Electricity is something we use in some way all day every day. Unless something’s wrong with it or it goes out, you rarely think about it. But it’s important to make sure you understand some basic electrical safety tips in order to keep your home and family safe!
1. Never Leave Heaters Unattended
Personal heaters like space heaters are prone to overheating. If you leave it unattended, it can catch on fire, and you won’t know until it’s a bigger problem. Especially if you have pets or children that could knock it over!
2. Don’t Plug Space Heaters into Extension Cords or Power Strips
Most space heaters require a high electric current to run. Power strips and extension cords aren’t able to handle that kind of demand and plugging a space heater into one can melt the strip, burn it, or even start a fire! The safest way to plug your space heater in is into a wall outlet (preferably with nothing else plugged into that outlet).
3. Don’t Overload Electrical Outlets
At most, you should only have one high wattage appliance plugged in per outlet. Otherwise, you risk overloading your electrical outlets! It’s also easy to overwhelm your home’s electrical system during the holidays because of all the extra lights and decorations. Be mindful not to plug too much in at once!
4. Be Mindful of Power Strip Placement
We get it. Power strips and electrical cords aren’t something you really want on display. It seems so easy to hide them under rugs or behind furniture, but don’t do it! Covering power strips and electrical cords can increase the odds of an electrical fire. Partially because they can overheat, but also because people can step on them or trip over them, causing damage. Play it safe and don’t cover your power strips with furniture or rugs!
5. Cut the Power if You’re Gonna Work on Something
Doing some home maintenance projects? If you decide to work on an outlet, switch, or anything that receives electricity in your home, cut the power off before you start! This means going to your breaker box and flipping the switch for that outlet or appliance. Don’t start working just yet! Make sure you cut the correct power source first by testing the outlet, switch, or appliance you’re gonna work on to make sure it truly doesn’t have power. If you’re working on an appliance with metal tools, unplug the appliance before you start as well. Metal conducts electricity and you could get shocked!
6. Understand Electrical Fire Safety in Case of Emergency
You should never pour water on an electrical fire! To prepare your family and home just in case of emergency, have a fire extinguisher with a C-rating on hand. This means it’s meant to safely extinguish electrical fires. Water can conduct electricity, so if you pour water on an electrical fire, you could shock yourself!
7. Avoid Using Extension Cords Long-Term
Extension cords are meant to be used short-term, not long-term. They’re great for helping you decorate your home for the holidays (if done safely!) or other specific instances, but they shouldn’t become a standard piece of your home. If you have an appliance you want out regularly that can’t reach an electrical outlet, it’s safer to call Morris-Jenkins and have us install an outlet closer to the appliance instead!
8. Keep Electrical Appliances Away from Water
Be careful using any electrical appliances in the bathroom or near swimming pools and hot tubs. Water can conduct electricity, which makes water an electric shock hazard. Keep your appliances away from sources of water to prevent shocking yourself. Also, make sure you don’t touch any cords or appliances with wet hands for the same reason!
If you have an appliance that’s plugged in (even if it’s turned off) and it falls into water, don’t touch it! Go to your circuit breaker and cut off the power to that appliance.
9. Watch Out for Flickering Lights or Warm Outlets
Sometimes, a light bulb flickers just because the bulb itself is dying or isn’t screwed in all the way. You can try tightening the bulb or replacing it, but if it keeps happening, there might be a loose wire within the circuit or even the light fixture itself. It’s best to have a professional electrician check it out and get to the bottom of things!
You should also check on your outlets every now and again. They should always feel cool when you touch them. If they’re warm or hot, go to your circuit breaker and shut off the power to that outlet. Call an electrician ASAP!
10. Replace Damaged Electrical Cords
Do you have any power cords or extension cords that are cracked or fraying? They need to be either repaired or replaced! When they’re damaged, they’re both a fire risk and an electrocution risk. Make sure you’re taking a look at any cords in your house occasionally to check for any damage.
11. Keep All Your Cords Tidy and Secure—Even If You Aren’t Using Them
Even when you’re not using your electrical cords, you should keep safety in mind. If you leave cords out, your kids or your pets may play with cords (or even chew on them!). It’s still not safe to let children or pets get ahold of cords, regardless of if they’re unplugged. Plus, if they mess with the cord, it could damage it. A damaged cord could cause a fire or electrocution the next time you plug it in.
We recommend keeping your cords wrapped up gently (not too tight) so you don’t stretch them out. And never place them on hot surfaces! This can hurt the cord’s insulation and the wires inside.
12. Give Your Appliances Space for Air to Circulate
Electrical equipment needs space around it to breathe. Without enough air circulation, equipment can overheat, leading to electrical shorts and even fires! It’s best to give your electrical equipment space around it and especially avoid running electrical devices inside closed cabinets.
Did you know: Your clothes dryer needs to be kept at least a foot away from the wall to run safely!
When In Doubt, Call Morris-Jenkins Electricians!
Unsure of something going on with your home’s electricity? Trying to upgrade a light or fixture in your home and stressing about safety? Give Morris-Jenkins a call! Our electricians are passionate about this kind of stuff, and they’re safety professionals! We’ll check out your home’s electricity or install your new fixture the right way, and FAST.
