Electrical safety involving outlets, plugs and extension cords is one of the most important home safety issues. U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 47,820 structure fires a year involving an electrical fire or malfunction, but there are steps that homeowners and tenants can take to help prevent electrical fires.
From tamper-resistant receptacles to GFCI (Ground Fault Current Interrupter) outlets, there are now safer electrical options that you might want to consider including in your home. The following are some safety tips for you to consider when using electrical outlets, electrical cords and extension cords.
Homes built before 1965 typically have ungrounded two-pronged outlets, while newer construction will usually have three-pronged outlets, which include a hot, neutral and ground wire. Homeowners may want to consider upgrading their wiring to accept three-pronged outlets, particularly if you are replacing older outlets that may be cracked, damaged or covered in paint.
Turn off appliances before unplugging them to avoid a “hot unplug,” which can result in an arc inside that could create a fire hazard.
Install tamper-resistant (TR) receptacles in outlets near where children will be present. These outlets contain an internal spring-loaded shield that requires even pressure on both sides of the outlet to access the electrical contacts. The National Electric Code® has required new and renovated dwellings to include TR receptacles since 2008.
When plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet, make sure you read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Only one high-wattage appliance should be plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
Only one heat-producing appliance, such as a toaster or coffee maker, should be plugged into a receptacle outlet at a single time.
To help protect against shock hazards, make sure you install ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, basement, garages, outdoor areas and other places where electrical equipment is near water or can get wet. A GFCI can either be installed in your electrical system or built into a power cord to help prevent severe shocks.
To help prevent fires, have a qualified electrician install arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), which can help protect against fires that result from problems in home wiring, such as arcing and sparking.
Never place anything that can burn (e.g., towels, scarves) over a lamp or heat-producing appliance. Remember to use lightbulbs with the correct wattage to help prevent overheating.
If you have any of these electrical concerns with your receptacles or switches, please call us. Our licensed electricians can help. We will inspect your existing receptacles for safety and code compliance and install additional outlets practically anywhere while making your home safe.
While you have options for your electrician in Kailua-Kona, HI, we hope you’ll choose Big Electric. Here are some of the benefits you’ll experience when working with us.
We have over 20 years of industry experience.
Know what you’ll pay before you pay it.
From residential to commercial to remodeling, we can handle it.
Our team is composed of licensed electricians.
