Electricity is an amazing and powerful force, which we harness to bring light, warmth, and a seemingly endless array of other uses into our homes. Working behind the scenes, electricians, utility companies, and municipal inspectors all work to ensure electricity can be used to its full extent in a safe manner by you and your family. All you need to do is follow a few important precautions to practice solid electrical safety.

Different Types of Electrical Hazards

The awesome power of electricity is something we might take for granted, but there are two ways electricity can cause damage and hurt us: electrical shocks and electrical fires.

Electrical shocks can range from mildly to excruciatingly painful and even deadly. All it takes is a careless slip of the finger while plugging a device into a receptacle (outlet), or a faulty appliance on a poorly grounded circuit, and you can instantly become the path that electricity constantly seeks.

Electrical fires can be started from a loose connection in an outlet or junction box, too much electrical demand placed on an older system, or when there are simply too many things plugged into a receptacle. In fact, between 2014-2018, electrical equipment such as wiring, lighting, cords and plugs were involved in an estimated average of about 34,000 home structure fires per year!

How to Avoid Electric Shocks

If you’ve ever had an electrical shock, you’ve probably learned the hard way to respect electricity and to be extra vigilant when handling electrical equipment. When plugging something into a receptacle, for example, you know to make sure your fingers are not touching the metal prongs as you insert the plug. Even if a piece of your clothing or jewelry touches them, you can be subject to a painful shock. If you see a spark or hear a slight buzzing noise in a receptacle or a switch, that might be a small sign of a big problem that needs attention sooner rather than later. 

Properly installed electrical systems are the best way to avoid shocks. For example, any receptacles near water, outdoors, in a basement or a garage must have GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) protection. This added layer of protection will cut off power if there is any shock potential sensed in the circuit before you get the chance to take the hit yourself. 

Reduce the Risk of Electrical Fires

One of the easiest things you can do to greatly reduce the risk of electrical fires in your home is to eliminate as many extension cords and power strip as possible. While some power strips do come with built-in overload and GFCI protection, they can lead to overuse of a single outlet. While a circuit breaker is designed to cut off power to the circuit in the event of a spike in current, running a heavy load just under the cutoff point for the circuit breaker for a long period of time can cause heat damage that erodes the integrity of the wire insulation. Once the insulation has been eroded, there is a greater chance of arcing between the wires. 

The latest version of the National Electrical Code, which is published by the National Fire Prevention Association, requires nearly all circuits in a home to have arc-fault protection. This is a highly sensitive type of protection that can sense even the slightest electrical arc and shut power off to the circuit, greatly reducing the risk of that arc turning into a fire. 

Another simple tip to reducing electrical fire risk is to follow this easy rule: never plug more than one heat-generating device into a single receptacle. In other words, don’t plug a toaster and a countertop air fryer into the same outlet on your counter. These types of devices have a high electrical demand, which can put undue strain on your system.

If you have an older electrical system in your home, chances are it was not designed for all the devices you are now using. You may not have all the protection you need so it’s time to call your licensed electrician. 

Protect Yourself

Technology has allowed us to tame the incredible power of electricity for our benefit, and if we use it properly our options for its use will only keep expanding. What this means is that we must be more and more vigilant about using it with care and thoughtfulness, so that we may utilize it in as safe a manner as possible. Taking a quick moment to go through your home and assessing the electrical safety measures outlined here can mean the difference between a very bad time and a safe and fully functional electrical system. If there is anything that gives you pause, don’t hesitate to call Keating Electric so we can help you make and keep your home as safe as possible.