7 Potential Electrical Hazards Your Home May Be Hiding
Potential electrical hazards in your home can lead to life-threatening situations. But when you aren’t even aware of the danger, the threat becomes more significant. Out of all the electrical hazards in your home, these are the ones to pay the most attention to.
1. Old Wiring
Old wiring is a great reason to contact a St Kilda electrician. If you’re not the home’s original owner, then there is no way to vet the previous work done behind the walls. Once you take a look, it could be a mess of wiring that barely keeps the house running. Old wiring should be replaced ASAP to prevent a deadly electrical hazard.
2. Light Bulbs
On their own, light bulbs are not an electrical hazard. But when bulbs are near flammable materials, there is a higher chance of something terrible happening. Positioning helps, and transitioning to LED bulbs helps even further.
3. Faulty Cords
A cord won’t always spark when it is damaged. Without this visual sign, you would never know that it is in a dangerous state. Appliances and heavy-duty electronics will usually protect against this by reinforcing their wiring. If you notice damage on the cord or at its source, immediately power off the device instead of unplugging.
4. Bad Design
There are plenty of non-GFCI outlets that are too close to a water source. A single bad day could destroy an area of your home or endanger your life. The quick solution to this problem is to cover the outlet with a protector. The permanent solution is to get a professional to correct the original lousy design.
5. Ground Faults
Ground faults are common and easier to take care of on your own. However, when the electricity avoids its standard path to the ground, it creates a hazard. This slight detour causes a chance of electrocution that should be avoided at all costs. Therefore, ground fault circuit interrupters were designed to monitor the input and output of the circuit. With the electricity being monitored, GFCI’s can prevent hazards from happening.
6. Pets and Children
The most significant electrical hazards in any home are curious pets and children. Because of this, pet-proofing a home has become just as crucial as child-proofing. For most owners, that means putting covers on electrical sockets and using heavy-duty surge protectors. These small additions to a home can prevent a ton of unavoidable electrical problems.
7. Overloaded Outlets
Some homes space out their outlets or don’t have enough in one room. To make up for this, homeowners may put two surge protectors on one outlet. This is not only a bad idea, but it can lead to a circuit getting blown when you least expect it. In addition, overloaded outlets have a chance to cause fires and will shoot up your electric bill faster than usual.
Stay Safe
You should know your living space like the back of your hand. Pay attention to any changes in your home, and keep aware of potential electrical hazards. By putting serious thought into the layout of your home, safety becomes your biggest priority.
