Important Electrical Safety Tips Every Homeowner Needs to Be Aware of.
Electrical fires were involved in an estimated annual average of 47,820 reported home structure fires over a four year period. These fires resulted in 455 civilian deaths and 1,518 civilian injuries, with $1.5 billion in direct property damage. An electrical fire is a fire involving some type of electrical failure or malfunction.
- In homes with small children, install tamper-resistant electrical receptacles.
- Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords.
- Only plug one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) into a receptacle outlet at a time.
- Pinching cords against walls or furniture or running them under carpets or across doorways can cause a fire.
- Use extension cords for temporary wiring only.
- If receptacles or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by an electrician.
- Do not place cloth over a light bulb to diffuse or soften the light. Buying a low wattage or soft white or pastel light bulb can help you achieve this effect without creating a fire hazard.
- Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or fixture.
Call a qualified electrician or landlord if you have:
- recurring problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers.
- a tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance.
- discolored or warm wall outlets.
- burning smell or rubbery odor coming from an appliance.
- flickering lights.
- sparks from an outlet.
Let us know if these safety tips helped you identify a current hazard in your home that you were able to correct.
- Schedule an Electrical Home Safety Inspection by a Licensed Berkeys Plumber
- Get a Whole-House Surge Protection Estimate
- Check the Latest Electrical Specials and Coupons from Berkeys
Information provided by the National Fire Protection Association. Shared on Facebook by Southlake DPS