The season is changing, and home owners are gearing up for spring cleaning. Whether tidying the house is a priority this season or not, it is a good time to take notice of the most common electrical hazards and make adjustments to ensure families stay safe.
Experts from Mister Sparky® electric, part of the Direct Energy family of brands with independently owned and operated locations throughout North America, urge residents to pay attention to these electrical hazards, as they are often overlooked.
Misplaced extension cords
Homeowners know not to run cords across the floor, as it could cause harmful falls. But it’s important to remember you must also not run extension cords under carpets, drape them through bushes or nail them to walls in an effort to move them out of the way. This is a fire hazard.
Dirty or old smoke detectors
Although it may look clean, dust can accumulate inside the cover of your smoke detector. Gently vacuum with a soft brush to avoid false alarms, and then double-check the battery and the manufacture date. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends replacing smoke detectors every 10 years or per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Faulty circuits, outlets
Check for discolored switches or switches that feel warm to the touch. If you have circuits that trip frequently or fuses that blow frequently, call a professional electrician for help.
Unsuitable light bulbs
Misusing compact fluorescent lightbulbs can cause house fires. You should not use them in pot lights, dimmers, recessed lighting or track lighting. If you have a dimmer application, you must use dimmable bulbs. Also, check the bulb wattage requirements and recommendations on your lamps and fixtures. A bulb with too high a wattage can cause damage to the product or even a fire.
The Mister Sparky team is happy to answer any questions you have regarding your electrical system and appliances to help ensure your home is safe.
For more information, visit www. MisterSparky.com or www.direct energy.com and find licensed electricians in your area.
Tips from CPSC
The following are a few simple steps from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for preventing home electrical fires:
- Install smoke alarms in your home. CPSC recommends smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms. Replace batteries annually.
- Have a professional inspect your heating, cooling and water appliances annually.
- Inspect electrical cords for signs of wear, cracks or age, and keep lighting away from combustibles.
- Have a fire escape plan and practice it so family members know what to do and where to meet if there’s a fire in your home.
- When shopping for smoke alarms, consider the different types of smoke alarms. Ionization-type detectors respond quickly to flaming fires.
Photoelectric-type detectors respond sooner to smoldering fires. Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires and you cannot predict what type of fire might start in your home, CPSC staff recommends you install dual-sensor or both ionization- and photoelectric- type smoke alarms in your home.
For more information, visit www.cpsc. gov or call (301) 504-7923.
