Leaving small electrical devices on charge overnight has been the cause of multiple house fires in recent years, so we are urging people to ‘Unplug to Unwind’.
Only large appliances such as fridges are designed to be left switched on all the time, so ensuring that everything else is unplugged before you leave the house or go to bed is a simple routine that could protect your home from fire.
To help reduce the risk of a fire in your home, take these simple steps:
- Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.
- Remember – one plug per socket. If you need more plugs than there are sockets, use a multi-socket extension lead with integral fuse, never a block adaptor.
- NEVER ‘daisy-chain’ extension leads or adapters – daisy-chaining involves plugging one extension into another in order to reach further or plug more appliances in, and creates a huge fire risk.
- Unplug appliances at night or when you’re not using them to reduce the risk of fire – unless they are designed to be left on all the time (for example, a fridge or freezer).
- Make sure you follow instructions for all electrical devices and that you use the correct chargers in line with the manufacturer’s guidance. If the wrong charger is used for an electrical device, the internal battery can’t handle a different voltage and it can catch fire.
- Always buy from a shop you know and trust, an approved retailer or direct from the manufacturer of the same name as the device.
- Never leave items on charge when you are sleeping or when you are not at home.
For specific advice for particular devices and appliances, follow the links in the menu.