10 Electrical Safety Tips for Spring
10 Electrical Safety Tips for Spring
With spring just around the corner, it’s time to start preparing your spring cleaning checklist. One chore that you must include on this year’s list, along with future checklists, is to look into the electrical safety of your home. Making sure that your home’s electrical is installed correctly and updated as needed, can not only keep your home safe, but also your loved ones. At Skellec Electric, safety is our number one priority, that’s why we have provided you with 10 spring electrical safety tips to help you check this task off your list!
Spring electrical safety tips to keep your home safe:
1) Keep power cords and electrical equipment away from water:
Any type of electrical equipment near water is a dangerous combination, even life threatening. It’s important to know that if any electrical device comes into contact with water, that you allow it dry for a few days and have an electrical professional come examine it to see if it’s still safe and functional.
2) Don’t dig up any electrical equipment before calling a professional:
Before you take it upon yourself to repair any underground electrical equipment, call an electrical professional to make sure it’s safe to dig.
3) Connect countertop appliances to gfcis:
Gfcis can come in handy if your appliance were to malfunction or you were to accidentally drop it in water. The moment one of these two incidents occur, the gfci will automatically shut off the electricity before an electrical shock can take place.
4) Check for ul labels on electrical devices:
ul (underwriters laboratories) labels certify the safety of electrical devices. It’s important to check for authentic ul labels on all of your electrical devices, because the appliance and electrical industry have seen an increase in counterfeit ul labels.
5) Clean your stove’s exhaust hood:
After consecutively cooking indoors for months, spring is the perfect time to clean your stove’s exhaust hood. Debris, such as food particles, dust and oil buildup can be potential fire hazards. To clean your stove’s exhaust hood, remove it, clean the filter, and use degreaser to clean exposed surfaces.
6) Vacuum the coils behind your refrigerator:
the coils behind your refrigerator tend to collect dirt over long periods of time. It’s important that you clean them every few months, in order to avoid a fire hazard and having the appliance work inefficiently. After you’ve finished cleaning the coils, make sure to leave enough room behind the refrigerator for air to circulate.
7) Clean the dryer ducts:
Dryer fires are a major hazard that can occur if the interior and exterior of the duct isn’t cleaned out. Every six months, it’s recommended that you or a professional inspect the dryer vent for clogs and lint build up
8) Check lamp and fixture wattages while dusting:
When you check the wattages, it’s important to keep in mind that bulb wattages should always be equal to or less than the manufacturer’s recommendations.
9) Examine power strips and surge suppressors:
Power strips and surge suppressors can only handle a specific electrical load. Make sure to avoid plugging in too many items into the same outlet to ensure zero risk of circuit overload.
10) Schedule an appointment with an electrical professional:
Electrical professionals are trained to thoroughly inspect that electrical safety of your home. This is the best way to ensure that your home stays safe, as well as your loved ones.
Want more spring electrical safety tips or need an electrical done? Call Skellec Electrical today.
