Home Electrical Safety Strategies to Follow to Keep Your Albuquerque Home Safe
We don’t usually think much about how we use electricity in our homes because it’s such a simple automatic action. Plug in an electrical appliance, and it goes.
But it’s important to realize that electricity is anything but simple and when working with it, you need to stay safe. Follow these strategies to keep your home safe:
1. Cut off the power
Knowing how to cut off the power at the circuit breaker box is a basic thing, but it can be easily forgotten if you need to work on anything electrical, especially if it’s something with some urgency. If you make this your number one before attempting anything electrical, you can reduce any risks.
2. Avoid lengthy use of extension cords
Extension cords are very handy have if you have temporary jobs, but you shouldn’t use them as a permanent source of power. If you find you are using an extension cord often, it may pay to have another outlet installed by a qualified electrician.
3. Childproof your outlets
This is something that is really imortant, regardless of whether you plan on having children, or you already do have children. Nobody knows who might visit, and if you are not used to having children around, it can be easy to overlook hazards such as power outlets.
Investing in some power outlet covers is an ideal fix and gives you peace of mind, especially if you opt for the spring-loaded variety that automatically covers the outlet when it’s not being used.
4. Don’t overload your outlets
Plugging multiple, possibly high-wattage appliance into the same outlet could be dangerous because each outlet is designed to put out a certain amount of energy. Try to rearrange your appliances so you can distribute usage over more than one outlet.
5. Warm outlets signal possible issues
If you find an outlet is constantly flipping the circuit breaker, or it feels warm to the touch, it’s time to call an electrician. Warm outlets can signal a bad connection that could lead to shock or fire hazards.
6. Check for ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI’s)
GFCI’s are responsible for shutting the electrical current from a circuit when it detects that the circuit has become a shock hazard. So, any room that has running water should be equipped with a GFCI.
In new homes, these are a requirement but in older homes, check that your bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry are equipped with GFCI’s. If they are not, get them installed.
7. Know when to call a professional
There’s no reason to get yourself into a situation where you don’t know what to do. This is the time to call an experienced professional. By doing so, you give yourself peace of mind that you are doing all you can to avoid accidents that could lead to shocks and even fires.
Check with an expert at Add On Electrical who can advise you and even do the work for you if necessary. You can contact them on (505) 804-9534 or visit their website at addonelectric.com.