Electrical Safety for your home
According to studies by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (www.electrical-safety.org ) home electrical problems cause 70,000 fires each year and are responsible for an average of 500 deaths. Property damages are over a billion dollars annually.
More than one fifth of Americans consider their home’s electrical system to be unsafe. Yet, disturbingly, many don’t take even the basic steps to prevent home electrical fires.
“But I’ve never had a problem before”. Like everything else, electrical systems become worn out and can become a fire hazard. In addition, new gadgets like wide screen TVs, surround sound speaker systems, and even a new refrigerator can put more strain on a system that’s not up to the demand. If your home was built before the mid-70s, many of the electrical devices and appliances we rely on every day were not even invented. It’s estimated that half the homes in America were built before the invention of the automatic drip coffeemaker.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve the safety of your home and family. It only takes a few moments to inspect your home’s electrical system. If you have problems or concerns, always contact a licensed electrician. And take advantage of new life-saving technology by installing devices like AFCIs, GFCIs and TROs.
Test smoke detectors monthly, and have one installed outside each separate sleeping area, and on each level of your home.
Inspect the condition of your electrical system. Look for worn or damaged outlets—they can be a safety hazard and should be replaced. If the faceplate is warm or discolored there could be a wiring problem. Review your electrical needs. If your temporary extension cord is now permanent, consider adding an outlet. Do your lights dim or flicker? Do you hear buzzing or sizzling sounds from your electrical system? Are you regularly resetting tripped circuit breakers? That could indicate an electrical overload or other electrical hazard. It may be time to have a professional electrician evaluate your system—these are symptoms of wiring problems or an electrical overload.
According to studies by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (www.electrical-
More than one fifth of Americans consider their home’s electrical system to be unsafe. Yet, disturbingly, many don’t take even the basic steps to prevent home electrical fires.
“But I’ve never had a problem before”. Like everything else, electrical systems become worn out and can become a fire hazard. In addition, new gadgets like wide screen TVs, surround sound speaker systems, and even a new refrigerator can put more strain on a system that’s not up to the demand. If your home was built before the mid-
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve the safety of your home and family. It only takes a few moments to inspect your home’s electrical system. If you have problems or concerns, always contact a licensed electrician. And take advantage of new life-
Test smoke detectors monthly, and have one installed outside each separate sleeping area, and on each level of your home.
Inspect the condition of your electrical system. Look for worn or damaged outlets—they can be a safety hazard and should be replaced. If the faceplate is warm or discolored there could be a wiring problem. Review your electrical needs. If your temporary extension cord is now permanent, consider adding an outlet. Do your lights dim or flicker? Do you hear buzzing or sizzling sounds from your electrical system? Are you regularly resetting tripped circuit breakers? That could indicate an electrical overload or other electrical hazard. It may be time to have a professional electrician evaluate your system—these are symptoms of wiring problems or an electrical overload.
The Wiring Whiz
Electrical Service Specialists for your home
Electrical Service Specialists for your home