A Lively Source of Real Estate & Community News
May 2001
An Electrical Tale:
The savage Gardener
What You Don’t Know Can Shock You!
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lectricity is a wonderful tool that makes thousands of things possible. But we should always remember just how powerful electricity is and to use it safely. Having a father and brother in the electrical business (dad is retired from a large utility company and bro is an electrician), I was raised with a healthy respect for the beast that lurked behind the switch plates of our home. But sometimes we learn the hard way. Years ago, while renovating a friend’s house in Alabama, I was perched on a rickety ladder above a nail-filled pile of paneling, poised to cut an interior wire. I thought I had switched off the right circuit (it tested as a dead circuit) but when I cut the wire—to my great surprise! —it blew me right off the ladder and onto the pile of paneling. The metal wire cutters were melted and I shook for hours. Luckily not one nail punctured me. So here’s some handy tips so you don’t repeat my folly: General Safety Tips: Once or twice a year, check switches and outlets for any sign of heat coming through them. If they are warm to the touch, have them checked and replaced immediately. Never open the door of the "main switch" (where power enters your home) even if you suspect trouble. Instead, call a qualified electrician. Every dwelling should have smoke detectors located in places such as the family or recreation room, hallways and corridors leading to bedrooms. Have at least one multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher handy and make sure that
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ay is a great time to everyone knows how to use it. Never use start making the water on grease or electrical fires. greatest organic matter Keep portable electric heaters away from all you can ever add to your combustible materials and unplug when not soil—compost. Tips: in use. Healthy compost Wiring, Fuses and Breakers: smells pleasantly If your electrical panel uses fuses, always earthy—turn it more replace a fuse with the proper amount of often and add more dry amperes. Never substitute a higher amp fuse brown matter if yours smells funky. where a smaller one is called for as it poses a fire hazard. Never change one in the dark or Water your compost pile only during while standing on a wet floor. extended dry weather If you blow a fuse or throw a breaker by but only enough to overloading a circuit, make sure that moisten it, not drench appliances on that circuit are turned off or the contents. unplugged before you replace/reset. Two basic elements When your home or cottage was built, the make compost: green electrical installation was inspected to ensure (grass clippings, old that it met the Electrical Safety Code at the annuals) & brown (dry time. Keep your wiring safe. If you add to it, leaves, soil, garden be sure to have an electrical inspection. debris). Try for a Check for rust on your fuse balance of one part box caused by moisture seeping green to one to two parts brown, until the in. It can corrode connections mix is damp but not causing overheating and fire. wet. Electrical Cords: Warning: Do not lectric cords are insulated to compost animal waste, protect you from the meats, oils, diseased electricity running through the wires inside. When an appliance plants or plants treated with weed killers. or tool is on, these wires are "live" and could cause a shock Compiled for happy clients by: upon contact with them. Bruce Johnson Never use a tool or appliance Sales Representative with a frayed cord or where the insulation is Mary Johnson nicked and wires are exposed. Assistant Keep cords clean and dry to prevent RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc. insulation from deteriorating and to reduce 1263 Mosley St., Box 490 Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0 the risk of shocks. email: brucejohnson@remax.net Don't wind cords tightly around an object as www.thehomehunt.com the stress could cause the small wires inside Tel: 705-429-4500 to snap or break. Fax: 705-429-4019
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~Bruce