Your home’s electrical safety isn’t something to take lightly. There are a few things that you can do to ensure that your house is safe from shock, fire, and more.
Tips for Home Electrical Safety
Inspect Your Home Regularly
Every month, check all the wiring for your appliances and electronics to make sure that the cords aren’t frayed. Small cuts in the wire’s casing can lead to dangerous tears and shorting out.
Check your outlet facing, too, when you do your home inspection. If the outlets are hot to the touch, then there may be faulty wiring and you’ll need to have a professional evaluate your electrical safety. Make sure that all outlets, even those in your basement or garage, have a safety cover on them, avoiding exposed wires.
Protect Your Investments
Making sure that your house has secure circuit interrupters is another way that you can protect yourself from power surges, especially during winter storms. These are a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40 of a second. It works by comparing the amount of current going to and returning from equipment along the circuit conductors. They’ll protect your home, and also protect the thousands of dollars of appliances and electronics you probably have.
Make sure that you’re using the right kinds of bulbs for your lamps and lighting. Those with too high of wattage can overload your outlets and lead to damage or a fire.
Don’t Forget the Simple Things
Other safety tips are basic. Make sure that our kitchen outlets are protected from splashes from the sink, and be sure to never touch cords or outlets if your hands are wet. Don’t overload your outlets, either. Especially in older homes, having a large power strip and multiple, powerful electronics can cause surges or trip your breaker repeatedly. If you need additional outlets, check with your local Frederick County, Maryland electrician to have them installed.
Take Action During an Emergency
If you do have an electrical fire, it’s important to understand how to manage it. Never use water to put out an electrical fire or a kitchen fire. Instead, smother the fire, with a bag of flour or something similar. Evacuate immediately and call 9-1-1. If you aren’t sure if your home is safe, contact Tim Kyle Electric, a reliable electrician for Frederick County, Maryland. Your family’s safety is our priority.