Understanding electrical safety is critical for every homeowner. Proper electrical safety precautions are easy to take and ensure that your home stays safe from power surges, overloads, and shorts to wiring or appliances. Spring cleaning involves vacuuming, dusting, and mopping, but consider your electrical outlets. Be aware of the electrical dangers in and around your home. Here are electrical safety tips to keep your household safe.
1. Inspect Extension Cords
Regularly inspect cords and plugs to make sure they are in good repair with no fraying or cracks. To prevent shocks, never cut off the ground prong of a three-prong plug. Avoid overloading outlets with heavy appliances. Use the self-test feature of an electrical outlet to test a circuit before plugging in heavy appliances or devices. Always unplug and remove all cords from the outlets before cleaning around the electrical outlets. Cover electrical outlets with plastic tape or foil after cleaning to prevent water from entering any slots or holes in the outlet and keep dirt out of their interior components.
2. Check Your Light Bulbs
Incorrect wattage bulbs can cause fires, as shorted circuit breakers can start fires. This is especially important for people who work at home. It is also wise to inspect the bulbs that you have. If you have burnt-out or nonworking bulbs, it’s best to replace them with bulbs of the same wattage. If you can, replace them with energy-efficient LED bulbs.
3. Reduce Clutter in Your Circuits
Overloading outlets is one of the most common causes of fire throughout a home. One or two small appliances can be plugged directly into the wall, but don’t overload your circuits by plugging in multiple appliances or other items. Overloading causes a circuit to trip and can lead to an electrical fire. Overheating from an outlet overload can also cause a fire. Check your surge protector to make sure it’s not overloaded, either.
4. Unplug Power Tools You’re Not Using
Spring is the season of cleaning, dusting, scrubbing, and polishing. Many homeowners use power tools to help with the cleaning process. When you are not using your power tools, they should be unplugged. If you are going to clean a specific room for which you need your power tool, unplug it as soon as you no longer plan on using it to prevent any electrical hazards.
5. Professional Assistance
If you notice that your electrical outlets, switches, or lights are not working properly, call a professional electrician as soon as possible. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself. It is important to remember that high voltage is present in electrical circuits and that even a small power surge can cause major damage. Hiring a professional electrician will help to ensure the safety of your family, home, and appliances.
It is important to maintain electrical safety throughout the spring cleaning process. Maintain full safety awareness by regularly inspecting and maintaining your electrical outlets and circuits and regularly unplugging power tools that are not being used. Our team has the knowledge, skills, and tools to assist you with your electrical needs. If you need any electrical services in Santa Cruz, CA, contact Fisher Electric today.
