Daylight Savings Checks to Prepare for Winter - Clipsal by Schneider Electric

The end of daylight savings this week brings to mind cold nights of curling up with loved ones on the couch with warm blankets and hot chocolate.

It’s also an important reminder to do a few extra checks around the house to make sure your home is also ready for the change in season.

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Safety first

It’s time to check that your smoke alarms are in good working order. Use a vacuum cleaner or dust them off to ensure debris is removed and press the button to test that it is still working well. The sound should be strong (around 85-decibels) and continuous. Change the batteries if needed or consider buying a new unit, all smoke alarms have a limited service life of 10 years.

Consider for a moment if you have enough smoke alarms throughout the house. Most fire services recommend that you install interconnected alarms in the living room, hallway and every sleeping area, which will allow them all to sound at once, alerting you no matter where you are in the house. This is especially important if you have recently renovated, extended your home or repurposed existing rooms.

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Let it breathe

Airflow can make all the difference to the health of a home, reducing moisture and letting fresh air in. Maximise the quality of the air in your home by cleaning grids and vents throughout. Do a thorough inspection of appliances such as heaters and ceiling fans and clean them if needed.

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Many ceiling fans such as the Clipsal Saturn Zen fan have the ability to switch to ‘winter mode’ which draws warm air up and redistributes it throughout the room.

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Heat it up

While it’s important to dust off and clean heater grills, it’s also important to check that appliances, especially those that have been in storage for a while, are in good working order.

Check cables, plugs and the unit itself to make sure it is undamaged. Cables shouldn’t be stored twisted and bent because it can cause damage to the wires inside, as the wires degenerate over time, it can cause arcing, which are one of the most common causes of house fires.

For peace of mind, talk to your electrician about installing the right kind of protection in your switchboard. Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) are a really good addition to any home as they detect arc flashes and shuts down the circuit to help prevent fires.

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Power it up

Powerboards have a way of filling up very quickly, especially in older homes or homes where electrical planning didn’t take into account the strain that modern appliances can put on a home’s circuitry. It’s therefore important to regularly check that sockets, extension cables and powerboards aren’t overloaded.

Teach children why it is important not to overload power points and to never plug multiple powerboards into one another. For peace of mind, talk to your electrician about adding additional power points and circuit protection where needed most to help carry the load, and incorporate USB chargers for charging devices throughout your home.

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Light the way

Our days will soon be shorter, which means often coming home to a dark house. Ensure you’re prepared by adding motion sensor floodlights or wall lights outside. Not only will it help provide added comfort and security, but it will have the added benefit of highlighting the exterior features of your home, creating a warm and inviting look.

Having the right lighting inside the home is also very important. Ensure stairwells and hallways are well lit and consider adding a nightlight for children and guests to make nighttime visits to the bathroom safer.

Switching to LED lights throughout your home is also a great way to save on energy bills all year round.

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Weather the storms

Talk to your electrician about the best surge protection solution for your home and ensure you help protect your electrical equipment and appliances from power surges and lightning strikes.

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Investing in a backup power supply will help your home stay connected no matter what; especially handy on cold winter nights or if you live in a rural area.

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Smart home

Imagine a smart home where the blinds open to greet the sun on a cold winter day, the bathroom fan clicks on as it fills up with steam from a warm shower. You walk through a warm the house to help the kids get ready for school, a soft light having gently woken them up.

As you and your family leave for the day, you simply turn to your smart home speaker and tell it that you’re leaving. The lights, aircon and unused appliances turn off, saving energy, and you leave knowing that you’ll return later today to a home that anticipates your needs and adjusts to your lifestyle, now and into the future.

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