Category: Appliances

If you are going camping then you may want to take a few of your home luxuries with you. If you have electric hook up then you can often use a kettle or toaster without having to worry about boiling water on a stove or grilling toast on an open flame. These simple appliances can make camping a much more pleasant and relaxing experience and most electric hook up sites will allow enough power for you to run them.

When using any electrical appliance there is always a risk to fire. When camping this can be even more so, so it is recommended that if the appliance is over 12 months old you get it checked over by an electrician. Never leave an electrical appliance on in a tent when you are out for a period of time.

If you are going in the cooler seasons you may want to take a heater with you. You can get gas heaters or can take an electric heather. Electric heaters again should not be left on when you are not in the tent but can safely be used when you are there. Try and get one that has an automatic shut off after a certain amount of time or will turn off if knocked over.

If you are using electrical items outside then ideally you need to have an outdoor socket. You do not want to be using extension leads if at all possible and sometimes these will not work anyway and can cause the power to trip out.

You should always use a qualified electrician to install an outdoor socket and someone who has experience in this. The sockets themselves can range from £7 or ££8 up toward £50 depending on which one you want.

You may find it cheaper to buy this yourself or ask the electrician how much he would charge for the part.

If you are using a heater in a hot tub for example, then it will need to go into the socket outside as using extension leads can often be a fire hazard. If you do ever use an extension lead for the lawn mower for example, then you need to ensure that it is completely unravelled each time you use it and inspect it for damage.

When you are not using the outside socket be sure to leave the cover closed so no water can get in there. Ideally always use the socket, to start, with when you are in the property to check that it is all working as it should. The unit or the socket needs to be RCD protected to ensure that it will trip out and not give an electric shock should there be a fault.

Air fryers are becoming increasingly popular with members of the public as they try and find ways they can enjoy fried food in a healthier way. Many of these types of fryers require very little of no oil but still allow the food to be crisp as if it had been deep fried. There are a number of manufacturers that make these types of fryers and the prices range from approximately £30 upwards of £150.

If you have a large family then you will need to check the capacity of the fryer as you do not want to be having to cook twice for every meal you use it for.

Air fryers often allow you to cook a wide range of food from chips, chicken to pizzas. Most of them come with a recipe book to allow you to get the most out of your fryer and cook healthy meals that you can enjoy.

You can buy air fryers from a huge number of retailers such as the high street giants in appliances Currys or from places like B and M or even your local supermarket. Before investing in one, be sure to read plenty of reviews to find the fryer that will best suit your cooking style and needs.

Many of us rely a lot on our vacuum cleaners. You may use yours a few times a week or even daily and if you have pets then your vacuum will often be doing even more work to rid the pet hair. When a vacuum cleaner is new, it often performs very well, but quickly you may find that it starts to lose suction and is not picking up bits. This can be something simple such as a blockage in the pipe or the vacuum needs emptying but it can also be down to issues with the filter. Many vacuums now have filters that can removed and washed but it can still be hard to get all the fluff out and often it means you will need to replace them. Before purchasing your vacuum, have a look at the cost of replacing the filters and consider getting one or two spare in case you do need to try and wash them.

Although vacuums will be covered by a 12 months warranty from new, they will not cover issues with the filter so this is something to bear in mind. You may want to read reviews before buying your next vacuum as some have common issues with the filters which can end up costing you more over time.

With many of us going all out over the festive period with Christmas tree lights, lights outside the house and moving decorations, it is easy to see why more electrical faults happen during this time of year. With people buying electrical goods online or in shops, they may not always realise that not all comply with the EU standards and may not have been vigorously tested to ensure they are safe. Even the ones that have been tested can still fail so it is important that you follow your own set of rules to try and eliminate accidents happening.

Never leave Christmas lights / decorations plugged in when you leave the house. You may not like to have to turn everything off when you are out but if a fire broke out and no one was in, then it may not be noticed for quite some time and already of done a lot of damage. The same goes for when you go to bed and are less likely to see if there is a problem.

Always buy electrical goods off a reputable firm and try and check for the label which states it has been tested and is safe to use. Always read the instructions that come with the item and only use it as suggested.