Government regulations to crack down on retailers of faulty electrical goods

Government regulations to crack down on retailers of faulty electrical goods

Last month, we came across an article by the Sydney Morning Herald explaining that fines may be doubled for retailers of faulty electrical goods, and we thought you might be interested in what it had to say. Why? Well, as always, your electrical safety at home is our number one priority. You might like to start by reading more on electrical safety at home here. But how does changing government regulations and fines for retailers impact you as a consumer? Well, aside from the satisfaction of knowing that any traders who are caught selling you non-compliant, unsafe electrical items will be receiving an on the spot fine of $1000, there’ll also be new protections for consumers put in place. Subsequently, the Department of Fair Trading will be demanding greater transparency from conveyancers, pawnbrokers and electrical appliance retailers. This means you’ll be able to request emailed, itemised accounts of all transactions for your future proof of purchase, should anything be faulty. While these regulatory changes are a major plus for the consumers of electrical goods, there are two other key considerations you should be aware of.
  • If you do have a faulty electrical appliance that causes a fire in your home, how do you deal with the problem?
  • What do you do with the faulty appliance and what are your rights as a consumer?
What to do in the case of an electrical fire Of course, preparation is key. When it comes to electrical appliances, testing and maintenance upkeep and replacement (if necessary) are vital. You might have noticed that electrical appliances can wear out pretty quickly. This is a result of both the materials they are made with – nothing is really built to last these days – and the heavy reliance we all place on our home appliances. In order to keep your family safe at home, it’s important to carry out routine maintenance checks or replace appliances when necessary. You’ll probably find that kitchen appliances and heaters (especially at this time of year) can be the biggest contributors to electrical hazards in your home. Just a reminder before we continue – have you tested your appliances, including your safety switches and fire alarms, yet? (You can find more on how to do that in a recent blog “safety switches part 2”) or alternatively, you can call your electrical professional to help. If a fire does break out, disconnect the power at the power point (only if you can do so safely) or you can switch off the power at your home’s circuit breaker. Using a Class C fire extinguisher, first coat the place where the fire started and then move to cover all other affected areas. Never, ever douse an electrical fire with water. You might be thinking ‘why a Class C fire extinguisher?’ Well, Class C fires, also known as electrical equipment fires, are contained using Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Dry Chemical fire extinguishers. You can find more information on the types of extinguishers that work on Class C fires here. Fire blankets and extinguishers can be used to put out small fires, and we definitely recommend having these on hand in your home at all times, but always call 000 in the case of an emergency.

What to do if you have a faulty electrical appliance – your rights as a consumer 

Faults are classified by the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission) as being either minor or major. A major fault occurs when an electrical item is significantly different from the description, is unsafe, doesn’t do what the claim said it would, cannot be easily fixed or has a problem that would have stopped you buying it, had you known about it. Minor faults, on the other hand, are those such as small defects associated with appearance. According to the ACCC, if you have a minor problem with a product, a business can choose to give you a free repair instead of a replacement or refund. However, if you have a major problem, you have the right to ask for your choice of a replacement or refund. The retailer or manufacturer who sold you the goods has no right to refuse to help you by sending you to the manufacturer or importer. Did you know? Your rights under the consumer guarantees do not have a specific expiry date and can apply even after any warranties you’ve got from a business have expired? You can read more on that on the ACCC’s consumer rights page, here. Of course, if you’re experiencing electrical faults or would like help testing your switches, smoke alarms and appliances, we’d love to help! You can give us a call on 1300 045 103 or request a quote now.

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Winter electrical tips to keep your home running safe and smoothly

Winter electrical tips to keep your home running safe and smoothly

Some say June/July is the busiest time of the year! With the rush of the end of financial year and the mid-year school holidays, you might’ve found yourself a little “too busy” to check your electrical appliances are in order, right? And now it’s August already (can you believe it!?) and the temperature is dropping (and finally there’s snow on the ground for all you skiers).

But did you know? According to NSW Fire & Rescue, more than 43% of all fire fatalities occur in winter, with about 56% of all home fires starting in the kitchen.That’s why, with the end of financial year madness behind you, it’s time to consider a few simple appliance checks to keep your home running smoothly for the remainder of the colder months, and to keep your family safe from electrical hazards.
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  1. Heaters

Data from all Australian Fire Services shows that the increased risk of house fires during winter is often due to higher usage rates of electrical appliances. And, as you might have guessed, heaters are one of the greatest users of electricity during winter. There are a number of ways to ensure your heater is safe for use:

  • Prior to use, consult the manufacturer’s instructions for service and maintenance tips.
  • Check that power cords and plugs are in good working condition (i.e. cords aren’t frayed).
  • Vacuum any heater filters to remove any dust build-up before use.
  • Avoid plugging into a powerboard, double adaptor or extension cord as this may overload and cause a fire.
  • Don’t leave your heater unattended, particularly in high traffic areas, walkways or in the presence of children.
  • Ensure a 1m distance to wet clothing or potentially flammable material.
  • If gas is your preferred heating fuel, purchase a flued heater to avoid the air pollutants produced by unflued gas heaters.
  1. Smoke alarms

Are your smoke alarms in good functioning order or are they merely ceiling decorations? It’s important to make sure that you have an adequate number of smoke alarms throughout your home and that they are in good working order to keep your family safe. Testing is as simple as pushing the test button to make sure it beeps.

Changing the battery at least once a year is a good place to start. Not sure when the last time you changed the batter was? Try this – change your clock, change your battery! At the end of daylight savings (March), change your smoke alarm batter when you change your clock, that way you know you are entering the winter months with a working smoke alarm!

But if you haven’t done it yet, do it now.

  1. Test your safety switches

Your safety switch is a safety device that can switch off the electricity in a circuit – in the case of a fault – in as little as 0.3 seconds. To understand the difference between safety switches, circuit breakers and surge diverters (and why you need all three in your home), you might like to read a recent blog on safety switches.

It’s important to test your safety switch regularly to ensure it is working properly. You can locate your safety switch in your switchboard (it will look like a circuit breaker, but will have a ‘test’ button on the front). You may find multiple safety switches in your switchboard and it’s important to test them all.

To test, simply press the ‘test’ or ‘T’ button and power should switch off immediately. To return power to your home, flick the switch back to the ‘on’ position. If you’re switch doesn’t change to the off position after pressing the ‘test’ button, call your electrician to have it checked further!

  1. Fire place

Nothing beats curling up in front of the open fire in winter with a good book and a cup of tea, right? But, in order to do so safely, there are a number of checks to do prior.

Firstly, make sure the chimney is clean and any matches or lighters are stored in a safe place, away from children. Secondly, maintain a safe distance from your fireplace (at least one metre) and never leave it unattended – if you have children or pets in your home, why not set up a safety perimeter by placing a screen in front of it when in use. And finally, remember to extinguish any open flames or fires before going to bed, so you can sleep safe and sound!

  1. Kitchen appliances

Who doesn’t love a slow cooked meal in winter? Nobody. Of course, leaving hot electrical appliances unattended, especially if you’re out for the day, is a major fire risk. So, it’s important to keep an eye on your cooking and remember to check kitchen appliances for frayed or damaged cords and plugs before use.

Also, turning cooking appliances (and any electrical appliances, for that matter) off after use can not only prevent electrical hazards and keep you safe, but you can save money on your energy bills too!

While conducting these checks yourself is a great place to start, calling in a professional for a comprehensive check of your home can be the best way to ensure your safety in winter and provide you, and your family, peace of mind.

Of course, if you’d like help installing or testing & tagging electrical items in your home, we’d love to help. You can give us a call on 1300 045 103 or drop us a note.