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Important 5 Tips and Tricks About Electrical Safety




1. If you notice hot faceplates, take action

Faceplates fit around electrical switches and outlets. If you ever notice they are hot to the touch, it’s important to take action quickly as you likely have an electrical problem. The problem could be that you’ve overloaded the outlet with too many electrical appliances or there is a loose wire. To reduce the risk of an electrical fire, you should turn off the power to that outlet via the circuit breaker box and call an experienced electrician.


2. Don’t ignore a circuit breaker that keeps tripping

If every time you turn on an appliance or a light the circuit breaker trips, it indicates a potentially hazardous problem. The problem could be with the appliance, light switch, or the circuit breaker itself. If you’ve noticed that a circuit breaker has tripped, head back to your electrical panel/switchboard and read the label next to the breaker. This will tell you which section of your home or which large appliance, such as your air conditioner, furnace, or water heater, has caused the problem. If this is the first time the breaker has tripped, it could indicate a temporary overload and it may be safe to reset the breaker. However, if the breaker refuses to reset or continues to trip, it’s best to leave it tripped and call a qualified electrician.


3. Remember flickering lights are not normal

When you flip a light switch, the light should turn on instantly. It should not flicker or fail to turn on. If you notice that you have a light that flickers or doesn’t operate as expected, it could indicate a problem with the wiring, switch, light fixture, or bulb. If replacing the bulb does not fix the problem, you will need an electrician to come out to your home and test the switch, wiring, and fixture.


4. Don’t rely on extension cords long term

Extension cords are a temporary solution for when you need to power a tool or have extra light. However, they should not be used as a long-term solution because the cord can quickly deteriorate, which exposes wires and creates a fire risk. You should also never run an extension cord under a rug or carpet or through puddles of water. To eliminate the risk caused by the permanent use of an extension cord, consider having new outlets installed in the areas where you need them.


5. Always use power boards as directed


If you are using a power board to create more outlets for your electronics, always read the package instructions. Power Boards should always be plugged directly into the outlet and never an extension cord or power strip. You should never plug a power board into another power board as this could create a dangerous electrical situation. Again, you may also want to consider having more electrical outlets installed instead of using extra powerboards.





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