmas tree, make sure you thoroughly check and inspect every inch of your Christmas lights. It is important to make sure you check for any split, broken or damaged wires. Exposed wiring can lead to serious injury if left unattended.

Connect Outdoor Lighting to an RCD

A residual current device, or an RCD, is a device which is designed to prevent you from receiving any potentially fatal electrical shocks if you happen to touch a live, bare wire. Connecting all outdoor lighting to one of these devices will not only prevent you from being shocked but can also provide protection against electrical fires.

Always Read and Follow Instructions on Box

Instructions are provided on or in the packaging for a reason. Before you begin to decorate your tree, make sure you read and follow all instructions provided. Some manufacturers may advise you to avoid placing decorations in certain areas, so it is important that you check these before you begin decorating.

Never Overload Power Sockets

No matter how tempting it may be, even if you are short on available sockets, NEVER overload power sockets. Overloading power sockets can lead to the socket overheating and can result in a fire.

Turn Off Lights When Leaving the House or Going to Bed

When you go to bed or decide to leave the house, make sure you remember to turn off the lights. It is common to simply forget to turn off the Christmas lights, however doing so can be very dangerous. If you feel that you may be forgetful at times, we recommend adding your decorations to a timer which will automatically turn them off after a specific time period.

Christmas Tree Safety Precautions

As we have previously mentioned, a large proportion of house fires are started around the Christmas season are caused by electrical issues. Most electrics simply require just a single spark to ignite your Christmas tree.

However, there are a few steps you can take to prevent your Christmas tree and your celebrations going up in flames.

Fire Resistant Christmas Trees

Nowadays, many people opt for an artificial Christmas tree. If this year you have decided to buy an artificial Christmas tree, make sure you choose one which is fire resistant. Alternatively, if you cannot find a fire-resistant artificial tree, you can purchase fire retardant spray which would ‘flame-proof’ your tree.

Keep Your Christmas Tree at a Safe Distance from Heat Sources

Make sure that before you begin building or decorating your tree that it is a safe distance away from any heat sources. Anything from furnaces, electric-heaters and lamps/lighting can quickly heat up and begin to burn your Christmas tree and its decorations.

Never Leave Pets or Young Children Unattended

If you have pets or young children around your home, we strongly recommend keeping an eye on them. No matter what you do, never leave your pets or young children unattended around your Christmas tree.

Regularly Water Your Christmas Tree

If you have decided to buy an authentic Christmas tree, we recommend watering it daily to prevent it from drying out. By watering your Christmas tree, your likelihood for your tree catching fire will be severely reduced. However, make sure to keep an eye out for any electrical appliances or sockets nearby.

Test Your Smoke Alarm Regularly

Although this should be tested every single month, we recommend testing your smoke alarm monthly to make sure that it is in full working condition. Regardless of how irritating or annoying it may be when you burn your dinner, never remove the batteries from your smoke alarm. The only time your smoke alarm should ever have its batteries removed is when you are replacing them.

Help Prevent Electrical Dangers this Christmas with L.E Electrical

The team here cannot stress enough the importance of electrical safety. Irrespective of the time of year, it is crucial that you take extra precautions when it comes to electrical safety to prevent any possible dangers.

If you feel you are experiencing some electrical issues within your home or property, do not take this risk this festive period. Get in touch with us today by calling us at 02393100260 or emailing us directly at admin@le-electrical.co.uk.

LED lighting solutions are slowly becoming popular in homes and workplaces today. Even though the costs associated with these kinds of solutions are higher than the traditional lighting solutions, the benefits you get to enjoy outweigh all the upfront costs. Many people are still in the dark when it comes to the many advantages that come with LED lighting technology.

Some of the greatest benefits include:

energy efficiency

LEDs are loved mainly for their energy efficiency. They consume very low amounts of power when compared to other traditional lighting solutions. Once can save up to 90% of power, depending on the existing lights and the type of LED he is using. If you have been using traditional lighting solutions, you will notice a significant reduction in your electricity bill once you start using advanced Led lighting solutions.

LEDs long lifespan

When compared to the traditional lighting solutions, one is likely to enjoy LEDs for a much longer period of time, taking away the stress and costs associated with replacing your lighting solutions every now and then. On average, LEDs can last up to 50,000 or 100,000 hours or more, which are more than 3x the lifespan of most fluorescent or even sodium vapour lights.

Safety

When it comes to lighting, the amount of heat emitted by a lighting solution determines how safe it is. LEDs do not emit any type of heat, which is why they are considered the safest lighting solutions available today. Traditional bulbs, on the other hand, will convert most of their total energy to heat, leaving only a little amount of energy for lighting. This explains why most of the incandescent lights are inefficient. Since they consume less power and all the power is used for lighting, LEDs can work very well even on low voltage electrical systems.

Size

LEDs are usually smaller in size. This makes them highly flexible and therefore easy to use in any area of preference. Some of the areas they can be used include in traffic signals, residential and commercial property applications. Modern mood lighting and also in circuit board lighting. They can be used together with traditional bulbs or alone to light a smaller device. They can also be used in a linear fashion to light as well as to create a striking view. You can achieve anything you want to do with LEDs.

Environmental Friendliness

Unlike many traditional lighting solutions like mercury vapour lights, LEDs are quite safe to the environment. Most of the traditional lighting solutions contain mercury inside the bulbs, which requires them to be used with caution when they get damaged. You do not have to worry much about LEDs after their lifespan because they do not contain any toxic materials. Besides, LEDs are 100% recyclable, and this helps reduce carbon footprint by a higher margin.

Durability

LEDs are made of super durable materials and they are strongly built, with sturdy materials that are highly rugged. This keeps them in great working condition for a long time and also ensures that they are able to withstand even the roughest conditions. They are also resistant to shock, vibrations and all kinds of external blows. This is what makes them great for outdoor lighting applications. They will not be affected by any extreme weather, rain, wind and also vandalism.

Advanced LED lighting solutions have better features and capabilities, and therefore the best to use in homes and workplaces. You will not only save money in the long run but also enjoy the best lighting solution for a long period of time.

L.E Electrical has been delighting our customers with responsive, trusted and professional electrical services since 2010. We are Portsmouth’s number one choice for electrical and security services in the residential and commercial sectors, We are experts in our field. We are available 24/7 for your electrical servicing needs. Get in touch with us today by calling us at 02393100260 or emailing us directly at admin@le-electrical.co.uk.

In this day and age, we are incredibly reliant upon electricity and most of our homes are significantly powered by this form of energy. Despite our dependence on electricity, it remains a dangerous commodity and any electrician will tell you that there are many electrical hazards in the average home that pose particular risks to children.

It seems that almost invariably, young children are fascinated by electrical appliances and electrical outlets. Little fingers like to explore these items and frequently they find their way into tiny mouths. This is scary when the dangers of electricity are carefully considered.

However, some of these dangers can be addressed and your children protected when the following ten things are known about electrical safety, electrical services and children.

#1: Use face plates to conceal all electrical outlets in your home. Avoid having any open electrical outlets and keep in mind that it is possible to use sliding safety plates for outlets that are often used and complete covers for those that are rarely used.

#2: When your child is old enough, start to educate them about safety with power outlets. Children should be taught never to put anything into a power point and that anything that has a cord attached should not be touched. Sometimes, the use of pictures and graphics can help your child to learn this. For example, a picture of an appliance with a circle and cross going through it can assist your child to learn that appliances are not to be touched.

#3: When your child is mature enough to understand and do so, demonstrate how to safely unplug cords; children should be taught to pull cord out of the power point by holding onto the plug rather than the cord itself.

#4: Ensure that all electrical cords in your house are tied up or kept well out of sight and reach. Keep in mind that a cord that can be tripped on presents a safety and electrical danger, so it is wise to invest in clips and other equipment to tie cords out of the way.

#5: Frayed and damaged electrical cords should not be kept in the house. In order to protect your own safety and that of your family, it is important to have cords in such a state of disrepair replaced, or discard the appliance – it is not worth the risk.

#6: Electrical appliances should not be kept or used in the bathroom; instead, items such as hair dryers should be used in adult bedrooms where mirrors are also found. In terms of electricity and liquids, it is also vital to teach your children that electrical appliances and electrical outlets should never be touched with wet hands.

#7: It is a wise, safe and educationally valuable lesson to unplug all appliances when they are not being used. Many appliances have colourful and interesting buttons and switches that children just love to get their hands on and experiment with. The safest thing that you can do is to keep all electrical appliances unplugged and well out of your children’s access.

#8: Electrical safety also extends to outdoor situations. Teach your children and do not allow them to climb trees in close vicinity to power lines, electricity towers or utility poles. Also, children will not automatically realise the danger brought about by flying a kite without supervision or near to power lines and towers; be sure to educate them about this and protect them from such dangers.

#9: Children are often fascinated by the power tools that adults use. They need to know that these are definitely not toys and in any case, such tools should be kept well away from your child’s reach. A good way to pacify a curious child is to provide them with a set of tools specifically designed for play.

#10: Even older children should not attempt to replace light globes. When your child is old enough to do this (perhaps as a teenager) they should be supervised and educated that a light bulb should not be changed until it has cooled down and the light is definitely turned off.

Electricity presents many dangers to children. Parents and caregivers need to be proactive in taking steps to protect their children from these dangers and educate them in age-appropriate ways to behave safely around electricity.

L.E Electrical has been delighting our customers with responsive, trusted and professional electrical services since 2010. We are Portsmouth’s number one choice for electrical and security services in the residential and commercial sectors, We are experts in our field. We are available 24/7 for your electrical servicing needs. Get in touch with us today by calling us at 02393100260 or emailing us directly at admin@le-electrical.co.uk.

Electricity is a wondrous thing. Unfortunately, it can also turn against us. So, let’s find out just what can go wrong with our household electrics and what we can do about it.

Common electrical faults to avoid

Lights Switches don’t work

If you move into a new property and a switch doesn’t do anything at all, it may have been disconnected. Alternatively, it could be down to a problem with the outlet, circuit or wiring. This will need the attention of an electrician. Dimmer switches that don’t work properly may be victims of poor workmanship or simply substandard.

Lights are too bright or too dim

There are two likely explanations. You may be inadvertently using different types of lights, with different wattages. Check to make sure they all match. Alternatively, it may be down to a bad main neutral connection. This latter problem needs the attention of a professional.

Repeated electrical surges

These can be caused by damaged power lines, faulty appliances, bad wiring or even lightning strikes. The surge may be short-lived but repeated surges can damage electrical components. Recurring surges are most likely down to an electrical device in your home, or the domestic wiring. If disconnecting cheap appliances or power boards doesn’t end the problem, it’s time to call in an electrician.

Dips in power

These can also be caused by faulty or substandard devices. This time, using too much power when activated.

The circuit breaker keeps tripping

Circuit breakers can be tripped by high-demand items such as hair-dryers and microwaves, especially if other items are used on the same source. Take note of what appliances you had on when the circuit tripped. In future, try putting them on a lower setting. Alternatively, don’t connect multiple high-power devices to one circuit.

Electrical shocks

Thankfully, most electric shocks are relatively mild but, even then, they are a warning sign. They mostly happen when a device is being switched on or off and may be down to either the appliance or the wiring. If you receive any kind of electric shock, no matter how mild, you should definitely call in an expert.

Light bulbs burning out repeatedly

There are various possible causes for this. Your wattage may be too high. Insulation may be too near to the light. There may be bad wiring in the circuit or mains. A dimmer switch may have too much wattage on one switch. Flickering could suggest a poor connection. Again, this may require the attention of an electrician.

Recessed lights turn off then come back on again

Recessed lighting is designed to cut out when it gets too hot. This is likely to be caused by either too much wattage on the bulb or the insulation in the ceiling being too near the bulb. If cut-outs do happen, check for excessive heat, as this can be a fire hazard.

L.E Electrical has been delighting our customers with responsive, trusted and professional electrical services since 2010. We are Portsmouth’s number one choice for electrical and security services in the residential and commercial sectors, We are experts in our field. We are available 24/7 for your electrical servicing needs. Get in touch with us today by calling us at 02393100260 or emailing us directly at admin@le-electrical.co.uk.

Electrical work is the only type of work that you cannot DIY your way through. Breaking down dry wall, painting and even fixing your toilet are some fun projects you and your family can engage in without hiring a professional. Electrical work is messy, but it is something that requires qualified and registered skill. Another reason is that electrical work requires permits and approval from building inspectors. When you need to hire a professional, here are some tips to help you through it.

Types of electrical work

Electrical work involves a vast array of tasks from rewiring a home remodelling to upgrading electrical outlets. Depending on the kind of client, services fit into broad categories such as domestic, landlord or management agencies and commercial types of services. All these projects require the involvement of electricians alongside other trade professionals to achieve the desired objectives. For domestic projects, qualified electricians will perform services such as the installation of consumer units, replacement of light fixtures and sockets, installation of smoke alarms, cooker circuits and stoves and installation of external light fixtures. Electricians also perform emergency house calls and other pressing tasks such as inspections and tests. For the commercial and letting projects, electricians perform PAT testing of the portable electrical appliances and performing an electrical installation condition report.

Licensing and qualifications

All electricians should be qualified, certified and licensed in the latest safety and regulation laws. According to the building regulations covering England and Wales, Part P entails that anyone that performs electrical services must ensure that their work protects the people from fire and electrical shock. Ensure that the company you hire have staff that are compliant with safety and regulation laws and that they have acquired the relevant accreditations to work on the type of project you have. Also, ensure that they have current licensing.

For residents of Portsmouth, you can refer to NICEIC for a list of verified licensed electrician companies. To identify a qualified electrician in Portsmouth, you can find out if they are a master electrician or a journeyman electrician. The difference is that the master electrician has passed a standardised test, has at least two years of experience and is qualified to design and install an electrical system to your project. A journeyman, on the other hand, can perform mechanical installations but they are not licensed.

Always work with a professional whose work is efficient, neat and relevant job experience. The electricians should be fully insured and have a warranty that covers any damaged parts or work that was incomplete. L.E Electrical has been delighting our customers with responsive, trusted and professional electrical services since 2010. We are Portsmouth’s number one choice for electrical and security services in the residential and commercial sectors, We are experts in our field. We are available 24/7 for your electrical servicing needs. Get in touch with us today by calling us at 02393100260 or emailing us directly at admin@le-electrical.co.uk.

Are you concerned about choosing the right man for the job?

There’s a little more to choosing the right electrical contractor than just tracking someone down and throwing money at them to get the job over and done with. In fact, if you’re careless about who you hire or what you try to do yourself, it could easily end up burning your house down or really hurting someone.

Choosing a tradesman can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for.

 

Consider the following:

• whether you need an electrician in the first place
• what sort of work is being done
• whether the electrician is licensed and registered as an electrical contractor
• where the electrician is based
• how reliable and trustworthy the electrician is
• what the electrician will charge for the job
  

Below are the top 5 things to look for when choosing an electrician.

License and Insurance

The most important factor to consider when choosing an electrician is whether they are licensed. A license is your guarantee that the contractor has done the necessary courses and practical work to perform the job safely and correctly. Always ask to see their license, make sure that it is current and do an online check if possible. Make sure that the license held covers the type of work you need done. Some electrical licenses may carry restrictions. It is also important to make sure the electrician carries all the necessary insurances. Ask to see copies of current policies and make sure they have not expired.

Recommendations

A recommendation from someone whose opinion you trust can be invaluable when choosing any type of tradesman or service. Knowing that they have had a positive experience with an electrician, and been happy with the level of service and workmanship is a good endorsement. If you cannot get a recommendation then ask the electrician if they have any references. If possible, call and speak to the referee to make sure that they are legitimate.

Value for money

It is a good idea to get at least 3 quotes, in fact the more the better. Always make sure you communicate exactly what work you require and the exact fittings and materials you would like to use. Make sure the electrician gives you a quote with a breakdown of prices as this will make it easier to compare one quote to another. Choosing an electrical contractor on price alone is unwise as there are other important things to consider.

Qualifications and experience

Not all electricians are the same, many will have extra qualifications or experience in different areas of electrical work, and some may even have accreditation. Choosing a Master Electrician gives a guarantee that the electrician has at least 3 years experience and must offer a 12 month warranty on workmanship. Using a Master Electrician will ensure you receive the highest standard of workmanship and electrical safety. With the skyrocketing cost of electricity, energy efficiency is likely to be of interest. There are several organisations offering accreditation in the field of energy efficiency. An electrician holding this type of accreditation should have an extensive knowledge of energy saving products and technology.

Attitude and communication

Nobody enjoys dealing with a tradesman who displays a bad attitude or sloppy workmanship. Take note if they arrive for the quote on time or, if they are held up, did they ring ahead and advise that they would be delayed? Do they communicate with you? You need to be confident that you understand each other so that there are no miscommunications during the project. A professional appearance and attitude is usually reflected in the quality of the workmanship provided.

Keeping these points in mind will help when trying to choose the right electrician for you.
Look online for a list of electricians in your local area.

L.E Electrical has been delighting our customers with responsive, trusted and professional electrical services since 2010. We are Portsmouth’s number one choice for electrical and security services in the residential and commercial sectors, We are experts in our field. We are available 24/7 for your electrical servicing needs. Get in touch with us today by calling us at 02393100260 or emailing us directly at admin@le-electrical.co.uk.