Protecting Your Family From Electrical Hazards in the Home

Electricity provides us with light, warmth, and music. It allows us to access our favorite television shows and websites. These days, many of us even read on a device powered by electricity. It’s a fundamental part of modern life, but can also pose electrical hazards in your home.

Electrical Fires: How Often Do They Occur?

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 500 people are killed in house electrical fires each year, and a frightening 51,000 electrical fires occur in general. Even if everyone survives the fire, many families are left out in the cold after their home and all possessions are destroyed. If this sounds like your worst nightmare, rest assured it’s preventable.

Staying Safe: Do You Have Electrical Hazards in Your Home?

1. Watch Your Lighting

Never use bulbs that exceed the recommended wattage for any light socket. Most lamps and sockets have labels that recommend a certain wattage, exceeding this wattage creates an electrical hazard. Be mindful when using halogen lamps, which tend to run hotter than other lighting options. When in use, avoid electrical hazards by keeping the area free of flammable materials.

2. Check Your Sockets

Overloading a socket is never a good thing. Rather than plugging multiple extenders into an outlet to allow more devices, consider talking to an electrician about installing additional sockets. Many older homes were not designed for the modern world. A few decades ago, people didn’t have cell phones, e-readers, laptops, and gaming consoles to find outlets for. Rather than deal with this hassle (and create an electrical hazard), it makes more sense to have an additional outlet installed.

3. Give It a Feel

If you’re concerned that an outlet might be hazardous, give it a gentle touch with dry hands. If it feels hot, you likely have a problem brewing. Many people don’t realize that electrical wiring wears out over time, much like every other part of your home. The peace of mind can be worth the price when it comes to having modern wiring put in. If you’re worried, consider getting a quote from an electrician.

4. Deal with Exposed Wiring

Not every home is up to par. If you move into an apartment and find exposed wiring in the sockets, be sure to speak to your landlord right away. This is a fire hazard, and it likely isn’t up to code. If you have exposed wiring in your own home, now is the time to have it taken care of. Make sure all outlets have covers. Not only can exposed wiring lead to house electrical hazard lead to fires, but it can also cause electrocution in children or pets.

Keep Your Home Safe: National Electrical Safety Month

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and the team at Mister Sparky OKC shares these ideas to help you keep your home safer. If you’re concerned that your wiring, lighting or electrical devices might be dangerous, please contact us today. With every Mister Sparky appointment, we provide a 28-point safety inspection to help uncover any electrical safety hazard in your home. Our expert electricians will keep you knowledgeable about the current safety status of your house.