Why this is a separate topic
Our cities are statistically "greying" - in Wałbrzychu, people aged 60+ make up over one-third of registered residents (according to the municipal report on the state of the commune), and similar proportions can be seen in Świdnica, Świebodzice and Dzierżoniów. Behind the statistics lies a concrete reality: an older person usually lives in an older flat with an older installation - and is less likely to notice by themselves that something is starting to go wrong. A heating socket or an RCD that no one has ever tested does not hurt - until it does.
Seven things to check during your next visit to your parents
- Whether there is an RCD in the consumer unit - in flats with installations from decades ago, there is often none at all; this is the single most important safety device protecting life; if there is one - press TEST (it should trip immediately);
- Extension leads - under the carpet, behind the sofa, plugged one into another, with an electric heater at the end; this is the most common habit "from the days when there were few sockets" and the most common cause of overheating;
- Warm sockets and plugs - after removing the plug of a kettle or heater, touch it: distinctly warm means a poor contact;
- Lighting the way for the night route bed-bathroom - LED lights with a motion sensor (plugged into a socket) cost pennies, and realistically reduce the risk of falling;
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detector - mandatory near a boiler, gas water heater or solid fuel heating; choose detectors with a battery that lasts for years;
- Kitchen - whether a cable does not run over the cooker, whether the kettle is not on an extension lead, whether the old electric cooker does not "spark" when switched on;
- Whether parents know what to do in case of a fault - where the consumer unit is, which lever to lift and who to call; our guide in case of power cut is worth simply printing out for them.
What an electrician can improve during a single visit
- installation of an RCD and tidying up the consumer unit with clear labels in a large font;
- additional sockets where extension leads currently rule;
- lighting with motion sensors in the hallway and bathroom;
- installation measurements - after them, it is clear whether the flat requires only minor corrections or a plan for replacement in stages;
- simple conveniences: sockets with backlighting, switches at a comfortable height, an "everything except the fridge" switch by the door.
A remote visit - how to arrange it
Do you live in another city? In online booking you provide your parents' address, and the telephone contact - to yourself. The technician confirms the arrival for a specific hour, and after the visit you get the documents and a quote for any further work by email. Parents do not have to sign anything "on their knee" or make decisions under pressure - everything is approved by you.
Book an inspection of your parents' flat - an hour with a meter and a list of concretes instead of guessing. You know the price before the visit, you get the documents after it: book a date or call - we answer the phone 24 hours a day.
Download: free apartment electrical safety checklist (PDF) - what to check yourself, warning signs and when to call an electrician.
