Top tips for keeping safe

It is important to do all you can to ensure you stay safe and healthy in your home and out and about this year. Here are our top tips:

Candles – never leave candles unattended and always place them on a secure surface, where they will not fall or be knocked over, or are too close to anything where they can catch fire.
Electric blankets – if they are folded constantly it can break down the filaments causing damage. Also if any liquids are spilt on an electric blanket, we would not advise anyone to use it. Electric blankets should also be on a timer and never left on when you are out of the house. They also have a shelf life of about five to ten years so if you have had yours for longer than that you should consider buying a new one.
Smoke alarms – ensure you test yours weekly to make sure they are in good working order. Do not try to replace the battery on a 10 year long-lasting smoke alarm; dispose of the device and replace it. Never disconnect or take the batteries out of your alarms. If your smoke alarms beep on a regular basis, change the battery immediately.

Contents insurance – We hope that nothing will happen to your belongings, but things can go wrong. As Luminus is not responsible for your belongings, we strongly recommend you insure the contents of your home as soon as you move in. Find out more.
Going away – if you are leaving your house unoccupied, protect it from intruders by making it look like someone is in, e.g. using timers on lamps, asking someone you know and trust to pop in, and avoiding leaving bins out.
Fraud and scams – see our Scam alerts section for up-to-date information about local and national scams operating and how you can avoid them. Remember that Luminus employees will always show their ID.

Heating pipes – leave the heating on low when the temperature is due to drop below freezing to help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting should the temperature drop (know where your stopcock is).
Condensation – keep your home well ventilated to prevent condensation, especially as surfaces are colder in winter. Watch our Reducing Condensation video.

Winter driving – make sure you keep your lights and registration plate clean, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, and drive very carefully in poor weather conditions. See RoSPA’s winter driving tips for more advice.
Drinking – know your limits and do not drink and drive. See the Drink Aware website and the THINK! Website for more information.

Hot weather - see the NHS website’s page on Summer Health to make sure you stay safe and healthy in hot weather.
Cold weather - check out our page on Winter health & wellbeing.