On any given day, you probably don’t give much thought to your home’s electrical system. After all, what’s there to think about? You turn the lights on, you turn the lights off. You need something from the fridge, you grab it.  Want to heat up those leftovers?  Just pop them in the microwave.  And then take your fast meal into the living room and watch a little TV.  All so simple, yes?

Not exactly.  Because the older your home and electrical wiring, the more likely you are to experience an electrical fire.  Older, frayed wiring is also responsible the kind of electrical shocks that can so easily be prevented.

And that’s the whole point of National Electrical Safety Month, celebrated across the land every May to help make all of us more aware of what can go wrong, and more motivated to take the necessary preventative measures.  Here are several ways you can make your home a safer living environment:

• Check the cords of your appliances for breaks or exposed wiring. If you do have an appliance or other electronic device with a bad cord, it should be replaced immediately. Don’t try to mend it yourself. The same holds true for extension cords.

• Don’t overload wall outlets or extension cords. If you have more appliances than a room can safely handle, have at least one other outlet installed or as many as it takes to cut down on your use of extension cords and multi-plug adapters.

• Make sure that your home is outfitted with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets near areas close to water, such as in bathrooms, your kitchen, laundry room, and outdoors. If a plugged-in appliance comes in contact with water, a GFCI will automatically disconnect power before any harm can be inflicted.

• Check your outlets and switches to ensure that there are no exposed wires, cracked switch plates or covers, and that none are over-heating. Cover unused outlets with plugs to help keep children and pets safe.

• Don’t use higher wattage bulbs than what is recommended for your lamps and light fixtures.
• Keep an approved fire extinguisher handy in your home and never try to put out an electrical fire with water.

• And finally, should you see sparks, smell something burning, or if your circuit breakers trip (or fuses blow) on a regular basis, call a licensed electrician right away.

From routine maintenance to electrical panel upgrades and home re-wiring, Excel Electric has the experience and know-how to help keep your home and family safe year-round. We also perform whole-house electrical wiring and safety inspections to check on the status and relative safety of your home’s electrical system.  If it’s been a year or longer since your last inspection, we urge you to call and schedule service today.