These days, our homes are filled with more technology and electrical gadgets than ever before.
These electrical items are often expensive. A computer, TV or any piece of smart equipment can easily cost over £1,000 per item. So, when you add it all together, the total can be impressive!
Not only are electrical items pricey, but they’re also often essential to our day-to-day lives. If a gadget gets lost, damaged or worse, it can be a huge inconvenience to put things right.
That’s why it pays to take care of your kit with these top tips:
Keep it clean
Dust, dirt and crumbs can play havoc with our electrical devices – but keep them clean, and you could help preserve their life.
With electronic gadgets, it’s important to clean them correctly. Never use water or soap to clean your technology as this will cause even more damage.
Instead, for items like phones or laptops, make sure they’re unplugged, then wipe the screen and the keypad gently with a specialist wipe or a microfibre cloth.
You can also use a can of compressed air or a soft brush to remove stubborn crumbs or bits of dirt from tricky nooks and crannies.
Protect your tech
Screen protectors, mobile phone and laptop cases can all help to protect your device from damage. It can even be as simple as having a designated basket for storing the remote control.
If everything gets put away properly at the end of the day, then it will stand a much better chance of staying in tip-top condition.
Don’t overload your sockets
All this tech needs to get its power from somewhere, but it’s important to avoid overheating which could damage your device or, worse, lead to an electrical fire in your home.
Don’t leave devices charging unattended, overnight, or for longer than they need to – and never overload sockets or extension leads by plugging in too many devices or exceeding the power limit.
One other option is to consider investing in a power surge protector for your home. This can help prevent damage caused by sudden, unexpected power surges due to events like lightning strikes.
Invest in security devices
Protect your gadgets with … more gadgets? Yes, we know, it’s ironic, but household security devices such as CCTV, doorbell cameras, alarms, motion-activated lights and more can all help to deter burglars from attempting to enter your home.
That said, it’s also important to make sure you get the basics right, such as having a secure door lock.
Consider forensic marking
If thieves do manage to get their hands on your goods, forensic marking can make it harder for them to sell the items on and may mean the police are able to return the items to you if they’re found.
The Metropolitan Police recommend using a special marker that’s only visible under Ultraviolet (UV) light to write your house number and postcode on expensive items such as TVs or games consoles. It’s also a good idea to keep receipts for recent electrical purchases, and to take photos of items in your home.
Make sure you’re insured
Lastly, if the worst should happen, you’ll want to know you have the right contents insurance in place to cover your electronic devices.
Check your policy documents carefully and make sure you have enough cover, as the cost of electrical items can soon add-up.
You may also want to add optional extras such as Accidental Damage or Personal Possessions cover to your policy.
Accidental Damage will cover your items in the event of an accident, such as someone spilling a drink on a laptop. While Personal Possessions will cover items when they’re away from the home, like your mobile phone.
You may need to let your insurer have specific details of high-risk items, such as computers, laptops, mobile phones, televisions and sound systems, especially if their value is above the single item limit on your policy.
And, don’t forget to keep your policy updated with any new purchases that get bought throughout the year.
