5 Things You Can Do to Check Your Electrical Safety at Home

Electricity is used for nearly everything. It plays a part in work, entertainment, and much more. Since electricity isn’t something we think about, many people don’t do safety checks for outlets, wiring, and cords. However, it’s important to do to make sure your belongings and family are always safe.

1 Use Your Senses

One of the best things you can do when it comes to electrical safety is to use your senses. While taste doesn’t apply, you can pay attention to burning smells, listen for strange noises, and touch outlets to see how warm they get. When things like this occur, you need to dig deeper and find out what is amiss. If there is an issue, an electrician can help you resolve it.

2 Make Sure Outlets are Tamper-Resistant

For families with children, tamper-resistant outlets are a great safety feature. The outlets prevent items like coils and paperclips from entering an outlet, so children (and others) don’t experience electrical shock. Look at the outlets for plastic barriers. If there are black openings, the outlets are likely not tamper-resistant.

3 Check the Voltage of Outlets

Do you ever plug something in and notice flickering with your electronics? Dimming lights? If so, doing an outlet test is a good idea. Take a voltmeter and place it in the outlet. The meter will indicate how many volts are running through the outlet, which typically should be around 230. If the numbers are off, electricians can help.

4 Look at Extension Cords

Extension cords are a fact of life, especially when doing home improvement projects. Many people have one or two hanging out around their homes. These are so common that many people leave them sitting out for months. Extension cords are long-lasting, but you should look for damage from time to time.

5 Inspect Invisible Wires

Sometimes you’ll run across wires in your attic or basement. While they may be safe in areas you rarely visit, it’s worth inspecting them. Look to see if any areas of wiring are exposed. This could indicate wear and tear or rodents who chew on wires. Bring in a team of electricians to take care of exposed wires to prevent fires and other emergencies.

Follow these five steps to check your home’s electrical safety and ensure you and your family are safe. Remember that a professional can often handle any problems you find and prevent damage or injury. This is precisely why you should have the number of an experienced electrician such as Hilton Electrical to use when needed.