NICEIC RAISES ELECTRICAL SAFETY CONCERNS AS HOMEOWNERS SPLASH OUT ON LOCKDOWN HOT TUBS

With hot tub sales booming across the UK amid heatwave temperatures, NICEIC has been quick to point out the associated electrical dangers with attempting to install home hot tubs and spas without enlisting the support of a professional, registered electrician contractor.

Unsurprisingly, amid record high temperatures, figures have shown, that with much of the British public now resigned to a summer at home, many are splashing out on a hot tub as a relaxing addition to their garden during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, by as early as June sales of hot tubs were up 490% according to eBay and almost every style was sold out at Argos.1

However, with electricians now being able to enter people’s homes for electrical work, NICEIC has been quick to advise the UK’s hot tub enthusiasts to make sure this equipment is installed safely and correctly by a qualified, registered electrician contractor.

Paul Collins, Technical Services Manager at NICEIC comments: “Given the recent spates of warm weather, it’s no surprise that a record number of Britons – many of whom have been homebound for months – are trying to get their hands on a hot tub.

“Although many of these items can be purchased with a 13 Amp plug, it may not be as simple as plug-and-play. It is very important to understand if the installation you are planning to plug your new hot tub in to is fit for purpose. There is a number of outside socket-outlets available, however, not all of them will remain water resistant with the plug in place. Having this ability is really important if it’s planned to leave the hot tub in-situ and switched on for long periods of time”.

“If you are considering going for a plug-in option you should consider having a registered electrical contractor check your electrics before you purchase to make sure you have an appropriate socket and the additional safety features such as a Residual Current Device (RCD). RCD’s have the ability to switch off the electric within milliseconds if a fault is detected. These devices can save life”.

“If you are looking for a more permanent solution you will need to have an electrician review your current electrics to see if fitting a new hot tub is possible. You may need to spend additional money upgrading your existing electrics before you can enjoy your new purchase. It’s really important to use a registered electrical contractor for this type of work as the Building Regulations may require the works to be notified to the local building control body.”

Using a registered electrician contractor such as those with NICEIC ensures carrying out electrical work is done safely and to the required standard. You can search for a registered electrical contractor in your area by visiting www.niceic.com