Leaving Farnborough for August? 4 Smart Electrical Checks Before You Holiday

August is finally here. Whether you’re heading down to the coast or jetting off somewhere tropical, the last thing you want to worry about while relaxing on a beach is what’s happening back home in Farnborough.
Before you pack the car and head out, taking just twenty minutes to audit your home’s electrics can save you money on your next bill and give you complete peace of mind.
Here are four simple electrical checks the Flodman Electrical team recommends before you turn the key in the lock this August.

​1. Banish the "Vampire Draw"
Did you know that appliances left on standby can account for up to 10% of an average UK household electric bill? Devices like TVs, games consoles, microwave clocks, and smart speakers constantly sip power even when you aren’t using them.
The Fix: Walk through your home and unplug everything at the wall except the essentials (like your fridge-freezer and home security systems).

2. Don't Just Rely on One Lamp Timer
Leaving a single lamp on a mechanical pin-timer in the living room is the oldest trick in the book—and modern burglars know it. If a lamp clicks on at exactly 7:00 PM and off at 10:30 PM every single night, it’s a dead giveaway that the house is empty.
 The Fix: Consider upgrading to smart plugs or smart lighting. These allow you to set randomised "away modes" that mimic real human behavior, or let you turn lights on and off manually via an app on your phone while you’re away.

 3. Check Your Consumer Unit (Fuse Box)
If a minor power surge occurs while you are away, an old or overly sensitive fuse box might trip, cutting power to your entire house. If that happens on day one of a two-week holiday, you’ll return home to a defrosted, ruined freezer.
The Fix: Before you leave, check your consumer unit. If it looks ancient or has been tripping frequently lately, it might be time for an upgrade to a modern unit equipped with Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) to keep your appliances safe from summer lightning storms.

4. Test Your Security & Smoke Alarms
Your home security is only as good as its power source. If you have a CCTV system, smart video doorbells, or external security lighting, ensure they are clean, clear of cobwebs, and fully operational.
The Fix: Press the test button on your smoke alarms to ensure the backup batteries are working. If your smart cameras rely on Wi-Fi, give your router a quick restart before leaving to prevent any connection drops while you're abroad.

An Expert Tip from Pete Flodman: "If you have an immersion heater for your hot water, make sure it is turned off or set to 'timer' mode rather than 'constant' before you leave. Heating a massive tank of water for two weeks when nobody is home is one of the quickest ways to inflate your summer energy bill."

 Need a Pre-Holiday Electrical Check?
If you want to upgrade your home security, install smart home tech, or just want a professional eye to make sure your wiring is perfectly safe, Flodman Electrical is here to help. Based right here in Farnborough, our NAPIT-approved, fully qualified team has over 20 years of experience keeping Hampshire homes safe.
Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation quote!