Winter Electrical Safety Tips for Older Homes in Winchester

Winchester and the surrounding Hampshire villages are home to many beautiful period properties — but older homes can present unique electrical safety challenges, particularly during winter when we rely more heavily on heating, lighting, and electrical appliances.

Don't Overload Sockets

As the evenings draw in and we spend more time indoors, it's tempting to plug in extra heaters, fairy lights, and appliances using extension leads and adaptors. However, overloading sockets is one of the most common causes of electrical fires. A single socket should never have more than 13 amps of load, and you should avoid plugging extension leads into other extension leads (known as "daisy chaining").

Check Your Portable Heaters

If you're using portable electric heaters to supplement your heating, make sure they're in good condition with no damaged cables or cracked casings. Never drape clothes over heaters to dry them, and keep heaters well away from curtains, furniture, and bedding. Consider having a dedicated circuit installed if you regularly use high-powered heaters.

Test Your Smoke Alarms

Winter is peak time for house fires. Test your smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button, and replace batteries annually. If your smoke alarms are more than 10 years old, consider having them replaced with modern, interconnected units that all sound when one detects smoke.

Outdoor Electrical Safety

Shorter days mean more use of outdoor lighting. Check that all outdoor lights and sockets are in good condition and properly weatherproofed. If you're using outdoor Christmas lights, ensure they're rated for outdoor use (look for the IP44 rating or higher) and connected via an RCD-protected circuit.

Consider an EICR

If your Winchester home hasn't had an electrical inspection in the last 10 years — or if you've noticed any warning signs like flickering lights, warm sockets, or frequent tripping — winter is a good time to arrange an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This will identify any issues before they become dangerous.

When to Call an Electrician

Contact a qualified electrician immediately if you notice any burning smells from sockets or switches, discolouration or scorch marks around electrical fittings, frequent tripping of your consumer unit, sparking when you plug in or unplug appliances, or any exposed wiring.

Orsidaen Electrical Services provides 24/7 emergency call-outs across Winchester and all surrounding areas. For non-urgent enquiries or to book an EICR, call us on 07801 201783.