Why this is a separate topic
Our cities are statistically “greying” - in Wałbrzych, people aged 60+ constitute over a third of registered residents (according to the municipal report on the state of the commune), and similar proportions are 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 when something starts to go wrong. A heating socket or an RCD that no one has ever tested doesn't hurt - until it does.
Seven things to check on your next visit to your parents
- Is there an RCD in the consumer unit? - In flats with installations from decades ago, it is often completely absent; this is the most important single safety device protecting lives; if there is one, press TEST (it should trip immediately);
- Extension leads - under the rug, behind the sofa, daisy-chained, with an electric heater at the end; this is the most common habit 'from times when sockets were scarce' and the most frequent cause of overheating;
- Warm sockets and plugs - after unplugging a kettle or heater, touch the plug: if it's noticeably warm, it indicates a poor connection;
- Lighting the path for a night-time trip from bed to bathroom - LED lamps with motion sensors (plugged into a socket) cost pennies and genuinely reduce the risk of falls;
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detector - mandatory near a furnace, gas water heater, or solid fuel heating; choose detectors with long-life batteries;
- Kitchen - check if a cable runs over the cooker, if the kettle is on an extension lead, or if an old electric cooker 'sparks' when switched on;
- Do parents know what to do in case of a power cut? - where the consumer unit is, which lever to lift, and whom to call; our guide for power cuts is worth printing out for them.
What an electrician can improve during one visit
- installation of an RCD and tidying up the consumer unit with clear, large-font labels;
- additional sockets where extension leads currently dominate;
- motion-sensor lighting in the hallway and bathroom;
- electrical installation tests - these reveal whether the flat only needs minor adjustments or a plan for phased replacement;
- simple conveniences: illuminated sockets, switches at a comfortable height, a 'everything but the fridge' switch by the door.
Remote visit - how to organise it
Live in a different city? In the online booking, you provide your parents' address and your own phone number for contact. The technician confirms arrival for a specific time, and after the visit, you receive documents and a quote for any further work via email. Parents don't have to sign anything 'on the fly' or make decisions under pressure - you approve everything.
Book an inspection for your parents' flat - an hour with a meter and a list of specifics instead of guesswork. You know the price before the visit, and you receive documents afterwards: book a date or call - we answer the phone 24/7.
Download: free home electrical installation safety checklist (PDF) - what to check yourself, warning signs, and when to call an electrician.
