9 Tips You Need to Follow to Prevent Electrical Hazards at Home

Being a homeowner is no easy task, with the cost of upkeep and the worry about liability for visitors. While it runs your world, electricity isn’t often on your list of concerns about the home.

Yet electrical hazards can cause fires, electrocution, and all kinds of problems in your house with even one small misstep. Fortunately, by taking care of some simple tasks, you can eliminate risks and keep those in your home safe. Here are 9 tips to prevent electrical accidents.

1. Don’t Mix Water and Electricity

You know the scene in the horror movie or the crime TV show where the bad guy electrocutes their prisoner with a hairdryer in the bathtub. It’s not an exaggeration, unfortunately. Water conducts electricity, and it’s very dangerous.
Keep outlets far from water sources, and don’t use appliances if you have wet hands or you’re standing on a wet floor. Instances like those are so easy to forget about, but they can cause so much damage. Stay safe and keep your electricity separate from your sinks and tubs.

2. Replace Frayed Cords

Pets and rodents can chew on cords, or the rubber coating around the wires can become worn from years of use. When you notice defects or damage like that, make sure to replace the cord right away so that the wires aren’t bare and presenting a hazard.

Children and pets don’t know any better than to grab or chew on bare wires, which can cause electrocution. It could also be a fire hazard, so make sure to keep everyone safe and replace the item immediately.

3. Practice Extension Cord Safety

It’s okay to use extension cords as a temporary solution to your power problem. They shouldn’t replace permanent outlets, though. If you use an extension cord, don’t plug too many appliances into it at once because it can overload the circuit.

The other caution with an extension cord is to make sure it’s running where no one will step on it or trip over it. If you must cross a hallway or walkway, then use tape to secure the cord to the floor so no one will fall.

4. Always Hire a Professional

When you have an electrical problem, you may be tempted to use Google and YouTube to help you DIY the solution. Yet that’s a hazardous way to operate, especially when you’ve never had any electrical experience. The best option for everyone’s safety is to hire a professional electrician who can get the project done the right way.

5. Prevent Electrical Hazards by Having an Electrical Line Diagram

Having more info on where your outlets and wiring run can help you avoid accidents. If you know the path of the circuits, you can plan for emergencies and bigger appliances. If you’re building a home, this is especially important so your contractor can consult with the professional engineer who put together the line diagram.

6. Cover Sockets Near Toddlers

If you have any electrical outlets where your small children can reach them, then you need to invest in outlet covers. The small, plastic protectors plug right into the outlet and cover it up so that small children can’t stick things into the outlets.

Just as you protect your kids from the chemicals under the sink with cupboard locks, make sure to keep them safe with outlet covers, too. Even the most well-behaved children get curious and wonder about outlets, without meaning any harm.

7. Don’t Force an Appliance

When an appliance like your microwave acts up, it may be trying to tell you something. Rather than ignoring signs like a constantly tripping breaker or blown fuse, investigate further to see if the appliance needs a repair. It’s a lot cheaper to pay someone to repair the microwave (or even to buy a new one) than to pay for damage from an electrical fire.

8. Match Light Bulb Wattage to Lamp

Never use a light bulb that’s too powerful for the lamp you’re putting it in. If you want a brighter lit home, you may need to buy a different lamp. While replacing the bulb with one that has higher wattage seems easy, it can cause electrical problems.
Check the required wattage on the lamp, near where you screw the light bulb in. There should be a mark or a sticker that says what kind of bulb to use. Don’t use one above the recommended wattage.

Remember that light bulbs are a potential fire hazard, even when you’re using the right wattage. Because they get very hot, make sure you don’t cover lamps with any curtains, blankets, or other flammable materials.

To protect yourself from getting shocked, turn off the light switch before replacing the bulb. When a bulb burns out, it’s easy to forget to switch the light off because it’s not giving any light. But it can still electrocute you if you don’t take the right precautions.

9. Keep Your Home up to Code

Any GFCI outlet should always get replaced with a GFCI outlet. And any outlet without a cover needs one. They are there to protect you and your family.

Basic electrical code isn’t in everyone’s vocabulary, so if you’re unsure about what constitutes an unsafe environment, do your research or hire an inspector who can help you make any necessary changes.

Staying Safe at Home

Protecting anyone in your home is important, for your own peace of mind and also for insurance liability. Following these 9 steps means safety for your family and more time to focus on meaningful time together instead of emergencies.

You should always take electrical hazards seriously, from doing your research to following through on extra precautions.

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