The Do’s and Don’ts of Electrical Safety to Keep You Safe and Your Home Protected

Remaining safe and protected around electricity is vital – but it’s not always easy to know what needs to be done in order to maintain electrical safety. On the one hand, taking relevant measures to ensure electrical safety is necessary for your own protection, and for the safety of your home and loved ones. On the other hand, however, failing to take the required safety precautions can lead to major hazards such as electrical fires, shocks, and even death. To ensure that you remain safe and protected, here are some essential do’s and don’ts of electrical safety.

Do Regularly Inspect Your Home’s Electrical System

It’s important to have a licensed electrician inspect the wiring in your house every few years to make sure everything is up-to-date, secure, and functioning correctly. This is especially important if you’ve just moved into a new property, and it’s also a good idea to check your home’s internal electrical system after a major storm, as lightning strikes and flooding can damage your property’s wiring. Having an inspection done will help you to identify and solve any existing or potential issues, meaning that you and your family can stay safe from electrical hazards.

Don’t Install Unnecessary Electrical Products

It can be tempting to install electrical products without consulting an expert. However, without a qualified electrician there to check that any new wiring is correctly installed, this can become a potential safety hazard. Before installing any electrical product, whether it’s an air conditioning unit or a simple extractor fan, it is important to get the advice and assistance of an expert to ensure that it is done safely and won’t cause problems further down the line.

Do Use Surge Protectors

Surges in a home’s electrical system can cause serious damage to important electronics such as computers, TVs, and fridges. To avoid this type of damage, it is highly recommended to plug your electronics into surge protectors, which will guard against sudden increases in electricity flowing through wires. Make sure that wherever you have any electronic devices plugged in, there is a surge protector too to minimize any potential damage from power surges.

Don’t Overload Electrical Outlets

Overloading an outlet doesn’t need to be something that you do intentionally; simply having too many appliances or electronics operating nearby an outlet can make it overloaded. An overloaded outlet is a potential fire hazard, so it’s best to move some of the electronics to another outlet to avoid any dangers. It’s also good practice to unplug any appliances or electronics when they’re not being used, as they can draw electricity even when they’re turned off.

Do Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)

GFCI outlets arefound in areas of high risk potential, such as bathrooms and kitchens. These are designed to reduce the risk of electrocution by minimizing the flow of current through an appliance or electronic device. GFCI outlets are available for hire as well as purchase, so taking the time to install these in high risk areas of your home is highly recommended.

By following these simple do’s and don’ts of electrical safety, you can ensure that your home remains hazard-free, and that you and your family are safe from the potential dangers of electricity.

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