With the nation reuniting with loved ones this Christmas, checking your household electrics could be fundamental to preventing any festive melt downs. And it is the first time Christmas hosts in their 30s who are most concerned about finessing the perfect Christmas roast.
Hexo Electrical Testing commissioned a poll to gauge consumer attitudes on keeping home electrics healthy and safe. When asked what the most important task was for getting the house ready at Christmas, 19% of the nation state that they get their electrics checked to prevent anything from going wrong with the oven when cooking for family and friends. 27% of individuals check their fire alarms and carbon dioxide levels, whilst 47% make sure there is enough food in the house to feed the family.
Within the poll, 44% of mums are most concerned with having enough food in for Christmas and 44% want to make sure that they have cleaned the house before the guests arrive.
When it comes to roasting the perfect turkey, 30% of participants who check their oven electrics ahead of Christmas are aged 18-34, whilst a mere 10% are aged 55+. According to the research report, participants from London (36%) are the most concerned about checking their electrics at Christmas, in comparison to 0% from Northern Ireland.
But it is not just the Christmas roast that needs to be monitored – with the announcement of 20,000 electrical fires damaging homes in 2021 almost 40% of mums state they have learnt how to check for faulty electrics this year with 19% who have already booked in their electrical testing ahead of Christmas.
When asked what they prioritised when it comes to keeping their homes safe from hazards, a staggering 38% cited checking their electrics as top of their list of safety measures at home. And the pole states that participants aged 35-44 are most concerned about checking their electrics to make sure their home is safe from hazards.
Michael Evans from Hexo Electrical Testing, states: “It’s great to see homeowners having a greater understanding of electrics in the home. Having accidents in the home can happen any time and as we rely increasingly on electrical goods and gadgets to enhance especially during Christmas, regular electrical testing is a quick win to ensure your family and your home is kept safe from potential dangers.”
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors ranked higher on the list of priorities to check, with 24% of respondents believing these to be the key to alleviating home hazards.
A spokesperson from Hexo Electricals continues: “We would suggest a check every five years to ensure that your electrical systems are healthy and in full working order. That way, we can pick up any issues before they cause a problem in the home.”
A staggering 19% were unaware of any electric hazards in the home, such as risk of shock from damaged sockets or fire hazards from loose connections.
“We would urge people to be particularly vigilant in the lead-up to Christmas, when greater demands are placed on our electrical systems thanks to the increase in Christmas lights, cooking and even having additional people staying in our homes.”
Advice for checking electrics at Christmas:
- Check for damaged wires and cables.
- Keep cables and wires properly stored, and away from children.
- Unplug devices and appliances to repair, adjust or clean.
- Don’t overload plug sockets.
- Allow air to circulate around electric appliances – don’t block vents.
