People with extension leads at home should make urgent decision

People with extension leads at home should make urgent decision A warning has been issued as more people plug in electric blankets, space heaters, and Christmas decorations Homeowners who routinely rely on extension leads around the house are being urged to reconsider their habits straight away. As many households begin to switch on electrical items such as space heaters, electric blankets and festive decorations, UK residents are being cautioned to use extension leads carefully. Households are being advised to be conscious of how many appliances they plug in this autumn and winter, as failing to do so could render their insurance invalid. A recent survey by the insurance specialists at Quotezone.co.uk found that 32% of Britons were unaware that unsafe electrical practices could impact a claim for damage or fire. According to the London Fire Brigade, one of the most frequent causes of electrical fires is overloaded sockets. It's thought overloaded sockets and faulty electrical appliances are responsible for roughly 7,000 house fires across the nation each year. Despite this, the survey revealed 53% of Brits confessed to plugging one extension lead or adaptor into another to generate additional sockets. In certain cases, insurers may decline to pay out for fires caused by overloaded sockets if they consider the homeowner was negligent or failed to take reasonable measures to prevent the fire from occurring. As autumn draws near, many of us find ourselves using more electrical appliances simultaneously, particularly as temperatures drop and nights draw in earlier. Numerous households will be switching on their portable heaters, electric blankets, dehumidifiers, lamps and fairy lights, but running too many devices at once can place additional pressure on plug sockets and heighten the risk of overheating, electrical failures and potentially even fires. Homeowners ought to be aware that the typical plug socket shouldn't be loaded with more than 3,000 watts. The wattage of a device is generally displayed on its label or plug, though as a rule of thumb, homeowners should steer clear of plugging several high-powered appliances into a single extension lead. This includes items such as kettles, irons, hair dryers, and portable heaters. Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings Should the socket or plug feel abnormally hot when touched, show discolouration around the socket, emit a melted-plastic odour, or produce crackling and sizzling noises, it's probable the plug socket is overheating, and all appliances should be switched off and unplugged immediately. Helen Rolph, home insurance expert at Quotezone, is urging households with extension leads to take immediate action and reassess how they use them if they're overloaded. "A lot of people aren't aware of how dangerous it can be to overload your plug sockets and the consequences that come along with it," she said. "As the weather starts to take a turn, households will automatically be using more electrical appliances like portable heaters, heated blankets, tumble dryers, and hair dryers just to name a few. "If you're plugging loads of high-powered electricals into one extension cord, there is a very high chance it could overheat. A fire that breaks out from this isn't automatically covered on your home insurance either. "Once investigated, if your insurer feels like there was negligence involved, it could invalidate your insurance and you may not be able to make a claim. We want everyone to take care this autumn and winter and be mindful of what items they're plugging into a single electrical lead." Always check that you’re using the right fuse for the plug. For example: - 3A Fuse - table lamp, standard lamp, television, DVD player, computer, mixer, most blenders, fridges and freezers. - 13A Fuse - washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster, iron. Average wattage of common household appliances: - Mobile phone charger - up to 140W - Electric blanket - up to 120W - Hair dryer - up to 2200W - Games console - 200W - Iron - 3000W - Air fryer - up to 2600W - Dehumidifier - up to 650W - Heated clothes airer - up to 2300W