4 Electrician Tips for Home Safety

Electricians usually hear lots of tragic, preventable stories of electrical accidents, all of which could have easily been avoided with little knowledge. While accidents can happen, here are a few tips you could keep in mind that may help you minimise their risk of occurrence:

Cord Safety

When it comes to cords, you have to remember to never staple or nail them into place. You should also never place them under rugs. The reason for that is that by covering the cords you remove their ability to cool down. This, combined with the fact that any frays or wearing on the hidden cords will go unnoticed is the perfect recipe hazards. For a safer home, you can tape the cords along the outskirts of each room. That way you keep the cords from inconveniencing you, and you also remove the risk of accidents.

Plug Safety

This is an issue that electricians see a lot. Under no circumstances should you modify a plug. This includes filling down its prongs or removing the ground pin. Without the ground pin, you subject yourself to electrical shocks. You should also keep in mind that a plug must fit snugly into any socket without ever requiring too much force. The consequences of using too much force can not only be quite painful, but also deadly.

Lightning

This is one of the most overlooked issues that electricians have to deal with. During electrical storms, you MUST turn off any appliances and stay out of water (this includes showers and baths). If the electrical wires outside your house are stuck by lightning, a surge of power will go through your house. Anyone found in the shower will be electrocuted as a result of the pipes being electrified, and any appliances connected to power will blow out. Electrical storms usually last a few minutes, but the loss of life they can cause is permanent.

Space Heaters

Regular heating solutions might not be enough during cold winter days. Because of that, people resort to using small devices that generate heat. These are known as space heaters. Because of their small size and the fact that they are usually temporary solutions, some people ignore basic safety information. Never place space heaters close to anything flammable. This includes furniture, rugs, and draperies, which are the basic examples of objects that can catch on fire if carelessly placed close enough to a space heater.

If you acknowledge these four simple tips, you can greatly reduce the risk of life and property loss.