Tens of thousands of electrical fires occur in American homes every year, often leading to severe injuries and major damage. Fortunately, you can prevent many of these accidents if you follow some basic electrical safety tips. Learn how to stay safe when working with electricity in your home and yard in Beggs, OK.
1. Strictly Follow Instructions When Using Appliances
Carefully follow the instructions for all appliances to prevent electrical fires or electrocutions. That’s especially crucial with high-voltage equipment like power tools.
Never remove the grounding prong from appliance plugs. This prong, which goes into a receptacle’s grounding slot, is essential to keep your appliance safe. It safeguards you from electric shock if an internal wire becomes loose, prevents overheating, and protects your equipment.
If you feel an electric shock when using an appliance, stop handling it immediately and have it checked by a licensed electrician.
2. Never Use Damaged Cords
There’s a good reason why electrical safety tips often mention damaged power cords. Frayed, cracked, or otherwise damaged electrical cords can cause electrocutions and fires.
Check power cords regularly and replace worn-out cords when necessary. Never run extension cords under rugs or behind furniture. Consider installing additional outlets rather than relying too much on extension cords.
Store power cords safely, away from a heat source and out of the reach of children or pets, when not in use. Arrange the cords tidily, but avoid stretching them.
3. Keep Appliances Dry and Cool
Keep all your electrical equipment away from bathtubs, showers, sinks, aquariums, and other moisture sources. Make sure your hands are dry when you touch appliances.
Overheating is as dangerous as exposure to water for appliances. Electrical appliances need air to circulate freely around them. It’s usually a bad idea to run appliances in a small, enclosed space. For instance, you should place an electric dryer at least 10 inches from the wall. Keep heat-producing appliances away from any combustibles.
4. Avoid Overloading Outlets
Many people use power strips to plug several devices into a single outlet. However, power strips don’t magically increase an outlet’s capacity. Make sure that the outlet can handle the total wattage of the devices plugged into it.
Plug high-wattage appliances, like heaters and hair dryers, directly into a wall outlet rather than into a power strip. If an outlet with a power strip feels hot, unplug some of the appliances and move them to a different outlet.
5. Stay Safe While Working With Electricity Outdoors
Many guidelines for preventing electrical fires focus on indoor appliances and outlets. However, it’s just as important to follow electrical safety tips when you work outside.
Remember, electricity and water don’t mix. If you plan to use electric tools outdoors, you need dry weather. Beggs, OK, usually sees the most rain in May and during the summer. Wait until a rainy spell is over and your yard dries out before you start a project that involves electric equipment.
When working with electric tools, wear rubber shoes or boots and rubber-lined gloves that provide insulation against electric shocks. Cover outdoor outlets with weatherproof boxes to protect them from moisture.
6. Childproof Your Outlets and Appliances
If you have young children or often host grandchildren, nephews, or nieces, please childproof your appliances and outlets. Install safety covers over outlets or opt for tamper-resistant receptacles.
Keep blenders, electric kettles, and other appliances away from children. If the children are old enough, give them basic electrical safety tips, like never pulling on electrical cords.
7. Upgrade or Replace Outdated Electrical Panels
Many homes in Beggs, OK, are several decades old, and some properties date back to the 1930s. If you live in an older home that has never had an electrical panel upgrade, there’s a high chance that your current panel is outdated and unsafe.
An electrical panel that is 25 years or older may struggle to support all your appliances and will likely overload. If your circuit breakers keep tripping, your electrical panel feels warm, or you notice a burning smell from the panel, you need an upgrade ASAP. Call your local top electricians in Beggs, OK, and schedule an electrical panel inspection and replacement.
Call Today for Safe and Professional Electrical Work in Beggs, OK
One of the most important electrical safety tips is to hire a reputable, licensed professional when you need electrical work. At Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric, we follow all electrical requirements for HVAC installations and other projects. Get in touch with us to book a service call in Beggs, OK.
