Blog Layout

Electrical Safety Tips For The Holidays

Damien Taylor • December 15, 2021

The holidays are fast approaching and you’re probably excited to take a week or so off to relax.

Whether you’re planning a cheeky getaway or want to spend Christmas with your loved ones, you’ll need to do a little planning beforehand to prevent any festive mishaps.

Unfortunately, many people overlook issues surrounding electrical safety when planning their much-needed breaks.

To remedy this problem, we’ve put together some helpful electrical safety tips for the holidays to keep you and your family safe.

1. Don’t Overload Electrical Outlets

Plugging several high-wattage appliances into a single outlet at once could lead to an electrical fire.

Make use of all your outlets (rather than just one), and resist plugging in your favourite Christmas lights if they present any risk of overloading an outlet.

2. Protect Your Home With Power Surge Protectors

A power surge could cause a serious electrical fire – very bad news if you’re planning to leave your home unattended while you go on vacation.

To prevent power surges, equip your property with a power surge protector.

3. Use Low-Voltage Lights Such As LEDs

If you’re planning to host a festive dinner or party, you’re probably keen to adorn your home with a few sparkly lights. As with all electrical appliances, such lights carry risks.

To prevent electrical fires and keep your guests safe, we recommend investing in low-voltage LED lights.

As well as lowering the risk of fire, LED lights are better for the environment and could lower your utility bills.

4. Arrange Your Lights Carefully

If you’re planning to adorn your home with many different lights, you should arrange them very carefully.

Here are a few tips:

• Don’t hang lights with nails, as this could expose the wires

• Don’t use double adaptors, as this could lead to an electrical overload

• Ensure any lights used in your garden are rated for use outdoors

• Ensure that extension cords don’t present a tripping hazard

5. Check Your Alarm Systems

Remember to check that your fire and smoke detectors work before the festive season commences.

From electrical fires to Christmas dinner mishaps, the festive season carries several fire risks that you can’t afford to ignore.

6. Protect Electrical Cords

You’re probably going to be using more electrical goods than usual during the holidays. As such, it is vital that you protect cords from damage, as exposed wires could cause an electrical fire.

When plugging in a device or appliance, remember to keep them away from heavy furniture and don’t force them through small gaps such as doors or windows.

You should also avoid placing wires under rugs.

7. Turn Off All Appliances If You’re Going Away

However long you plan to go away, you should remember to turn off and unplug all electrical items to prevent fires.

Electrical Issues? Give DTE A Call

At DTE Electrical & Data, we offer premium electrical services to clients around Dubbo and the Central West.

Whether you require domestic or commercial services this holiday season, we’re here to keep you, your family, or your customers safe from electrical hazards.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch today with any queries or for a free, no-obligation quote.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Take your Bathroom Lighting to the Next Level

By Nikki Taylor • June 30, 2022

Picture this, you’re at a motel getting ready for your mate's wedding, you’re the best man and you need a shave. As you wipe the fog from the mirror you realise it’s near impossible to see what you are doing. The only light in the bathroom is a crappy low-voltage bulb that shines a dull yellow glow. Well, this should be interesting… After applying the shaving foam you start swiping your razor, relying on muscle memory to get the job done. Moments later you’ve nicked yourself… twice! You feel the sting. You can’t locate the cuts. You can barely see anything. You pull yourself together and power through with your trusty Gillette Fusion, hoping for the best. Later, you’re at the top of the aisle handing your mate the rings and feel something run down your cheek. It can’t be a tear; you’re not even that good of friends! You swiftly brush your hand to your face to find the shaving nick has reopened and you now have a single stream of blood running down your jawline. On top of that you discover the sizable patch of whiskers you missed this morning. The result - you will forever be known as the “scruffy friend” and will spend the rest of your days defending yourself against bad bathroom lighting. It doesn’t matter if you are getting ready for a big event, a night out or doing your daily 8-step skincare routine, you need both functional and beautiful bathroom lighting to complete the job.

Surge Protection – Facts and Myths

June 1, 2022

Myth Surge protector? She’ll be right, mate. Fact Without surge protection, you are vulnerable to a power surge damaging your electronics as well as your phone and cable lines. The cost of a surge protector is by far cheaper than the cost of replacing your flat screen telly!

How to Save on your Power Bill this Winter

May 3, 2022

It’s certainly no secret that the price of living only ever seems to be climbing and the chillier months send spending into overdrive so with the help of our friends from 2E Electrical , we’ve pulled together our top household hacks to ease your hip pocket this winter. 1. Check your windows and doors Draw curtains at dusk to keep the heat in. The best curtains are: thick fitted close to the window wide enough to generously overlap the window frame at the sides and long enough to touch the floor a pelmet at the top is even better Check out local biz Kool Trend Dubbo for curtain options. Consider window tinting as it can cut heat loss by half and is a fraction of the cost of double-glazing glass. You can contact local experts Vision Tint for a quote. Stop draughts by ensuring your windows and doors fit their frames. Use draught stopping tape or draught excluders around your frames or place door snakes along the bottom of doors. You can find draught stoppers at Bunnin gs. Or check out this adorable dachshund draught stopper from Dubbo Home & Gift .

Elevate Your Kitchen with the Latest Lighting Trends

March 31, 2022

The kitchen really is the heart of the home. Literally, the kitchen bench is the family confessional, boardroom, study desk, à la carte restaurant, and on Fridays, the margarita bar! It is high traffic often with lengthy visiting patrons so you really want it to be a space that you love and captures your style. To help you inject some personality into your kitchen, the DTE team has curated the latest kitchen lighting trends which will instantly elevate your space without the need for a full reno. 1. Mix Materials Experiment and bring modern together with ancestral materials to create a whole new lighting experience. For example, a glass shade with stainless steel or copper finishings gives a sophisticated yet edgy look to the room.

5 Ways to Spruce Up the Lighting in Your Office Space

By Damien Taylor • March 10, 2022

Whether you’re looking to give your home study a facelift or you’re hoping to jazz up the corporate office, there are plenty of clever lighting options that can elevate your space. See below DTE’s top 5 lighting trends that will make you fall in love with your office space, save you money and even boost productivity. 1. Suspended LED Lighting Out with the horrible office fluros and in with the LEDs! A really cool way to modernise your office space is with suspended LED lights - they are fun, functional, and easy on the eyes ( literally). You could hang them over your desk, over a communal working area or meeting room. They will instantly change the whole feel of the office, adding a professional and designer look.

How to Teach Kids Electrical Safety

By Damien Taylor • February 16, 2022

Let’s face it, it’s near impossible to have eyes on your small children all the time. And as much as we try to safety proof or helicopter they always seem to find a way to mess around with things they shouldn’t. Here at DTE we are dedicating the month of February to home electrical s afety advice, starting with our youngest generation. Here ar e some tips and ideas for educating your kids on how to be safe around electricity in the home...