Not satisfied with simply amplifying your music, smart speakers are clever devices that can do almost anything! From saving your shopping list to telling you the weather and playing almost any song you can possibly think of, gadgets such as the Amazon Alexa and Amazon Echo are becoming a staple device for homes around the country. Other products include Google Home and Apple Homepod, which work in a similar way, using voice commands to action your wishes. They can also be connected to other appliances around the home to remotely control them, such as lighting, heating and electronics.
Smart speaker safety
Smart speakers are generally very safe to use as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take a few sensible precautions before and during use.
Safety first
- Make sure you buy your smart speaker from a reputable retailer, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
- It’s important to register your new smart speaker with the manufacturer so that you can be contacted if a safety notice or recall is issued. It also makes it easier for you to return a faulty product or order a repair. To find out how to register any of your appliances, regardless of age, visit our Product Registration page.
- Use our free online Product Recall checker to see if your smart speaker or any other electrical items have been recalled.
- Check that your appliance has a UK plug; if it doesn’t, don’t try to use a UK travel adaptor. Get in touch with the retailer and ask them to fit a UK plug.
- Do regular checks of the plug and socket for burn marks, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) or if it feels too hot to touch. If you have fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping then contact a registered electrician to investigate.
- Any socket you plan to use to plug in a smart speaker should have RCD (residual current device) Protection. An RCD is a life-saving device that protects against dangerous electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires. If you don’t have RCD protection in your fuse box for your sockets, consider using an RCD plug to protect you and your property from serious appliance faults.
Using your smart speaker safely
- Keep your smart speaker away from liquid and ensure the surrounding area is properly ventilated.
- If the wires start to heat up, unplug the device immediately.
- Do not attempt to perform any sort of repair or alteration to the speakers yourself and instead find a reputable repair person to do it for you.
- If the plug or wires become damaged, discontinue use.