Home Electrical Safety for Homeowners
Home Electrical Safety: Keep Your Home Protected
The dangers of contact, even inadvertent contact, with live electricity are widely understood. Some homeowners attempt do-it-yourself repairs on their home’s electrical system, which is not advisable. A better approach is for homeowners to do frequent inspections and call an electrician when repairs are required. Here are some things to watch for:
Outdoor Switches and Outlets
Since outdoor electrical fixtures are exposed to the weather, keeping them secure from water is vitally important.
- Both switches and outlets should be ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) versions. These fixtures can sense a ground short and interrupt electricity in 1/40 of a second, preventing shock to anyone encountering the short.
- Both switches and outlets exposed to weather should have a weatherproof cover to prevent water from entering the fixture.
- Outdoor lighting also needs to be properly secured and weatherproofed.
- Should these fixtures be bumped and damaged, they will need to be repaired.
Electric Service Panel
- Homes that were wired before the 1960s may still have a service panel with fuses instead of circuit breakers. A fuse system may also indicate that the home’s wiring does not meet the current building code. This discovery should lead to a call to an electrician.
- A service panel with several empty slots can accommodate more circuits and expand your home’s electrical system. If every slot is being used, your home cannot expand, and the service panel should be upgraded to a larger circuit board.
- Normal wear on a service panel will lead to reduced performance and eventual failure. The expected lifespan of the panel is 15 to 20 years. Locate the nameplate on the top or the front face of the panel to determine how old your system is.
- Ask an electrician about the arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) for your electrical service panel. It is a key safety feature that reduces electrical fires in the home. (An AFCI needs to be tested every month, certainly a DIY task.)
Indoor Switches and Outlets
Most homeowner interactions with electricity occur at switches and outlets scattered throughout the home. These fixtures are actually safety devices, creating a barrier between human hands and electric energy. However, this protection relies on them being physically and functionally undamaged.
- Cover plates and switches get bumped and can sustain damage, needing to be replaced. If a switch is loose when used, it needs to be replaced.
- Switches or outlets that are warm or hot to the touch indicate the circuit is overloaded or has been damaged while being overloaded. If either is charred or malformed, it indicates the problem is or has been severe. Stop using this circuit and call an electrician. It needs to be replaced and the current in the circuit checked.
- Observe circuits in the home, watching for too many power strips or extension cords plugged into one outlet or multiple outlets in a circuit. The use of electricity might require new wiring to create a new circuit where it is needed.
- Switches and outlets within 6 feet of a water source (bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, pools, etc.) need GFCI fixtures. This is a building code, but this is primarily a safety issue.
Cords and Appliances
Investigate device and appliance cords as well as extension cords and power strips.
- Any frayed or damaged cord is a safety hazard and needs to be replaced.
- Cords are air-cooled, so do not cover them with rugs or carpeting.
- Make sure that cords are not pinched by furniture, doors, or windows. Relocate any cord that can be a tripping hazard.
- Recognize which appliances need grounded plugs and wall outlets; that would be any appliance that draws enough power to create heat. Do not use adapters long-term for these appliances. If a two-pronged outlet needs to be changed to a three-pronged outlet, call an electrician.
Let AirPro Houston Help with Your Home Electrical Safety Questions
With our four decades of experience in Home Electrical Safety, AirPro Houston provides you with the knowledge to help with your Home Electrical Safety questions.
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