Electrical Safety

Every home owner should build a long term relationship with an electrician. Emergencies happen and it's far easier to manage a problem when you already know the people you need to call. You might find it helpful to include an annual visit from your electrician as part of your home maintenance strategy. It's not unusual for home owners to ignore a light switch that crackles or a light fixture that doesn't seem to want to go … once in a while. By keeping track of these minor items and fixing faster, you'll get these nuisance problems fixed faster.

During an annual visit, your electrician can check for faulty wiring and improper use of electrical appliances which could cause a fire. We continue to use more and more electronics so you'll likely need a few more outlets each years as extension cords are really meant for temporary use. Here are more home safety tips to keep you and your family safe from electrical fires.

Do's and Don'ts to Keep You Safe

• Never overload electrical outlets.
• Only use extension cords as a temporary solution.
• Do not place power cords under rugs, carpets or furniture.
• Buy products which meet the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) standard for safety.
• Install smoke alarms outside bedrooms and once on each floor.
• Turn appliances off before plugging them in.
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet areas.
• Keep heaters and halogen lamps away from draperies and other combustible materials.
• Use only three-slot outlets for appliances with three-prong plugs.
• Use safety devices to help child-proof outlets.
• Don't turn a circuit back on before identifying why it was turned off.

Things to Repair or Replace

• Replace an item that causes overheats, shorts out or produces smoke or sparks.
• Test and replace smoke alarm batteries every year.
• Replace frayed, cracked or cut power cords immediately.
• If a switch or outlet is hot or discolored by heat buildup, immediately shut off the circuit.