That is why ensuring electrical safety by following these crucial tips is very important.
Regularly check all your outlets
There are many different causes of electrical fires in homes, but overloaded outlets are usually the main cause. In order to avoid dangerous faults, try to never exceed the maximum power consumption.
Electrical outlets usually power up to a couple of 120v. To make sure you aren’t going above this limit you need to have professionals regularly check all of your outlets in the house.
Never touch electrical appliances with wet hands
One thing you should always remember is to never touch any of your electrical devices with wet hands, especially hairdryers and shaver. Before using any of these appliances you need to make sure your hands are perfectly dry. Water can be very dangerous around electrical devices and if you’re not careful enough you can get seriously injured.
Wear shoes while using power tools
If you are handling outside power, it’s very important that you wear appropriate attire. For instance, if you are taking care of your lawn and using a lawnmower, you need to wear shoes. Doing this barefoot is dangerous since the blades can catch your toes.
You also need to be wearing other protective items such as safety eyewear, earplugs, and gloves. Wearing these will protect you from possible injuries.
Have a professional repair your electrical appliances
The biggest mistake you could make is to try fixing your own electrical devices.
Unless you have passed a professional course and have experience in the field, you can get seriously injured if you try to repair electrical appliances when they are still plugged in.
Believe it or not, but the most common injury is caused by people sticking a knife in a toaster.
If you want to get your home appliances checked or repaired, it’s better to call a professional domestic and commercial electrician, than risk getting injured. They will be able to take care of any damage your electrical devices may have and keep you safe.
Make sure your home has GFCI’s
Your house needs to have GFCI’s. That means that rooms with running water have to be equipped with GFCI’s or ground fault circuit interrupters. These will help protect against shock hazards.
GFCI’s are even a requirement nowadays, especially for newer homes. However, if your house is older than 40 years you need to have it inspected too.
Just because it isn’t required, it is still recommended that every house has a fault circuit installed for everyone’s safety. GFCI’s are usually required in rooms like kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms.
Invest in tamper-resistant receptacles
If you have kids, protecting them from potential injuries caused by electrical appliances in your home is very important. Kids love sticking their hands into electrical outlets and that can be very dangerous.
This can lead to shocks and can even cause fires. What you can do is install spring-loaded shutters to cover the outlets and protect your kids from getting electrocuted.
Make sure your lights are stable
The next thing you want to do is check your lights to make sure they are stable. All you need to do is pay close attention to the lights when you are turning them off to see if they flicker. If they flicker that might mean you have loose or broken wires that can cause some serious fire dangers. In that case, you need to call a professional to check this issue and fix it as soon as possible.
Never use water to douse electrical fires
If the fire starts, don’t panic and don’t try to use water to put out the fire caused by damages in electrical devices. Since electricity feeds on water and only becomes worse, you need to use a fire retardant chemical extinguisher. That is why it is recommended to keep one on every level of the house.
Read the warning signs
You also need to learn how to read warning signs. If you notice signals such as warm or loose outlets, or burning smells, you need to call professionals immediately. Lastly, make sure your electrical appliances are equipped with proper plugs, have complete cords, and that they meet safety standards.
other valuable tips:
House Heating Up? 4 Ways You Can Save on Energy Bills This Summer
10 Things You Can Do to Save Money on Your Home Energy Costs
Warm outlets, burning smells, loose outlets are a sign that something dangerous is cooking. If you notice any of these signals, call in an expert immediately to avert trouble before it is too late. Make sure electrical appliances:
Three-pronged plugs are the best
Last but not least, poor connections can be a cause of dangerous hazards as well. That is why many experts recommend replacing appliances with only two prongs because they usually can’t connect to grounded outlets that well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, to protect your family from potential dangers of electrical faults in the house make sure you are getting your appliances checked regularly so that you can detect any issues before they occur.
Image Credit: electrical safety tips by envato.com
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