ELECTRICAL SAFETY

May is 'Electrical Safety Month.' What do I need to look for in my home?

Article and Images Courtesy of the Laney's Inc.

Good electrical safety practices can help keep you and your home safe from hazards arising due to the use of electricity.

“It's easy to practice electrical safety,” said Matt Johnson, electrical department manager Laney’s in Fargo. “Remember that electricity always takes the shortest path to the ground. It will go through wire, metal, wet objects ... or you. It's invisible, but very real, so treat it with respect,” he said.

“We get several calls from customers who have questions about electrical service in a home,” Johnson said. “If they are buying, selling or remodeling, I usually recommend they have it inspected by a professional electrician,” he added.

Johnson also recommends you call a qualified electrician if you have:

Recurring problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers

A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance

Discolored or warm wall outlets

A burning smell or rubbery odor coming from an appliance, Flickering lights

Sparks from an outlet

Cracked or broken outlets

“Depending on the problem, the home owner should consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician, especially in older homes which have fewer circuits that could be overloaded with today’s appliances” he said.

Wires run around and through our houses. Each year hundreds are electrocuted in their homes, and thousands are injured in electricalrelated accidents … accidents that can be prevented with a little foresight, and some common sense.

Indoor safety tips:

Remember: Electricity and water don’t mix. Keep appliances away from water and always use a GFCI outlet near water, outdoors, or in your garage.

Unplug appliances before you clean them and when they are not in use. Push small appliances to the back of your counters. Make sure you use all three prongs of your electric plugs, and replace worn or frayed cords immediately.

Never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit. Never nail or tack cords to walls or floors.

Never use a “cheater” on a two-prong outlet or simply replace it with a three prong. A qualified electrician can help you make the switch safely.

Don't overload electrical outlets. If your lights when appliances are turned on, or if fuses or circuit breakers blow frequently, you should have your wiring checked.

Never unplug or carry anything by its cord. Don't run cords under carpets or furniture; the cords can overheat and/or become frayed.

Use extension cords only for temporary wiring. Prevent children from poking things into electrical outlets by installing tamper resistant receptacles or outlet plugs.

Outdoor safety tips: Keep all ladders and other tools in the SAFE ZONE, at least 10 feet from any power lines. Always make sure that, if the ladder fell, it would not contact any power lines or other electrical equipment. This rule also applies to television and radio antennas. They should be far enough away so that if they were blown over, they would not fall into overhead lines. Outdoor outlets should be on a circuit protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), which are required in newer homes in bathrooms, garages, outdoors, and near sinks. GFCIs can be added as a temporary plug-in adapter, added as a replacement outlet, or even installed as a circuit breaker.

Don’t let your kids climb or play in trees if there are power lines nearby, or if there are lines touching or growing through the branches. Kids should also know that padmounted transformers (those green metal cabinets around your neighborhood) are not safe places to play.

“Electricity is something we cannot live without, but it is something we should use safely. Remember to always consult a qualified electrician with any concerns,” Johnson said.

Laney’s Inc. is a locally owned plumbing, heating, cooling, indoor air quality, and electrical company that has been providing quality home and business comfort services to the Red River Valley area for more than 50 years.For more information call (701) 237-0543 or visit laneysinc.com