If you take a moment to think about your home, how many gadgets and electrical appliances are currently plugged into an outlet? I am sure there are multiple outlets occupied in every room of your home, but did you ever stop to think about how dangerous electrical cords can actually be?
The above picture may have caught your eye, but it is actually photo shopped… phew! That would be a scary sight to see in your home! However, an electrical outlet can cause a fire. The good news is, outlets do not usually catch fire on their own. Outlet fires most commonly start due to faulty wiring or bad cords. Here at Anchor Electric, we do not want to instill you with fear, but rather empower you to keep your home safe! We will inform you of how you can maintain cord and fire safety so that you can enjoy your electrical devices and appliances safely and for many years to come.
One simple step to take is to check the safety of the electrical cords in the home is to do a general sweep of the house and feel every cord plugged into an outlet. Check for any unusual warmth being emitted from the cord. When plugged into outlets, cords should be room temperature. Check the lamp cords, tv cords, coffee maker cord, and pull out and check appliances such as the refrigerator. Be sure to check the panel for warmth as well. If there is any heat emitted from these sources, call an electrician to further inspect the cord, outlet, or power source to avoid any overheating. Electrical outlets can cause house fires and you should contact an electrician if anything seems off.
Make sure to check all cords and plugs for any frayed or exposed wire and replace immediately if damage is located. Make sure all cords are free of kinks and are kept clear of heavy foot traffic areas in your home. Cords should be kept away from water sources and make sure to have GFCI protection if cords are used in a wet environment. It is important that appliances are properly grounded where used, such as using three-pronged cords with three-pin outlets. Plugs should also fit properly and remain snug in an outlet. If they are loose or tend to slide out, the outlet may need to be replaced. It is also better to plug cords directly into outlets and only use extension cords when it is completely necessary.
Finally, there are a few simple warning signs you can watch for in your home that let you know it is time to call an electrician. Any tingling sensation when touching an outlet or light switch should warrant a call. If you continually experience blowing a fuse when using an outlet or appliance, make the call. If you ever smell something odd, like rubber or smoke burning when using your appliances, make the call. Check to notice any of your lights flickering in your home or if an outlet begins to spark, make the call. Finally, be sure to know that any of your appliances have touched water, whether submerged or accidentally interacted with water, make the call.
Anchor Electric of Florida, Inc. would be happy to come out to your home to perform a safety inspection of all of your cords and outlets. This type of service ranges from $75-$100 and can bring you peace of mind that your home is safe as we enter into a new year. Feel free to call our office to get scheduled today and we would be happy to assist you with all of your electrical needs! 386-313-6211