Always Practice Home Electrical Safety
Home electrical safety should be the top priority in every household, especially when You consider that most residential fires are caused by careless use of electricity, or sometimes faulty wiring. Priority for every adult is keeping their family safe. Most accidents happen at the home, and that includes many electrical accidents. People take electricity for granted. Not just by flipping a switch and expecting the lights to come on, but also by not providing it the respect it deserves. Society is so accustomed to having electricity in lives, that people tend to forget how dangerous it really is. Without even thinking about it, appliances are left unattended, electrical sockets are overloaded and ovens are left on after the cooking is finished.
Electrical Home Safety Checklist
Caring about the electrical safety at home is not a difficult task, but it requires some effort. Below is a small checklist of possible dangers everyone should be aware of:
- In rooms where water and electricity is both used, for instance, kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, should be protected with a ground fault circuit interrupter
- Check the GFCI about once a month to ensure it is operating properly. This is done by simply pushing the check button
- Use the proper size and wattage light bulbs in every light fixture
- Never leave outlets or light switches without a face-plate
- Keep electrical cords in good condition, not tangled, not pinched under furniture, and not in the line of traffic
- Keep the stove surface clean to prevent a grease fire, and keep the area around the stove free of anything that may easily and quickly catch fire, such as plastic utensils, pot holders or paper towels
- Keep outdoor outlets closed with water resistant covers when not in use
- At all times use extension cords properly, and make sure they are in good shape, without kinks or exposed wires
- Never leave an electric space heater unattended, and never use one near combustible materials such as loose paper, curtains or furniture etc.
- Unplug and put away all appliances when not in use – including hair dryers, hot irons, electric razors, mixers etc.
- Never break off the third prong on a 3-prong plug. This may sound like a no-brainer, but many people still do this!
- Do not overload an electrical outlet
- Verify that outlets are in good condition, not falling out or loose and wobbly
- Use a surge protector for computers and other electronic devices
- If any devices gives You a shock, have it looked at by a professional right away )or throw it out and buy a replacement)
- Make sure none of the fuses in Your fuse box have been replaced with a penny or other metal object, and check all of the fuses are the correct rating. If you do find a penny (or any other metal object) where a fuse should be, do not touch it or try to remove it by Yourself – you could get a fatal shock. Call an electrician instead.
Electrical hazards can occur during a lightning storm as well. When a storm hits, unplug all electrical devices, including computers, TV, radios etc. to prevent possible harm from a sudden voltage spike. This is very easy to carry out in cases You have them all neatly plugged into a power bar, as You should. Just turn off the power bar and unplug it from the outlet. You could leave the power bar plugged in, but it is safer to remove it from the power source altogether.
Avoid using electrical appliances during an electrical storm. The intense energy of a lightning bolt can give You a shock, as well as damage the appliance. A MythBusters challenge proved that it is possible to receive a fatal electric shock if You talk on the phone, or take a shower, during an electrical storm.
Your entire home should be properly grounded. If You are in doubt, have it inspected by an electrician. A properly grounded house can prevent, or at least lessen the severity of many electrical hazards.
Home electrical safety is everyone’s responsibility. Make sure everyone in the household knows and understands these safety tips. And make extra attention that everyone follows all safety rules, especially where electricity is involved.
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