Electricians in Crown Point, IN, Share Tips for Electrical Safety
Crown Point, United States - May 27, 2024 / All Services /
Practice Electrical Safety This May – And Every Month!
May is National Electrical Safety Month, a time to raise awareness of potential electrical hazards in the home and how to prevent them. Electrical issues cause hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and tens of thousands of fires yearly in the U.S., so knowing how to avoid these hazards can be a lifesaver.
Fortunately, excellent electrical safety can be achieved simply by practicing a few easy habits and making a few simple upgrades. This article will provide key electrical safety tips and strategies that every homeowner should know to keep their homes safe—not just during Electrical Safety Month but all year!
Avoid Overloading Outlets
An overloaded outlet or circuit is arguably the most common electrical hazard. This occurs when too many devices or appliances are plugged into a single circuit, exceeding the amperage that the circuit was designed to handle. An overloaded circuit can cause the wiring to overheat, destroying or damaging electronics and potentially starting an electrical fire.
To prevent overloaded outlets or circuits, homeowners should avoid plugging too many electronics into a given circuit – particularly if they have a higher power demand, such as microwaves, space heaters, and hairdryers (to name just a few). Power strips should never be daisy-chained together, and the number of devices plugged into them should be minimal.
Homeowners should always be aware of the load capacity of their home's electrical circuits (usually 15 or 20 amps) and be careful not to exceed 80% of that capacity to be safe. Most electronics will have a tag that lists their amperage or voltage, making this relatively easy to calculate. Of course, several outlets may serve the same circuit, so it's a good idea to know which outlets are on which circuits to avoid overloading them!
Install Childproof Outlets
Childproofing the home's outlets is necessary for those with young tykes running (or crawling) around. The best type of childproof outlet on the market today is the tamper-resistant outlet (TRR). These feature spring-loaded shutters are built into the outlet to block contact openings when the outlet isn't in use. Only when the prongs of a plug are inserted simultaneously will the shutters retract to allow an electrical current to travel through the prongs and power the device.
This design makes it difficult for a curious kiddo to insert a toy or other object into the outlet slots, keeping them safe from electric shock. Many tamper-resistant outlets are also GFCI-protected, which can further prevent electrocution by instantly shutting off power to the outlet when a ground fault is detected (when the electrical current takes an unintended path toward the ground, through a body, piece of metal, or other conductive material).
Installing childproof outlets such as these can give parents and homeowners extra peace of mind and keep the home as safe as possible.
Know When It's Time To Call a Professional
Every homeowner should also be aware of the signs of electrical problems so they can spot them as early as possible – before they can create a dangerous situation. Here are a few signs of faulty wiring or other electrical malfunctions:
- Lights flicker or go dim (especially when certain appliances are in use)
- Breakers frequently trip
- Outlets or light switches are warm to the touch
- Ceiling fixtures are hot to the touch
- Buzzing or crackling sounds coming from an outlet or light switch
- Smoke or burning smells coming from switches, outlets, or fixtures
- Small electric shocks when touching switches, outlets, or other surfaces
These signs indicate urgent and serious electrical hazards, so homeowners should avoid using the affected fixtures, turn off power to the circuits at the breaker box, and call an electrician to inspect and diagnose the issue. A trained electrician can handle all necessary repairs safely and also ensure that the home complies with the latest electrical safety codes – so homeowners can rest easy knowing that their house is safe for the whole family!
About All Services
The experts at All Services have been serving the Crown Point community with pride for over 50 years. Their licensed, insured, background-checked, and drug-tested technicians always arrive on time in fully stocked trucks, leaving every home clean and in great condition, guaranteed. As an award-winning local business, they are proud to offer competitive up-front pricing, a complete satisfaction guarantee, and 24-hour emergency response – so call them anytime for electrical services in Crown Point, IN!
Contact Information:
All Services
1119 N Main St
Crown Point, IN 46307
United States
Ryan Ferry
(219) 488-2213
https://www.callallservices.com/
Original Source: https://www.callallservices.com/press-releases
