Electrical Safety Tips

With homeownership comes the responsibility to maintain everything in the home. This includes the electrical. The following are some electrical safety tips that our residential electricians have put together for new homeowners to keep in mind.

Electrical Safety Tips For Indoors

• Warm outlets could be a sign of a bad connection.
• Never overload the circuits.
• Replace damaged electrical cords or plugs.
• Keep electrical cords and appliances away from water.
• Always unplug an appliance by the plug head rather than pulling on the cord.
• Never run electrical cords under doorways or carpets.
• Test C/O & smoke alarms monthly. Replace batteries if required. Learn more information about C/O & smoke alarms.
• Outlets near water need GFCI protection. Be sure to test monthly.
• Install tamper resistant outlets to protect young children.
• Extension cords should not be used as a permanent source of power.

Electrical Safety Tips For Outdoors

• All exterior outlets need GFCI protection.
• To protect the sensitive components inside GFCI outlets, an in-use cover should be used.
• Test exterior GFCI outlets monthly to make sure it’s working correctly.
• Only use electrical cords with rating for outdoor use and correctly sized for the task.
• Do not fly a kite near power lines.
• Keep tree branches clear of any power lines.
• Watch out for power lines when using a ladder or other outdoor equipment.
• When a generator is in use, make sure it’s not plugged directly into the outlet without a transfer switch.
• Never hang string lights over a pool or hot tub.

Common Electrical Safety Problems In Older Homes

• Undersized service for what homeowners required.
• Outlet count is inadequate.
• Outdated two-prong outlets.
• Dead outlets.
• Frequent blown fuses or circuit trips.

Our electricians would be happy to assist you with all your electrical maintenance repairs. Regular maintenance of your electrical system may identify minor concerns before they become expensive repairs.

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