Spring is finally here (although we sure have felt it off and on since December)! We all know that Spring hits and we get the itch to clean out closets, spruce up your landscaping, tackle new DIY projects; the list goes on and on. What you may not always think of is small electrical repairs, changes, and tests you can make to ensure the safety and functionality of your home. The list can be daunting, so we have compiled a few quick and easy suggestions to get you started.
- Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
- Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
- In homes with small children, make sure your home has tamper-resistant (TR) receptacles.
- Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do not have to use extension cords.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.
- Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
- If outlets or switches feel warm, frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuits, or flickering or dimming lights, call a qualified electrician.
- Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp’s recommended wattage.
- Make sure your home has ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in the kitchen bathroom(s), laundry, basement, and outdoor areas.
- Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) should be installed in your home to protect electrical outlets
Beyond these, we would definitely recommend calling our office to schedule an electrician to visit your home or place of business to help you locate, test, repair, or replace any current dangers and/or problems.
If you are concerned that there are more problems within your house, especially those that could present a fire hazard, call our office and ask about the CurrentSAFE Electrical Hazard Detection (EHD) Test that we are licensed to perform.