Electrician Recommended Ways To Improve Electrical Safety In Your Home | Myrtle Beach, SC

6/16/2022

Most people never think about their home’s electrical systems until they have problems. However, it’s a great idea to learn how to keep your family safe in an emergency or power outage. If you’re like some homeowners in Myrtle Beach, SC, you probably don’t think much about electricity beyond turning on lights or powering your television. Yet electrical fires are a common source of home-related injuries and fatalities, and many of those injuries could easily be avoided with a few simple safety measures.

Hire a Licensed Technician

Ensure the electrician you hire is licensed and has a current license to work in Myrtle Beach, SC. If they are not permitted, they should be honest about it and tell you if they are working toward becoming certified. A professional association will help you verify that they are members of their local chapter or organization, so make sure that your electrician is a member before hiring them for any projects at home.

Install a Lightning Rod

Installing a lightning rod in your home is one of the best ways to protect yourself from electrical shock and fire. A lightning rod is simply a metal rod designed to attract lightning strikes, which may otherwise cause damage to your house and private property. The metal rod channels the electricity through it so that it doesn’t contact surrounding objects or people, thus eliminating the possibility of electrical shock or fire occurring should an object become energized by the strike.

When choosing where you’ll place your lightning rods, be sure that they’re at least eight feet high off the ground (preferably higher) and not stuck indoors during a storm. This will help prevent any debris from falling onto them during storms. If you have tall trees or other structures nearby, an electrician will know the best place to place them.

Always Inspect Cords Before Using

Inspecting the cord of your appliance will help you ensure it’s working correctly and there’s no risk of electric shock or electrocution when using it. You should check for any signs of overheating, moisture damage in rusting or discoloration, especially where two different materials meet, and loose wires near bare metal parts like screws. This could indicate a short circuit. Exposed conductors around faulty insulation material covering internal wiring could tell an improper repair job, and you should call an electrical services provider to fix it.

Install a Backup Generator

Your backup generator is an essential piece of equipment for any home. It can protect you from the dangers of a power outage and provide you with electricity when a storm knocks down trees and power lines. However, if your generator malfunctions, it could cause more problems than it solves. By hiring an electrician to install the unit properly, you can avoid these issues and keep yourself safe during a power outage.

If your backup generator fails at any point in its lifespan or after installation, do not attempt to fix it yourself. As with any other machinery or appliance, always call an expert if something goes wrong—even if that expert is an electrician you have hired before. If there is something wrong with your backup generator or its installation, they will be able to assess whether repairs are necessary and complete them efficiently.

Test Your Smoke Alarms

If you’re looking to improve electrical safety in your home, you must have your smoke alarms tested regularly. You have an electrician replace the unit with a new one as soon as possible. There isn’t an audible chirp after a few seconds. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly, but if you’ve had a lot of family members over or been cooking a lot lately, it might be time to try them more frequently.

Replace Damaged Electrical Devices

While checking the devices, make sure to look for any damage. If you see cracks or other signs of wear on the casing, it’s time to replace your device. Also, check that there aren’t any wires or other loose parts protruding from the device; these can be an electrical hazard and should be cut away using wire cutters.

If you need to replace a device because of safety concerns or it isn’t working correctly, make sure it’s UL-approved. You may also want to consider replacing older appliances with newer models (such as refrigerators) if the manufacturer has recalled them because of fire hazards. An electrician can help you determine the best devices to replace old ones based on your electrical wiring and installation.

Consider Surge Protectors for Your Home

A surge protector, also known as an extension cord or power strip, is a device that protects your electronics from electrical surges. These surges can be caused by lightning strikes near your home or from nearby power lines coming into contact.

A surge protector works by intercepting excess voltage before it reaches your devices and diverting it to the ground wire in the wall outlet. This prevents the voltage from reaching the electronics and causing damage to them. Surge protectors are beneficial because they protect expensive devices from becoming unusable due to damage caused by electrical surges.

Use Extension Cords Sparingly and Correctly

When using extension cords, people’s biggest mistake is using them for too long and with equipment not designed for it. For the most part, using extension cords is a necessary evil. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the easiest ways to cause a fire or electrocution.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends you keep your extension cord use to a minimum and only on devices that have been rated appropriately by the manufacturer. If there is any doubt about whether or not an appliance can be safely used with an extension cord, don’t take chances: don’t plug it in at all, and have a recommendation from an electrician. This will protect both yourself and others from potential harm.

Let Us Help You Keep Your Family Safe

Many people in Myrtle Beach, SC, don’t realize how many electrical dangers are in their homes. If you decide to make electrical changes in your home, you must hire a qualified electrician who can ensure your home and family are safe. With a little bit of extra effort and some basic information, you can keep yourself and your family safe while using electricity at home. You can ensure that everyone’s well-being is out of harm’s way by calling Mister Sparky of Myrtle Beach for electrical repairs and services.

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