- Replace damaged or loose
electrical cords.
- Avoid running extension
cords across doorways or under carpets.
- Make sure your home has
tamper-resistant receptacles if there are small children.
- Consider having
additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do
not have to use extension cords.
- Follow the
manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle
outlet.
- Avoid overloading
outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet
at a time.
- If outlets or switches
feel warm, frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuits, or
flickering or dimming lights, call a qualified electrician.
- Place lamps on level
surfaces away from things that can burn. Use bulbs that match the lamp's
recommended wattage.
- Make sure your home has
ground fault circuit interrupters in the kitchen, bathroom(s), laundry,
basement and outdoor areas.
- Arc-fault circuit
interrupters should be installed in your home to protect electrical
outlets.
- When you are buying, selling or remodeling a home, have it inspected by a qualified electrician.
Friday, May 4, 2012
NFPA Shares Tips for Avoiding Electrical Fires
An estimated
46,500 home structure fires reported to the U.S. fire departments in 2010 were
the result of electrical failures or malfunctions. These fires caused 420
deaths, 1,520 injuries and $1.5 billion in direct property damage, according to
the NFPA’s Home Electrical Fires
Report. In honor of National Electrical Safety Month, NFPA offers the following
electrical safety tips: