Safety and Electrical Tips

A few precautions around the home can literally save your life.

  • Smoke Alarms

    • Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every floor out side sleeping areas and in every bed room.
    • Test them once a month
    • Change the battery every spring and fall.
  • Electrical Cords

    • Make sure cords are in good conditions- not frayed or cracked.
    • Keep cords out of areas with lots of traffic - where they could be tripped on.
    • Cords should never be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard, or to another object
    • Do not place cords under carpets or rugs or rest any furniture on them
    • Don't overload outlets with cords - multiple power strips or extensions cords
    • Never unplug or carry anything by its cord
    • If your television experiences flicker or the picture shrinks when you turn on a major appliance, your circuit maybe overloaded and needs to be checked by a professional
  • Light bulbs

    • Use the proper wattage light bulbs in fixtures and lamps
    • CFL - Compact Florescent Lights - replacing the standard bulbs in your home with these will cost you less energy use!
    • Placing high wattage bulbs into your light fixtures can degrade the wires in the fixtures. Like placing a 100w bulb into a socket designed for a 60w bulb
  • Circuit Breakers/Fuses

    • Circuit Breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their circuit
    • If you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used
    • Consider having your fuse box replaced with a safer and more reliable breaker box
  • GFI Protection

    A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) will disconnect power automatically when a plugged-in electrical product leaks electricity to ground. Outdoors, where water and electricity can easily inadvertently come together, a GFCI is a lifesaver, not a luxury. A GFCI is a simple device reasonably priced. If you are unsure about installation, seek a qualified electrician.

  • Testing GFCIs

    To be sure your life-protecting GFCIs are working properly, use this test or the instructions that come with the GFCI.

    • Plug a night light (or radio turned up loud, if you have a circuit breaker GFCI) into a GFCI-protected wall outlet, and turn it on.
    • Press the GFCI test button or switch. The light or radio should go off.
    • Press the reset feature to restore power.

    If the light or radio does not go off when the test button or switch is pressed, the GFCI is not working or is not wired correctly. Contact a qualified electrician to correct the problem or install a new GFCI.