The responsibility to protect a house from all forms of hazards falls on the owner and everyone who resides there. House accidents resulting from electrical systems are risky and often arise due to negligence.
Thus, it is vital for everyone who has electrical devices and systems in their house to inspect and service them. Of course if you suspect there is an electrical problem, you should contact emergency electricians immediately.
Below, we highlight the most important tips for ensuring electrical safety in your homes.
Avoid Overloading Outlets
Overloading of outlets occurs when you connect more devices than an outlet can hold. Outlets usually can only take a certain amount of electrical load, and any more than that can damage the outlet or even lead to some electrical risks.
To solve this challenge, reduce the number of items you connect to each outlet. Check the wattage of each appliance and get the sum total. Then, compare with the outlet’s rating to ensure the devices do not exceed what it can support.
In cases where you need to connect many devices, consider power strips with built-in surge protectors for safety. Remember that overloading outlets is a danger to your house as well as the optimum performance of the devices.
Check Cords and Appliances Regularly
You should also make sure that electrical cables, wires, and home appliances are inspected regularly to keep the items, yourself, and the house safe. This is because when cords get old and overused, the wear can expose their inner parts leading to electric shocks.
Cables can also entangle when you place them too close to each other, leading to overheating and other potential hazards. Hence, it is advisable to do an inspection of any cords, appliances, and their connections before using them.
When you discover any frayed cable or faulty appliances, don’t use them until fixed to avoid making it worse.
Turn Off and Unplug Unused Appliances
A lot of people do not turn off or remove appliances from the electrical outlets when not in use, but this can also present safety issues. A sudden surge in voltage can damage plugged-in devices or even lead to fire.
Some devices will also continue consuming power if you leave them plugged even when they’re not turned on, leading to a waste of energy. So, this tip will also lower your energy bills.
Keep Water Away from Electrical Devices
Bringing water close to electricity may result in critical accidents like burns and fire outbreaks. Hence, ensure that electrical equipment and power sockets are kept away from wet areas. And if they are inevitable in such areas, keep them guarded with outlet covers.
You can also install GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters). When installed, they will cut off electricity when current leakage is detected. You can install these gadgets in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms to prevent shock and electrocution.
Childproof Your Outlets
When you have kids at home, it is important to keep electrical sockets extra safe to prevent injuries. Kids have the tendency to be nosy, and they may put their fingers or other objects inside open sockets, which in turn can cause serious harm.
A simple solution is to use an outlet cover or tamper-proof outlets, which are designed such that they only allow proper plugs to be connected. Also, you can use sliding outlet covers that open when a plug is inserted and close automatically when the plug is removed for further safety.
Educate Your Family About Electrical Safety Measures
Electrical safety is for the entire family, hence the need to create a safety culture to help everyone in the family remain alert. Each and every person living under the roof should know some basic ideas to avoid hazards.
Encourage the individuals in your household to be conscious of the uses of electric equipment. Inform them of the hazards of electricity, and advise the young ones to neither play with wires nor put things into sockets.
Allocate time to practice safety measures and ask them about it regularly. This will ensure that in case of any power-related emergency, they’ll know how to respond, like shutting off the power to cut out electricity.
Hire a Licensed Electrician for Major Work
You may be able to perform some basic electrical work around the house, but it is important to avoid working on anything you’re not knowledgeable about. Always seek the services of a licensed electrician for advanced projects, such as those that may involve house rewiring, circuit installation, and other problematic electrical systems.
Professionals are trained and they’ve gathered adequate experience to fix all electrical issues safely. They’ll also help to obtain necessary licenses when there’s a need for one.
Conclusion
Ensuring electrical safety is crucial to safeguarding your home and family from danger. With the tips above, you can prevent accidents and ensure safety. Ultimately, always hire electrical experts for any electrical work at your residence. This will help safeguard lives and properties as well as increase the lifespan of all household gadgets.
