Electric Safety at Home
Your home depends on electricity, which provides you with power for cooking, hot water, air conditioning, access to your favorite television shows and the Internet. But did you know every year about 51,000 home electric fires occur resulting in nearly 500 deaths? Protect your home and your family from electrical and fire dangers with our safety tips.
Regular maintenance can help avoid electrical safety mishaps
- Check all cords, plugs, surge protectors and extension cords for frayed casing, exposed wire or broken components. Replace immediately if damaged.
- Give your home an electrical checkup: circuits, breakers, switches and outlets
- Make sure plugs fit securely into outlets; don’t force if they don’t.
- If an appliance starts smoking or sparking, or if you feel a tingle or light shock when it’s on, stop using it. Discard, repair or replace the device.
Proper use of electrical appliances is important to prevent any electrical hazard
- Unplug appliances before washing, making repairs, or when not in use.
- Keep electric heaters a safe distance from furniture, blankets, draperies, and other objects that could catch fire.
- Don’t overload outlets with too many appliances that draw a lot of power or produce heat, such as a heater or coffee maker.
- Don’t pull or yank on a cord to unplug an appliance: grasp the plug instead. Protect kids from tugging on cords and put safety caps on unused electrical outlets.
- Major appliances – washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, hot water heaters, etc. – should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Don’t use surge protectors, plug strips or extension cords.
The simple act of prevention can be a lifesaver
- Don’t touch or stand in water when using electrical equipment; pay attention to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
- Extension cords under carpets can overheat. Keep them away from rugs and avoid running over furniture or door thresholds.
- Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the light fixture. If it has no wattage listed, use 60-watt bulbs or lower. A higher wattage can cause overheating.
- Never remove anything caught in electric lines—not even an animal. Call us immediately at 1-800-411-7343.
- Stay away from the large green transformer boxes you may see in your neighborhood. If you find a transformer box unlocked or open, call us at 1-800-411-7343 immediately.
- If you have overhead wires outside your home, make sure to keep all machinery and equipment (scaffolding, tools, pool skimmers, metal ladders, etc.) at least 10 feet away from power lines.
Powerline Safety
Fallen electric lines are extremely dangerous. Find out why and learn what to do when you see one.
Tree Safety
Inspecting, trimming and clearing brush near power lines is necessary for safety and reliability
