Man pours water from kettle in his kitchen

Electrical safety advice

Useful guides to electrical safety around the house, from plugs, cables and sockets to DIY safety tips.

Electrical safety advice

Electrics can be extremely dangerous and are the leading cause of domestic fires in the UK. Use our practical advice to reduce the risk of getting an electric shock or causing a fire at home.

Remember, all electrical work and repairs must always be done by a qualified electrician.

Illustration of three workers wearing high‑visibility vests and ID badges, each holding tools or clipboards, standing side by side against a light background.

Got an electrical safety appointment?

Here’s what to expect and how to get ready for your visit.

Bathroom safety tips

plug sockets are not allowed unless fitted three metres from a bath or shower
electric showers must be supplied on their own circuits directly from your fuse box
electrical shaver points must be a safe distance from the bath or shower
enclosed ceiling lights are safer than hanging lights
ceiling-mounted pull-cord lights switches are safer than wall-mounted light switches
never use mains-powered portable appliances like hairdryers, heaters, or radios in the bathroom.

Kitchen safety tips

sockets and switches must be at least 30cm from the sink
don’t leave appliances like dishwashers or washing machines running unattended
don’t clean or repair appliances while they are plugged in
keep your hob, oven, and grill clean – build-ups of fat and grease are a major fire risk
don’t store objects on top of microwaves as this can block ventilation.

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Young woman wearing a head scarf washes her hands in kitchen sink

Woman laughs while sat at a workbench in a repair shop

DIY safety tips

make sure your tools are in good condition and check their leads and plugs
use a cable detector to avoid drilling, nailing or screwing into cables inside your walls
use a residual current device (RCD) to cut off the power in emergency
turn off the power when working near electrical wiring and use battery-powered tools
get professional advice from a registered electrician: if you’re not sure what to do, don't do it yourself.

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Product recall: Hotpoint or Indesit washing machines

500,000 Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines have been identified as potential fire hazards and need to be replaced by their manufacturer.

If you have a Hotpoint or Indesit washing machine visit the Whirlpool UK website to find out if you have one of the models affected.

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Electrical appliance safety

Many people use electrical appliances (like washing machines and tumble dryers) at night, because of cheaper energy tariffs. This shouldn’t be a safety risk however, emergency services tell us that fires at night are more likely to cause serious injury.

Because of this it's important to make regular safety checks on all of your appliances, and take a look at the National Product Recall Register.

National product recall register

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Kitchen safety tips

sockets and switches must be at least 30cm from the sink
don’t leave appliances like dishwashers or washing machines running unattended
don’t clean or repair appliances while they are plugged in
keep your hob, oven, and grill clean – build-ups of fat and grease are a major fire risk
don’t store objects on top of microwaves as this can block ventilation.

DIY safety tips

make sure your tools are in good condition and check their leads and plugs
use a cable detector to avoid drilling, nailing or screwing into cables inside your walls
use a residual current device (RCD) to cut off the power in emergency
turn off the power when working near electrical wiring and use battery-powered tools
get professional advice from a registered electrician: if you’re not sure what to do, don't do it yourself.

Product recall: Hotpoint or Indesit washing machines

500,000 Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines have been identified as potential fire hazards and need to be replaced by their manufacturer.

If you have a Hotpoint or Indesit washing machine visit the Whirlpool UK website to find out if you have one of the models affected.

Electrical appliance safety

Because of this it's important to make regular safety checks on all of your appliances, and take a look at the National Product Recall Register.

National product recall register

Electrical safety advice