2 minute read
Be a Bright Spark” – advice from Alto Electrical
Be a Bright Spark HEED ALTO ELECTRICAL’S SOUND ADVICE
BY COLEEN EVERITT, ALTO ELECTRICAL LIMITED
Since the current lockdown started,
people have had lots of time on their hands and we have seen a huge surge in people trying their hand at DIY. What’s more, we have also seen a surge in calls to correct DIY work over the lockdown period, from unsuccessful light replacements, to drilling through cables! We try and assess the damage over the phone and will either attend the same day, if it is an emergency, or book the job in to the diary if it is not urgent.
Some tips on how to avoid DIY disasters:
■ When drilling, avoid “electrical safe zones”. These are horizontal and vertical from any electrical fitting, and can be on either side of the wall. The top six inches of the wall, next to the ceiling, and six inches from any corners are all safe zones. If you drill here, you risk going through a cable.
If you have a go at something, and don’t get it quite right, call in a professional, but just be honest! You’re not going to get into trouble, and knowing where to look for a fault can save a lot of time, therefore costing less when the bill comes in.
If you are going to change an electrical fitting, make sure you identify your cables before taking the old fitting off, and make sure you tighten your terminals properly. Loose connections are the biggest cause of electrical house fires. If you don’t know how to do something, ask for professional advice. Alto Electrical are always happy to advise and all advice is free!
Finally, a lovely recommendation
Local villager, Matt Homewood, has been working on a massive self-build extension on his home in Tongue End, near Bourne, and before even starting, he had consulted with Alto Electrical and had his home tested to see what wiring he would be able to keep, and which parts would need to be upgraded. Working with Matt every step of the way, Alto Electrical regularly inspected and, in some cases, altered Matt’s work. And when the cables were in and ready to go, it was Alto Electrical who made the final terminations, tested the installation, and notified building control of the work. Matt explains: “When I was choosing an electrician for my self-build, I was looking for someone who was reasonably priced and who I could work with during the various phases of building. Alto have been excellent, their standard of work is fantastic, they are prompt, tidy, the staff were most accommodating, and the price was right. If I need any advice, I know I can ring if needed. I cannot recommend them highly enough.”
