People with extension leads at home should make urgent decision

Detailed summary

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…

Ensure…

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