Electrical Safety Tips Around the Home

Because this is a new blog, I figured we'd start with the basics. What should you make sure you never do with your electrical projects as a homeowner? What safety precautions do you need to take with your home electrical systems to make sure your family and guests are safe? When should you call in an electrician to take care of the electrical repairs for you?

Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:

1. ALWAYS keep all of your electrical devices away from water sources inside your house. This means bathtubs, faucets, showers, and the like. Electricity and water goes together like fire and gasoline - don't do it!
2. ALWAYS keep plastic covers on outlets that are not in use if you have pets or small children running around. That added barrier could be the difference in a run to the emergency room.
3. ALWAYS repair or replace broken or frayed cords or electrical devices. Devices in disrepair can be extremely dangerous.
4. NEVER pull out a plug by the cord. You could easily damage the cord (see the point above) or the outlet itself.
5. NEVER overcrowd an electrical outlet with multiple splitters and/or extension cords.
6. NEVER work on an electrical device while it is plugged in and ALWAYS flip the fuse off when working on an outlet or other wiring in the wall.

Hopefully these are mostly obvious points, but you never know these days. Stay safe out there!