An electrical safety inspection is the most important thing to consider this fall if you want to avoid setbacks like reduced property values, higher costs on electricity bills, and worst of all, a higher chance of experiencing a residential fire. At first glance, you may think your home will be totally fine for the season. However, a closer look may reveal outlets gone haywire, frayed wires, and lights well beyond the wattage requirement. Any of these issues can greatly reduce the level of safety in your home and without a proper inspection, they may turn out to be the cause for all of your electrical woes. Worse, with electrical hazards growing at every turn, the well-being of your family will soon be placed at risk. With their safety in jeopardy, it will be difficult relaxing this season at all. Instead of just allowing problems to linger, you need to take preventive action now for the convenience of everyone in your household.
Why You Should Call Excel Electric
Excel Electric should be your first choice in ensuring electrical safety this fall. Thanks to an inspection from our fully-trained and certified electricians, your home’s electricity is guaranteed to be safe and sound. Our electrical services aim to cover a wide range of safety concerns. For example, if you live in an older home, you are already much more at risk for electrical fires, but an inspection from our electricians can let you know if any repair or replacement work will need to be made to ensure you’ll avoid any electrical hazards. Or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, if you recently moved into a new home, an inspection from our team will not only guarantee safety in your new place of residence, but also provide you with a chance to familiarize yourself with its electrical features. But no matter your living situation, you can count on us to always go the extra mile to ensure everyone in your household is kept safe.
The Top 7 Tips for Electrical Safety
Constantly worrying over the state of your electricity is not an ideal way to spend the fall. In addition to contacting Excel Electric for service this fall, please follow these 7 electrical safety inspection tips:
- Consider Outlet & Switch Replacement: Outlets and switches need to be up-to-date or else they can quickly grow into a huge safety hazard. If your home is still equipped with two-prong outlets or outlets with damaged coverings, it is time for an upgrade for stronger, safer electrical performance. The team at Excel can provide you with fast, easy outlet-switch installation that will see you with modern three-prong outlets instead.
- Clear Area around Electrical Fixtures: Any objects or personal belongings should be kept at a safe distance from both your indoor and outdoor electrical fixtures, especially if they are highly flammable. Furniture and laundry piles place near outlets will need to be moved farther away, especially if the outlet is hot to the touch. Outdoor electrical fixtures should be cleared of any dirt or debris.
- Inspect Cords: It goes without saying, but damaged cords can be a major hazard if not inspected and repaired correctly. Simply applying patches of duct tape to damaged areas will not be an effective solution to the problem. Please inspect any wiring before the season begins. If it looks like the wiring is showing some significant wear and tear, it’s time to call Excel Electric now for rewiring to guarantee safer electrical performance.
- Test Smoke Detection: According to Electrical Safety Foundation International, 50,000 fires occur each year due to faulty electricity. Fires can be detected in their earliest stages with proper smoke detection. However, if you want to ensure it continues to work for this fall, you need to test your smoke detector before the season begins. A test may reveal that you need to change its batteries or replace your smoke detectors altogether.
- Consider Updating Electrical Service Panels: Your electrical service panel is the heart of your home’s electrical services and will usually distribute anywhere between 100 to 200 amps of power to your most essential appliances. However, if you have an older panel that can handle only 60 amps or if you are noticing frequent circuit breaker trips preventing a steady flow of electrical power, you need to call Excel Electric for electrical panel services.
- Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI): GFCI outlets are absolutely essential in your home. It is highly important to install them in areas of your house where water and electricity are more likely to mix, like bathrooms, kitchens, and garages. Without them, your family is at risk of harm.
- Unplug Battery Chargers: Leaving that battery charger to your phone unplugged may prove to be one of the most major safety hazards in your home. Even if you’re not using your battery charger, it will continue to pull electricity through the wires. All it takes is a few seconds to look around and check outlets for any chargers that are plugged in. If so, unplug them and the better off you will be.
Don’t Fall Victim To Electrical Failures, Get An Electrical Safety Inspection Today
Contact Excel Electric today if you want to learn more about your home’s electrical system with our electrical safety inspection!