As helpful and reliable as electricity is we must always remember that it can be very dangerous and even deadly if we are careless with it. Here are a few safety tips for in the home to help minimize the risks involved with electricity.
- Make sure you have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) installed at all outlets that are near water.
- Do not plug too many appliances into one outlet. Overloaded wires may overheat and cause a fire.
- Always disconnect appliances before servicing
- Keep combustible materials such as curtains, paper and clothing away from lamps and heating devices.
- Do not patch frayed appliance cords or extension cords.
- Do not run cords behind radiators, through doorways, around pipes, near metal objects or anywhere they can get tripped over.
- All major appliances such as automatic washers and dryers should have their own circuit and be”grounded” with a 3-prong plug.
- Always unplug small appliances when not in use.