Electrical Maintenance And Safety Precautions From Your Emergency Electrician | Wilmington, NC
Today, electric power runs motors and machines and drives home appliances. Electricity is one of the most valuable things invented, but it can also be hazardous when misused. Like many other things globally, electricity has its uses and abuse. While electricity is beneficial, its abuse can have serious consequences. Safety precautions are necessary when dealing with electricity. How do you do this?
Inspect Your Electric Appliances Regularly
These include your refrigerator, freezer, microwave, dishwasher, and clothes dryer. Also, check the exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen and their vents for signs of lint buildup or other problems. If you spot anything unusual, contact an emergency electrician immediately to resolve the problem before serious issues occur.
Check All Cords and Wires for Damage
Before using any item, check for visible signs of damage to the appliance or its cords and wires. If you find any, fix or replace them immediately. Just because a cable looks fine doesn’t mean it is safe to use. If a cord feels warm to the touch, it could be damaged internally. Even if a piece of equipment appears to be working fine, a damaged cable or wire can cause a shock or fire.
To avoid these problems, check all of your electronics before moving them. If you find any damaged cords or wires, have them replaced by a professional emergency electrician before using the equipment again.
Install Surge Protectors in Your Home or Office
A power surge occurs when there is a sudden increase in voltage from your utility lines. This can damage appliances, computers, and other electronics, potentially damage your walls’ wiring and cause a fire hazard. A surge protector will absorb excess electricity and reduce the risk of damage from power surges, which is why many electronic devices come with built-in surge protection technology today. If you live in Wilmington, NC, contact Mister Sparky of Wilmington for professional electrician services.
Regular Inspections of Your Electrical Panel
You may not know much about your electrical panel if you’re a homeowner. But you should know that keeping it up to date and in good condition is essential for safety and efficiency.
The electrical panel provides power to outlets and lights throughout your home by creating branch circuits through the distribution of wires and circuit breakers.
An inspection of your electrical panel should take place at least once a year or every time you buy a new appliance or gadget that uses electricity. This will help ensure that there isn’t any damage or wear and tear to the electrical panel that could cause problems down the road. You can perform this type of inspection yourself, but it’s best to have a professional emergency electrician inspect your electrical panel for any potential issues.
Check the GFCI Outlets in Your Home
The GFCI outlets are designed to prevent fires from starting with electricity. The GFCI outlet is a safety feature that can prevent electrocution in the event of a malfunction. It is required by code in most areas in Wilmington, NC, and typically installed near water sources, like the bathroom or kitchen where you may be using electrical appliances, such as hair dryers or blenders. You will have to call an emergency electrician to replace them when you start noticing that they are going off often without any reason.
Have A Qualified Emergency Electrician Inspect the Wiring
If you’re moving into a new home, or if it’s been a while since you’ve had your home’s electrical wiring inspected, consider hiring an emergency electrician to give everything a thorough check. You’ll need an electrical inspection done if you’re selling a home. The inspector will look at all the electrical parts of the house and make sure they’re up to Wilmington, NC, code. The inspector will also look for any safety concerns.
Protect Outlets from Moisture When Cleaning
Electrical outlets are some of the essential components in your home, but they’re also the most often overlooked. When you’re cleaning, you may not even notice that they’re there unless they require a good scrubbing. The simplest way to protect yourself and your family is to keep electrical outlets dry when mopping or cleaning near them. Consider purchasing outlet covers for your home and have an emergency electrician install them.
Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
You’ve probably heard that overloading electrical outlets is a safety hazard. It’s true, but it’s worth understanding why they say that and what you can do to avoid the risks involved. If your appliances stop working due to overloading, contact an emergency electrician to prevent more damage to your house appliances.
The most obvious danger is the fire risk caused by overloaded outlets. Overloaded wires and outlets can become hot to touch and could start a fire in your walls or behind your furniture. This is especially true if you have old wiring in your home because older wires are more susceptible to heat damage from overloading. If you plug too many items into an outlet, it can also cause shock.
Install Lightning Arrestors
Lightning arrestors are components used in electrical wiring to protect electrical equipment from the damaging effects of lightning strikes. Often also called “surge arresters,” “lightning diverters,” or “lightning suppressors,” they are used in power lines and radio transmission towers, along with other locations where lightning strikes can cause damage or disruption.
The technology behind these devices has been refined over the years, but the concept is relatively simple. An emergency electrician will ground an electrical line, and the lightning arrestors will divert lightning’s current into the ground itself instead of through the electrical network. This helps ensure no damage occurs to sensitive electronics affected by an electrical surge.
Keep Your Electrical System in Top Shape
Electrical problems are one of the hazardous and costly home maintenance problems you can experience. It is easy to ignore electricity safety because it usually works to our advantage. But when things do go wrong, the effects can be disastrous. Take care of electrical work, and remember that you are using tools that can cause serious harm.
Keeping your home’s electrical system in good shape is essential by undertaking a few safety precautions and routine maintenance procedures to ensure it functions properly. Contact Mister Sparky of Wilmington if you require an emergency electrician for regular equipment maintenance and repairs. Call us today to schedule a free consultation!