A Homeowner's Guide to Electrical Safety and Maintenance
Many people rely on electricity as their main source of power. And while it is indispensable, electricity can also create potentially hazardous situations in your home. That's why understanding electrical safety is paramount. The first step to electrical safety in your home is proper electrical maintenance procedures. Therefore, it would be best to stay ahead of electrical problems by regularly following all the recommended electrical maintenance guidelines. Here are some electrical safety and maintenance tips to get you started.
Skip The DIY Repairs
DIY tasks can be exciting and satisfying when you make some repairs around your home. However, unless you have some background knowledge in electricity, avoid making electrical repairs on your own, regardless of how minimal they may appear. It is easy to make dangerous mistakes when you take on tasks like replacing old wiring or blown fuses. Leave such tasks to the professionals. Go for simple tasks like changing blown bulbs, resetting tripped breakers, etc.
Inspect Your Electrical Panel and Outlets Regularly
Your electrical panel houses crucial components like circuit breakers. The circuit breakers usually contain metal components that can rust over time, especially if you live in a highly humid area. It's not unusual to overlook your circuit breaker, especially if you don't have a reason to reset it. Leaving it for too long may result in extreme corrosion that may interfere with its functioning. And even if it continues functioning, it may be costly to restore the corroded panel.
It's also best to move the breakers around regularly. Breakers that sit in the same position for too long may not trip when they need to. Therefore, check them regularly to ensure they are in perfect condition and can move.
For your electrical outlets, remember to test them regularly too. For instance, for outdoor outlets like GFCI outlets, use the test and reset button occasionally to ensure the outlet is in perfect working condition. You can use a plug tester for your indoor outlets to check whether they are in good condition. A plug tester is a device that you can plug into an electrical outlet. It contains lights that will help you know whether the outlet is faulty. All the lights should come on if the outlet is properly functioning.
Use The Correct Electrical Cords
Electrical cords are typically labelled for indoor or outdoor use. Do not use your indoor electrical cords outside. Unlike their outdoor counterparts, indoor electrical cords don't have connectors moulded onto them, so they can easily allow moisture to seep in.
For more information on maintenance tasks, contact a company like Easther Electrical.