Electrician Safety Tips To Keep In Mind | Wilmington, NC
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Electrical services are essential to any homeowner or a business owner in Wilmington, NC. Still, it’s easy to take your electrical system for granted until something goes wrong, and you need someone with the expertise to fix it quickly and effectively. You may not think that electricity is something you need to worry about, but it’s crucial to be aware of your surroundings. Electricity can hurt or even kill you if you aren’t careful. Here are some electrical safety guidelines to keep you safe from potentially fatal electrical mishaps.
1. Hire Licensed Electricians
When it comes to electrical work, be wary of hiring unlicensed contractors. This can be a serious safety concern and be against the law. If workers are doing electrical work without a license, they may not have been well trained to handle electricity safely. In some cases, an unlicensed electrician may cut corners and skip essential procedures that are vital for your family’s safety.
A qualified expert is considerably more likely to follow safety precautions when working on your electrical system. Work with electricians with years of experience, such as Mister Sparky of Wilmington, NC.
2. Use Surge Protectors
For obvious reasons, surge protectors should be used to prevent excess voltage from reaching your electrical devices. But don’t assume that it’s enough to plug your computer or other expensive electronics into a surge protector. All connected appliances and electronics should be plugged into them, as well. If you use power strips rather than individual outlets with surge protectors, make sure they have an on/off switch so you can disable them when they aren’t in use.
3. Keep Your Home Correctly Wired
When you’re planning to remodel or build a home, it’s essential to consult with an electrician. A professional can handle all electrical services, such as repairing outlets and installing wiring and light fixtures. Hiring an electrician early in your project can help prevent mistakes or costly errors later on. Also, if you have concerns about electricity at your existing home, it’s never too late to call an electrician.
It can be easy to skip electrical services when planning a home remodel or addition. However, it’s important to budget time and money for professional electricians. A licensed electrician can handle any electrical problem in your home, including faulty wiring and loose outlets. The last thing you want is a fire due to faulty wiring.
4. Avoid Overloading Outlets
Overloading outlets can lead to fire, so ensure that you’re not overloading your circuits using a simple outlet checker. This is quickly done by plugging in an outlet checker and ensuring it doesn’t trip. If it does trip, then remove a cord or two until you’re able to reset it.
Do not overload your electrical system by plugging many large appliances into one outlet. For example, if you have a toaster and microwave plugged into an outlet, do not put anything else in there. The electrical system can only handle so much, so even though these things may be different types of appliances requiring different amounts of electricity, it’s too much for one circuit.
5. Be Careful Around Water
Always turn off and unplug appliances before working around them. This is especially important when dealing with electrical devices that contain water, like a washing machine or dishwasher. It’s also wise to avoid any electrical repairs in humid environments conducive to electric shock. Before contacting anything that could transmit electricity, make sure your hands are dry.
Another tip is to be careful when using electrical equipment that can fall into the water, like a lawnmower or leaf blower. Never try to fix these devices while they’re in or near water, or turn them on when your hands are wet. If you’re cleaning or washing a device, ensure it’s unplugged first. The increased moisture could cause an electric shock if not handled properly.
6. Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
If a GFCI senses any electricity leak in your home, it will shut off immediately to prevent an electrical shock. This also prevents damage to electrical outlets and circuitry. Be sure to install them everywhere you can. You’ll find them around sinks, garages, laundry rooms, and outside fixtures, among other places.
GFCIs are also required by code in any location with a bathtub, shower, or other potentially wet areas. Any GFCI outlet you install should have a test and reset button so that you can check if it’s working. To keep it working, test it once a month to ensure that it still detects small electrical leaks. If your outlets don’t have built-in GFCIs, they should at least have circuit breakers to prevent electricity from running through an overloaded circuit. Make sure all of these circuits are rated correctly for their intended use.
7. Take Precautions Against Lightning Strikes
We can’t always predict when a storm will hit, but it’s essential to take precautions against lightning. These strikes can cause electrical fires, shock, and even death making it crucial to keep ourselves safe from harm. One of the most common ways to do so is by using surge protectors in our electrical outlets.
Have an electrician install a lightning arrestor. Lightning arrestors are more effective than surge protectors and can be installed in your home’s electrical system. They work by drawing any excess voltage away from your home and safely grounding it, which can help prevent damaging electrical fires. Be sure to have your local professional install one if you live in an area with frequent thunderstorms, such as in Wilmington, NC.
Safety First – Get Professional Help For Electrical Works
When electricity is being used, there’s always some risk involved. However, electrical safety doesn’t have to be difficult if you’re diligent about following basic safety precautions. The most crucial thing to remember when working around electricity is to use the utmost caution. Always think of safety first before attempting to work on any electrical system. Contact Mister Sparky of Wilmington if you feel uncomfortable or uncertain in any way while working with your wiring. We will assess your situation and help guide you towards fixing your issue safely.