Extension lead safety check in Exeter
Professional extension lead safety check services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Extension leads checked for safety issues. I'll assess overloading, check for damage, identify fire risks, and explain safe usage - peace of mind that your extension leads aren't a hazard.
Extension Leads Cause Fires
Fact: Overloaded extension leads cause hundreds of house fires every year. Most people have no idea they're overloading them.
Four-way extension. Kettle, heater, laptop charger, phone charger. Looks fine. Actually pulling 23A through a 13A rated lead. Cables getting hot. Fire risk building.
💡 It's not obvious until something melts or catches fire. That's why a safety check matters.
What I'm Checking
| Risk | What To Look For | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Overloading | Total power draw vs lead rating | Cables overheat, fire risk |
| Physical damage | Frayed cables, cracked casings | Exposed wires, shock risk |
| Daisy-chaining | Extension leads plugged into each other | Multiplies overload risk |
| Poor positioning | Under carpets, through doors | Cable damage, trip hazard |
Common Problems I Find
🔌 The Kettle + Heater Combo
- Both high-power items
- Together they exceed 13A
- Extension lead getting hot
- Fix: Each needs own wall socket
🔌 Daisy Chain of Death
- Extension lead into extension lead
- Creates overload potential
- Often hidden behind furniture
- Fix: Single lead from wall socket
🔌 Buried Extension Lead
- Under carpet, behind sofa
- Cable can't dissipate heat
- Damage from furniture weight
- Fix: Route properly or get shorter lead
🔌 Ancient Damaged Lead
- Cracked casing
- Frayed cable
- Loose sockets
- Fix: Replace it, not worth the risk
What You Get
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Inspect | Check every extension lead you're using |
| Test | Calculate power draw, identify overloads |
| Advise | Flag dangerous situations, explain fixes |
| Educate | Show you how to use extension leads safely |
📦 You're Left With
- Knowledge of which leads are safe
- Understanding of overloading
- Safer setup
- Reduced fire risk
Pricing Guide
| What's Checked | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Home extension lead safety check | 30-45 mins | £60 |
| Including advice on better setup | 45 mins | £60-£85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after.
This Service Is Perfect If...
✅ Lots of extension leads - want to know they're safe
✅ High-power devices - heaters, kettles, tools
✅ Elderly relatives - checking they're safe
✅ Rental properties - landlord ensuring safety
Why Choose Us for Extension lead safety check in Exeter?
Overloading issues identified
Damaged leads flagged for replacement
Safe usage explained clearly
Fire risk reduced significantly
What to Expect
Step 1: Find All Extension Leads
Go through your home identifying every extension lead in use. Check what's plugged into each one.
Step 2: Calculate & Inspect
Work out power draw for each lead. Check physical condition. Identify any daisy-chaining or risky positioning.
Step 3: Advise & Explain
Flag any dangerous situations. Explain which leads should be replaced, what shouldn't be plugged where, and how to use extension leads safely going forward.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to check your own extension leads? Here's what to look for:
🔧 Check for physical damage
- Frayed or damaged cables
- Cracked socket housing
- Loose or wobbly sockets
- Exposed wires anywhere
- Cable showing copper
📐 Check for overloading
- Find the rating on the extension lead (usually 13A total)
- Add up what's plugged in:
- Kettle: 13A
- Heater: 10-13A
- Vacuum: 9-12A
- Hair dryer: 10A
- Laptop: 3-5A
- Phone charger: 1A
- TV: 1-2A
- If total exceeds 13A, you're overloading it
⚠️ Never do this
- Plug extension leads into each other (daisy-chaining)
- Run cables under carpets or rugs
- Use damaged extension leads
- Plug heaters/kettles into same extension lead
- Coil up cable when in use (traps heat)
💡 Pro trick: If an extension lead feels warm to touch when in use, it's overloaded. Unplug some items immediately. Extension leads should stay cool. If they're getting warm, you're pulling too much power through them.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 The 13A rule: Most extension leads (and UK plugs) are rated 13A maximum. A single kettle uses 13A. A heater uses 10-13A. That means one high-power item per extension lead, max. Everything else needs wall sockets.
Surge protectors: These protect against voltage spikes but don't increase the power capacity. A surge-protected extension lead is still only rated 13A total.
"Individual switches": Extension leads with switches for each socket are handy but don't change the 13A total limit. You still can't exceed 13A across all sockets combined.
Power strips vs extension leads: Same rules apply. Four-way bar, six-way block, tower - all have 13A total capacity regardless of how many sockets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are you checking for?
Overloading (too much power draw for the lead's rating), physical damage (frayed cables, cracked sockets, exposed wires), daisy-chaining (plugging extension leads into each other), unsafe positioning (under carpets, through doorways), and general fire risks. Basically making sure your extension leads aren't a hazard.
How do you know if an extension lead is overloaded?
Check the rating (usually 13A total for the whole lead), then add up what's plugged into it. Kettle, heater, or power tool can each pull 10-13A alone - means they need their own plug. Laptops and phone chargers pull very little. I'll show you how to work it out.
Will I need to replace my extension leads?
Only if they're damaged or genuinely dangerous. Most problems are about how they're being used (overloading, daisy-chaining) rather than the leads themselves. I'll advise what's safe to keep and what should be replaced.
Can't I just look at them myself?
You can - and you should. But most people don't know what to look for beyond obvious damage. Overloading is the big one people miss, and it's the most common cause of electrical fires from extension leads.
Is this just for old extension leads?
No - new ones can be misused just as easily. This is more about checking how you're using them rather than their age. Though old damaged ones obviously need replacing.
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