Keeping warm

It is getting colder each passing day. Vendors have poured onto the streets with all manner of merchandise to ensure that the citizenry is kept warm this year.

This is the time to look for electrical appliances and check if they are still in good working condition.

In the event that you have plugged in you electric heater and switched it on but it is not working as expected, there are a number of places you have to check before calling the technician.

First, it is the socket itself; you can test it by plugging in another appliance and see if it can draw current. Alternatively, you can plug the electric heater on another socket.

If it fails to respond, open the top plug to check if the fuse is okay. Also check if the wires are properly fixed.

Where you are satisfied that the top plug is okay, then try to open the unit itself. Check that all the cables are properly connected to the heating element.

Common problems are burnt wires on the terminals of the heating element. In some cases you may find that the entire wiring needs redoing. In this case, you may require a qualified electrician to overhaul the wiring.

In some cases the problem may be with the switch that controls power in the unit. Some switches can easily be removed from the unit and be taken to a hardware dealer who can supply a corresponding part. It can be easily installed. However, where the exact part has not been sourced and the replacement part requires some modification, you may require the services of a trained electrician, as in some cases it involves calculations.

Just a word of caution, it is a must that when removing safety covers of electrical appliances ensure that the mains are off. This helps reduce the risk of electric shock.

It is my wish that you will keep warm using properly serviced heating appliances. n