Top 10 Home Electrical Safety Tips Presented by B&G Property Maintenance
Issues with the electrical system in homes tends to be ignored by homeowners until something goes awry. However, there are simple electrical solutions that are easy to implement and will help prevent electrical fires which damage or destroy an average of 25,000 homes per year in the US. With the assistance of the electrician Kirkland residents trust, here are the top 10 ways you can make your home safer from electrical fires and hazards.
Be Careful with Space Heaters
Space heaters are the cause of many housefires in the US. While most come from the heat that ignites flammable fabrics, some are due to overloading the electrical system. If you use space heaters, use them sparingly and carefully.
Dead Outlets
If an outlet goes dead, have it repaired quickly. While the reasons may be innocuous, they also might indicate a break or disruption in the line which may be dangerous if left untreated.
Don’t Overload the Socket
It may seem comical, but many people will use extensions and power strips that simply overwhelm the electrical socket which leads to fires. Adding one power strip to one outlet is more than enough pull on the system.
Fire Plan An electrical fire is quite dangerous because it can happen at any time. So, have a plan of escape for your family that you practice every so often. This means getting out of the house and meeting at a designated location.
Inspect If your home is more than a few years old, have the lines inspected by a qualified electrician in the Kirkland area to ensure that they are intact and functioning properly. This will help prevent some incidents from occurring and reduce the cost of repairs.
Keep the Ground Wire
Too many people still clip the third or ground wire connector from the plug so it can be used in a dual wall-socket. That’s just asking for trouble, so use converters instead.
Mind the Breaker
While breakers can trip for several reasons, if it trips again the moment you reset it the electricity load may be too much for the breaker to handle. Do not try to trip the breaker repeatedly because it might lead to a panel fire.
No Water It may seem like the natural thing to do, but with an electrical fire it will only lead to further damage as water conducts the electricity.
Switch to LEDs
LED lights, especially for the Christmas tree helps reduce the chances of fire in two ways. It keeps the electricity from overloading due to the reduced pull on the power and they generate very little heat so it will not ignite a dry tree.
When in Doubt, Flee Electrical fires can get out of hand quickly, so unless you can contain and extinguish it in the first few seconds you are better off getting everyone out of the home. Employing the electrical solutions in your home will not guarantee that all electrical fires will be prevented, but it will prevent the most obvious causes and you’ll know what to do in case the worst should happen. Be sure to consult with the best electrician Kirkland residents trust for their electrical needs and help make your home safer from fires started by electricity.
B & G Property Maintenance One of the leading electrical contractors to provide skilled Kirkland electricians to handle all of your electrical service needs. Call (425) 276-6824 for a free estimate or visit http://BGPMaintenance.com . We are proudly serving the Seattle, Kirkland, and Bellevue, WA area.