Electrical Safety Month-Tips to Protect Your Home and Family

May is Electrical Safety Month! We are constantly using electricity in our homes; in fact in the United States the average household use is 11,700 kilowatts per year. Because we are so exposed to it, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of dealing with electricity in your home. Here are some tips to stay safe:

• If you have any electrical equipment that is damaged, make sure to have it repaired or replaced.

• Keep your appliances away from or at least protected from water.

• Make sure any light switches or sockets are an appropriate distance from the sink, or any other water source.

• Try not to overload circuits with too many plugs. The circuit may not be able to handle the load of power strips or surge compressors.

• Do NOT yank a plug out of the wall by pulling on the cord. This could cause problems by damaging the plug or the outlet.

• If you have any pets, make sure to properly hide your cords. Pets might chew on them and become exposed to the wires.

• Keep your stovetop clean. The build-up of food and grease could cause a grease fire in your kitchen.

• When installing lights, make sure to check to see if the bulb wattage matches the recommended wattage for that source. Overloading the socket could cause a shortage.

• Pay attention to any electrical hazard signs. This includes: broken outlets, exposed wires, flickering lights, or short fuses. Leaving this unnoticed could be dangerous!

Remember to be safe while dealing with electricity. We hope that you have become more aware this month about the potential hazards. If you need any help installing appliances or repairing damaged wiring, make sure you are hiring a licensed and qualified contractor.

Contact ELA Home Repairs with your installation or repair needs at 800-368-PROS (7767).