Electrical Safety In The Home: 5 Tips Everyone Should Know

Electrical Safety in the home is one of those things today that we often overlook. Electricity powers almost everything in the modern home, from the toaster oven to the high-definition television screen. But while we often take it for granted there are hidden dangers that every family and home owner must be aware of.

The following are 5 home electrical safety tips everyone should know:

1. Never stuff wires underneath carpets.  This is one of the most commonly ignored of all the electrical safety tips, especially for people who have a lot of electronics. Running a bunch of wires across a room for your stereo can be both a tripping hazard and unsightly. But hiding them underneath carpets is a big don’t as it increases the possibility of people stepping on them, breaking their insulation, and exposing the wires. This leads to potential electrical shocks and fires.
2. Don’t overload your electrical outlets.  There’s a reason why a standard home outlet panel only has two places to plug-in: each outlet has wiring designed to handle a standard amount of current. When too many devices are plugged into one socket, it can overload the electrical circuit and result in an electrical shock and/or fires.
3. Install the correct wattage bulbs into light fixtures.  Similar to the aforementioned electrical safety tips, installing the recommended wattage bulbs will prevent an overloading of the circuit. Additionally, higher wattage bulbs emit more heat and if a fixture in unable to dissipate that heat, it can cook the sheet rock or drywall above (or next to) the fixture as well as any nearby wires. Ignoring this electrical safety tips can result in property damage and may result in a fire.
4. Avoid extension cords whenever possible.  This is one of our electrical safety tips that is a bit more flexible. There will be obvious situations wherein electrical cords are a must, such as when you need to drill an anchoring screw on an opposing wall. However, because extension cords can be a trip hazard and can overload a circuit, you should avoid using extension cords except in periodic situations. If you do find that you regularly uses an extension cord, such as to reach a corner lamp, then consider calling in an electrician to install more accessible outlets.
5. Water and electricity don’t mix.  This is most certainly a given and is at the tops of all electrical safety tips list, but avoid using the hair dryer with wet hands and don’t plug in appliances if they’re wet as it can cause electrocution.