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Electrical Safety at Home
Everyone wants to make sure their home is safe, but electrical safety at home is critical to keeping your family protected. Electrical fires can sometimes be covered under your home insurance policy, but preventing problems in advance is critical to keeping your family from harm especially if a fast-moving electrical fire occurs. Here are some of the most important safety steps you can take to avoid electrical hazard and risks in your home.
Common Electrical Hazard Situations Put Your Home at Risk
The first step is to know what the most common safety risks are and to take steps to prevent them from occurring. Walk through your home to pinpoint areas where electricity is coming into each room. Consider how safe it is in each instance. There are a few things to look for that can tell you it is time to call a licensed electrician.
Consider outlets, for example. They should be in good working order, not broken, not discolored, and not hot to the touch. Consider adding plastic protective electrical plugs to them to minimize the risk of electrical shock to children.
For other electrically operated items in the space, take a close look at all wires and plugs. When possible, unplug any items that are not in use, such as kitchen appliances, computers, and electronics. This helps to reduce the risk of a surge that could damage those belongings. In addition, if you notice any wires that have damage to them, it is very important for you to remove those items. Turn to an electrician who can help you to replace damaged cords.
Keep all electrical access points clean and dust-free. Avoid getting these surfaces wet, too. In your bathroom and kitchen, ensure you have properly grounded outlets. These are safer to use in areas where there is water present. If you have any questions be sure to turn to your electrician for help.
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Set Electrical Safety Rules in Your Home
It is very important to have electrical safety rules in homes. Have a family meeting to discuss home fires. Many times, the most common home insurance claims stem from electrical fires. Look for areas of concern and discuss them. For example, you should not use many extension cords in the home. Limit the number of items plugged into any outlet.
A key concern today is charging cables for phones and tablets. Be sure the kids know how to properly use outlets so that they do not put themselves at risk of electrical shock. It is also important to discuss electrical fire risks with kids. Be sure they know that frayed wires or damaged plugs from their devices can start a damaging fire.
Electrical Safety Tips for Older Homes
If your home is older, having been built at least 20 or more years ago, it may be time to have a professional in for an inspection. Many areas should see electrical inspections more often, even as often as every five years. These instances provide an opportunity for a professional to inspect the current condition of the electrical system and determine if it is operating properly. Today, where the use of electronics is so great, the need to upgrade electrical panels and the home’s wiring is not uncommon. With the right team of professionals, it is possible to work through the home to pinpoint areas of concern for updates and improvements.
Knowing Electrical Safety Rules for Your Community
Did you know that most communities have some rules on electrical use within homes? Your goal should be to know what those rules are. For example, if you plan to add new electrical outlets or update electrical systems, your new systems must meet the requirements of the local building code. This is not always simple to know. However, having a county or city building inspector out to the home is an important step. It ensures that the changes you make are safe to your home and family.
The Importance of an Electrician and Licensed Electrical Contractors
Finally, when you need to make changes to your existing electrical systems, appliances, or outlets, always hire a licensed electrician. Ask to see their license and certification. The benefit here is that these process can ensure the work is done properly, up to code, and using the most modern standards. In some cases, your home insurance will require this is done after they insure your property.
Most importantly, know that if an electrical fire occurs, it may be covered under your home insurance policy. However, limitations apply here. If you knew or caused the risk factor for the fire, such as by not handling damaged outlets and wires in advance, there may be some limited coverage with your plan. To avoid this, work closely with your electrician to upgrade your home.
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