Did you know that home electrical fires account for 51,000 fires each year in the United States causing more than 500 deaths? If you are concerned about the electrical system in your home, then consider checking through all potential electrical hazards first.
Don’t know what they are? Read through the article below for a detailed overview of some common electrical issues that affect residential homes and that can be dealt with easily.
Table of Contents
Broken Wall Plates
Do not ignore any broken wall plates, as they protect you from coming into direct contact with electrical wires. If you are fumbling around in the dark with a broken wall plate, you could end up in a disastrous situation. A broken wall plate also leaves live wires exposed and this is a huge electrical fire hazard.
If you have children at home, consider getting outlet covers for all your outlets, so you can protect your children from messing about with outlets and getting an electric shock. They are easy to install and snap back into place after you finish using the outlet.
Fraying Electrical Cords
There is a reason why your electrical cords are wrapped – the cord wraps help strengthen the cords and increase their longevity. If you notice that your electrical cords are broken or fraying, or if they look like they are close to the end of their life, then replace them immediately.
Don’t put excessive pressure on your electrical cords and do not misuse them. It could put you at risk for an electrical short circuit.
Overloaded Power Outlets
Due to the profusion of electrical appliances and smart devices that everyone in the family home uses nowadays, each one of your outlets might have an extension cord or other electrical outlet stretching devices attached to it. Sometimes you can’t avoid using these devices, but it could put a huge overload upon your electrical outlet, causing it to short circuit. They could even catch fire.
When you do choose one, make sure it’s of high quality and in good condition. Also, make sure to turn them off or unplug them whenever they are not in use to avoid overloading your outlet.
Wrong Sized Circuit Breakers and Fuses
The circuit breakers and fuses you use need to match the specifications of their circuits. Otherwise, they are going to fail when you need them to function most. Make sure to get your circuits checked out by an established residential electrical repair company.
Electrical Appliances Placed Close to Water Sources
You might think that this electrical hazard is redundant and shouldn’t even be spoken about. Everyone knows not to place their electrical appliances or devices next to water, right? Wrong!
Even though people might be aware that they shouldn’t be doing this, inadvertently or carelessly many people do end up placing blowdryers, hair straighteners, smart devices, and other important electrical appliances next to the kitchen or bathroom sink. There are even people who end up dropping these items into the bathtub while taking a luxurious bath.
Do not be careless about this! Take a book instead into your bath with you, not your phone. And keep all of your electrical hair tools away from the bathroom sink and other water sources. If you are using your tablet to look at recipes while cooking, make sure to keep it far away from the sink or any other standing water.
It’s when you get complacent about this, that electrical issues hit.
Ignoring the Signs Your Appliances Send Out
If your car was making grinding or thumping noises or the red ‘check engine’ light was on and beeping away, you wouldn’t ignore it and keep on driving, would you? The same thing applies to your electrical outlets. If they are repeatedly tripping or blowing a fuse, or you keep on getting an electric shock, then it’s a sign that something more serious is happening.
It could be a malfunction that could result in further problems like electrical fires if you don’t get it checked out right away. Do not ignore such issues, and take care of them as soon as you possibly can. Even if it ends up being nothing, at least you can rest assured that you and your loved ones are safe at home.
Not Getting Inspections by Qualified Electricians
You might have gotten your electrical system inspected by an electrician when you first moved into your home. But it’s probably been ages since that happened and your electrical system might need a renewed inspection.
Do not waste time going back and forth on whether you should get this important check done. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, even if it means you are out of pocket by a few hundred dollars.
If you are getting an inspection done, make sure to choose a company with qualified and experienced electricians. There’s no need to fool around and hire your cousin’s aunt’s grandson to get your inspection done just so you can say you got it done. This is your family’s safety that’s at stake here.
Most Electrical Hazards Are Easily Circumvented
Looking at the list of potential electrical hazards above, how many of them caught your eye as something to be wary and cognizant of? If there is even one hazard that you should get looked at, do it at once. Do not delay!
Electrical fires can happen in a matter of minutes and cause hundreds or thousands of dollars of damage to your home. It could even endanger your and your family’s life.
Did you find this article on electrical issues informative? Hopefully, you can put some of this article into practical use. Also, keep browsing our website for more interesting articles.
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