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Keeping your electrical system operating as it should is vital to your home’s overall safety and convenience. If you live in West Michigan, spring is the perfect time to do an electrical safety check. You can do a lot of the safety checks on your own. But there are a few that only a qualified electrician should handle.
DIY Electrical Safety Checks
Anytime you decide to do electrical safety checks yourself, it’s important to do them safely. If you notice any signs of burning smells, sparking outlets or exposed wires, call an electrician right away. These issues can lead to fires and other dangerous situations.
Examine Extension Cords
Walk throughout your home, checking all extension cords for damage. If any of them show signs of frayed or exposed wiring, you need to replace them. You also need to check that none of the extension cords have too many devices connected to them. Overloaded cords present risks like electrical fires, shocks and short circuits. Replacing damaged cords will make your home much safer. For extra safety, consider installing extension cords with surge protection or heavy-duty insulation.
Test Smoke and CO Detectors
Check every single smoke and CO detector in your house. To do this, just press the test button to verify whether an alarm sounds off. If one or more of the detectors don’t work, make sure to check the batteries. If replacing the batteries doesn’t fix the issue, go ahead and replace the detector. Keep in mind that it’s best to replace all detectors that are over 10 years old. There are many modern detectors available that come with extra features, like remote access. This makes it easy to monitor alarms from anywhere and receive instant notifications in case of an emergency.
Check Indoor and Outdoor Light Fixtures
Checking the indoor and outdoor lighting is the next part of keeping your home’s electrical system in great shape. When inspecting each fixture, look for signs of overheating, exposed wires and faulty connections. All outdoor lights need proper protection from moisture so they don’t short-circuit. Replace any burnt-out bulbs and check that all fixtures have tight connections. If you come across any problems you aren’t comfortable fixing, call an electrician.
Test Whole-House Surge Protector
Adding a whole-house surge protector is an effective way to ensure your house always stays functional during voltage spikes. However, the protector itself will need regular care and maintenance. To test the protector, simply check the indicator light and perform a manual test. If you notice any unusual flickering or a red light, it might be time for an upgrade.
Test Ceiling Fans
A lot of people don’t realize they can reduce heating and cooling expenses by strategically using ceiling fans. Just turn them to rotate counterclockwise during the summer and this will create a wind-chill effect. During the winter, reverse the blades so they rotate clockwise. This will circulate warm air and improve heating efficiency for cheaper heating costs. During your spring safety check, make sure each fan operates without wobbling. If you notice any strange noises like rattling or grinding, there might be a loose screw or part. Fixing these problems will ensure you can use the fans year-round for better comfort and lower energy bills.
Look for Burning Marks Near Outlets
Burn marks around outlets are never a good sign. They are clear indicators of overloaded circuits, faulty wiring or loose connections. You should turn off power to the affected outlet as soon as you notice the burn marks. An electrician will need to inspect the problem to determine the best fix. Don’t ever try to use the outlet before getting it fixed. If you do, you risk electrical shock and potential fire hazards.
Examine Breaker Box Labels
Look at the breaker box to make sure all labels are correct. You’ll need quick access to this box in the event of an emergency. If the labels are unclear or missing, this will make it difficult to turn off the correct breaker. Don’t use a pencil or marker to do your labeling. They may rub off or fade when exposed to moisture. Instead, use permanent labels or sticker labels designed for electrical use.
Professional Electrical Safety Checks
The safety checks mentioned below can be quite dangerous. This is why we highly recommend letting a qualified electrician do them.
Check Outlets and Circuit Breakers
Even though you can check outlets for burn marks, they have many components that need professional attention. An electrician can check each outlet and all circuit breakers for frayed wiring, loose connections and other signs of wear. If you have children in the home, an electrician might suggest replacing outdated outlets with tamper-resistant versions.
Inspect Grounding
Your electrical system needs proper grounding to function correctly. Without it, it will likely experience damage from power surges. Improper grounding can also increase the risk of electrical fires. An electrician will check the grounding rods, circuit breakers and outlets to make sure they all have the right grounding.
Inspect GFCI Outlets
Your home probably has a variety of GFCI outlets, especially in areas like the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. These outlets protect you against electric shocks and short circuits in the event of water exposure. An electrician will know how to test each outlet to ensure they work. If any of the outlets have wear or malfunction, they can replace them with new ones.
Replace Frayed or Damaged Wiring
Frayed or damaged wiring and cables are huge liabilities to the safety and overall functionality of your home. An electrician can check the whole house to see whether any wires or cables need replacing. During an inspection, we will check all of these areas for wiring that is out of date, not code-compliant, frayed, or otherwise dangerous and recommend our rewiring service depending on our findings.
Ensure Proper Appliance Wiring
All of the appliances in your house need the correct wiring to function properly. If the wires aren’t compatible with your electrical system, it can cause problems like fires and circuit overloads. With professional help, you can rest easy knowing every appliance has the correct wiring. This will help the appliances perform better, last longer and use less energy.
Ensure Adequate Ventilation for Electrical Appliances
Proper ventilation is essential for the safe and effective operation of electrical appliances like your water heater, dryer and oven. The electrical parts might overheat or stop working if there isn’t enough air circulation. During spring, an electrician can inspect vents and clean any stuck debris. This will help ensure proper airflow and prevent overheating. We might even suggest adding a whole-house fan to further boost ventilation so the appliances always function correctly.
Service Professor is here to help you with your spring electrical safety checklist. We make it simple to keep your electrical system operating efficiently year-round. Our expertise in lighting installations, generators and electrical repairs is the best in the area.
Call Service Professor today to hire a reliable electrician in Kalamazoo, MI.
