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The Homeowner’s Guide to Electrical Safety: Preventing Hazards Indoors & Outdoors

Electricity keeps lighting, outlets, and essential appliances functioning in your home, but electrical hazards could pose a danger to your life and property. Practicing good home electrical safety protects your home.

Let’s take a look at indoor and outdoor electrical safety, including:

In this article, we’ll review these factors and offer some electrical safety tips for homeowners.

Protecting Your Home From Electrical Hazards

Minor electrical issues can escalate into significant safety risks if left unattended, so you should proactively prevent electrical hazards at home. 

Overloaded Circuits

Plugging too many devices in at once could cause overheating or ignite an electrical fire. 

Damaged Extension Cords

Check extension cords for frayed or cracked areas and replace damaged cords to reduce the risk of electrocution or fire.

Outdated Wiring

Wiring in older homes may not be able to handle modern electrical loads. Installing new wiring and modern appliances could improve safety and reduce electrical bills.

Contact a licensed electrician near you for a home safety inspection to uncover hidden issues. Incorrect installations can be dangerous, so it’s often best to leave electrical work to the professionals.

Indoor Electrical Safety: GFCI Outlets and Safe Power Usage

Get proactive about indoor electrical safety. Learning to prevent electrical fires at home helps keep your family safe.

Safe Use of Extension Cords, Power Strips, and Outlets

Three-prong outlets are safer than two, so consider an upgrade if you still have older outlets. Use a power strip to avoid plugging multiple appliances into the same outlet. Some devices, like space heaters, should be plugged directly into the wall.

Don’t use daisy-chain power strips, and avoid putting rugs or other items on top of an electrical cord. Be sure to unplug appliances when you aren’t using them.

Where to Install GFCI Outlets

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet is designed for high-moisture areas. It interrupts the power flow to help prevent accidental electrocution.

For optimal GFCI outlet safety, install them anywhere moisture might impact the outlet. This includes:

  • Bathrooms
  • Kitchens
  • Basements
  • Crawl spaces
  • Laundry rooms
  • Garages
  • Outdoor spaces

Signs You Need an Electrical Inspection

If you notice flickering lights or your circuit breakers frequently trip, these are signs of a potential problem. Call a professional electrician if you see discolored outlets, hear buzzing sounds, or smell burning near a light switch or outlet.

Preventing Electrical Damage During Power Outages

Power surges can damage electronics and appliances, including TVs, computers, washing machines, and air conditioners, by overloading the internal components.

How to Protect Appliances During a Power Outage

Unplugging devices before a storm and using surge protectors help keep your electronics safe. Power strips with built-in power surge protection for home electronics can protect a few small devices simultaneously. Whole-home surge protection installed at the main electrical panel blocks voltage spikes before they reach your devices.

Outdoor Electrical Safety: Lighting and Weatherproofing

Outdoor lighting, security systems, and outlets enhance your outdoor living space, but wiring your yard, deck, or patio brings unique challenges. 

Regarding outdoor safety lighting for home security, motion-sensor lights conserve energy while improving nighttime visibility. Outdoor security lighting installation in Michigan requires a professional electrician with experience safely wiring home exteriors.

Weatherproofing outdoor electrical outlets involves choosing fixtures, wiring, and extension cords rated for outdoor use. Waterproof outlet covers reduce the chance of moisture entering the electrical system.

When to Call a Professional Electrician

While picking an extension cord and using power strips are simple tasks you can handle, anything involving the actual wiring in your home requires a professional electrician. Routine inspections ensure your wiring is up-to-date and code-compliant. 

You should contact a professional immediately if you notice burning smells, strange noises, sparking appliances, or unexplained power fluctuations.

At Thornton & Grooms, our licensed electricians provide professional home safety inspections, surge protection installations, and electrical system upgrades.