Picture this: lightning strikes near your home, and the electrical wiring is damaged. Or, on a less dramatic note, something with your breaker box doesn’t seem to be working right and you’re not sure how to fix it. Whatever the scenario, when it comes to electrical safety, “an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.”
Even if you know little about electricity, applying common sense to simple tips for home electrical safety is important. Today we have the opportunity to chat with Bill Tuten, safety manager for Berwick Electric Co. For nearly 12 years, Bill has helped to keep Berwick employees and customers safe, leading safety trainings, working to ensure that strict safety requirements are kept, and more. Keep reading below to learn some simple electrical safety tips for the home.
1. NEVER work on an energized system. Although it may seem obvious, it is never safe to work on an energized system. This means that you shouldn’t attempt to fix something that currently has electricity running to it. “Even if something as simple as a light switch isn’t working, do not attempt to fix it while that switch is still energized,” Bill said. “If you’re working on a home project, such as remodeling a bedroom, utility room, or even a barn or a shop, always de-energize it,” he added. “If you’re not sure how to do so, call a qualified electrician. Take a humble approach.”
2. Cover unused outlets. “For families with small children, it is especially important to cover any electrical outlets that aren’t currently in use,” Bill said. “This helps prevent curious children from getting shocked or electrocuted if they play with the outlet.”
3. Use the correct light bulbs. Most of us have been there – a light bulb burns out and you don’t have the correct replacement bulb on hand. Although it may be tempting to replace the bulb with whatever is on hand, never use a light bulb that exceeds the recommended wattage per the fixture manufacturer’s recommendation.
4. Test ground fault circuit interrupters. In the same way that you routinely test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, you should also test your ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). “Simply put, a GCFI responds to a problem by shutting off the power to that circuit,” Bill explained. “This helps protect you from shock,” he continued. “There is generally a test mechanism on a GCFI. You simply push the ‘test’ and ‘reset’ buttons to do so. I try to test mine at least quarterly.”
5. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. “Although this isn’t necessarily a home electrical safety tip, it does bear repeating: test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors,” Bill emphasized. “Whether your detectors are hard-wired into your home’s electrical system or battery-operated, they need to be tested at least twice per year,” he added. “It’s recommended to have one in each bedroom of your house, each hallway, and one on every floor. We have a total of eight smoke detectors, as well as a carbon monoxide detector on each level of our house.”
We hope that you find these simple home electrical tips helpful! If you have any questions or would like additional home electrical safety tips, please send an email to mail@berwickelectric.com.
.jpg){kind=logo}
