Electrical issues associated with working from home

electrical testing

Here at Walker Electrical, we are Preston’s leading electrical experts. From shops and offices, to student accommodation and industrial lighting, we provide a range of high quality, professional electrical solutions. As a result, we have produced this guide to the electrical issues connected to working from home.

What are the biggest electrical issues associated with working from home?

After almost a year of many more people than usual working from home, some electrical issues have started to come to light. For landlords this is something that can be a concern and it’s something that should be addressed as quickly as possible. But how can you ensure that your rental property is prepared for the extra electrical demands associated with working from home? And what kind of problems are being experienced? Well there are several including:

  • Lack of sockets
  • Increased electrical demand

Working from home and lack of sockets

It comes as no surprise that a lack of sockets has been identified as a major issue when it comes to working from home. Most properties across the UK do not have enough sockets or wall outlets to cater to the requirements, and as a result most homes are using more than 3 extension cables at a time. For landlords and tenants this can be an electrical hazard, as not only do the extension cables present a slip, trip and fall hazard, but they also present an electrical fire and shock hazard too. It is easy to overload sockets by plugging too many items into one extension cable and this can cause a lot of damage. While people have been working from home, this problem has become more prevalent, as more electrical items have needed to be plugged in at once. As a landlord, to promote electrical safety, and try to keep your tenants safe, you could consider installing extra electrical sockets, including USB sockets, which will allow more items to be plugged in at once.

Working from home and increased electrical demand

With people working from home, there will be an increased demand on the properties electrical circuits as well as appliances. Not only are things like the lights going to be used more frequently, but also more appliances are likely to be plugged in and in use for much longer periods of time during the day. In combination all of this can cause an increased strain on the electrical load within the house, as well as on the existing circuitry. This can speed up wear and tear processes and cause electrical safety risks for your tenants. One way to prevent any risks is to keep up to date with your electrical testing and maintenance routine. Always make sure to hire a professional electrician to keep your property safe.

For more information or advice about installation, lighting design, or maintenance, get in touch with the team today here at Walker Electrical.