The DIY market is quickly headed toward becoming a $14 billion industry, but it’s not without its problems. As people try to take on bigger and bigger projects they put themselves and their family at risk for injury. If you try to take on more than basic electrical maintenance issues on your own, you’re putting yourself in harm’s way.
Here are four maintenance tips to keep your home working and safe without putting yourself in harm’s way.
1. Unplug Frayed Wires
If you see frayed wires around your home or anything that looks on the verge of being exposed, don’t turn a blind eye. Many homeowners look at frayed wires as merely an issue of age and start to see dollar signs when it comes to electrical work. However, this issue is sometimes easy to fix.
When you see appliances with frayed or exposed wires, replace them immediately. Someone could touch the wire and get hurt. Exposed wires that get wet or hit a metal surface have the potential to send electrical current throughout your home. They can also be a fire hazard.
2. Make Note of Trips and Fuses
Blown fuses are more than just an annoyance. Having to replace fuses isn’t very expensive and is fairly common in any home. If you use a vacuum and a hair dryer at the same time, you’ll easily trip your breaker or blow a fuse.
These are in place to ensure that your system and switches don’t get overloaded.
However, if you’re constantly overloading your system, that’s something to think about. This is a common indication that there’s something wrong with your electrical system.
Replace fuses with the ones that your home is rated for. However, if you’re buying them once a week, call a professional to help.
3. Keep Indoor Items Indoors
Throughout the year, there are lots of events and festivities that bring some of our indoor appliances outdoors. Boomboxes and stereos come outside for barbecues in the summer. In the winter, holiday lights come out to show the world how festive we are. This can be a huge fire risk.
Indoor systems aren’t designed to be connected to the elements outside. While it might not seem like a big deal, having wiring loose and outside of your house leaves you open for legal trouble. If someone gets hurt or a fire starts you could be liable. Unless you’re ready to take on a lawsuit, connect everything inside.
4. Use Socket Covers or Sliders
Sliding sockets or socket covers might be irritating for adults, but they’re essential for homes with children. The unstoppable curiosity of children lead them to start playing with whatever’s in their grasp.
Leaving bare sockets open for kids to stick things into not only puts them in danger but leaves your system open for shortages that cause problems.
Real Electrical Maintenance Needs A Professional
More than just a few things keep your home in safe working order. Any electrical maintenance that requires professional equipment must be left to the pros. You’re putting yourself at risk with only an online tutorial or a YouTube video between you and 220 high amperage Volts.
If you fear your problem is bigger than anything we’ve described, contact us today.
