All of us are reliant on different sophisticated electrical appliances that are used for everyday purposes. It would be rather difficult, nay, impossible for us to even imagine life without electric cookers, refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, and the like.
However, are we always equally attentive about taking proper care of the very gadgets that we cannot live without? The answer is, unfortunately, in the negative with even slight negligence on your part increasing the chances of serious electrical hazards.
Over here, we will be listing ten easy and effective tips to avoid such accidents, and enhance the longevity of the electronic gadgets:
- Check the maximum load capacity of every electrical circuit We often do not bother checking the capacity of an electrical cord/circuit, before using it to power up electrical gadgets.
According to the bellingham electric company, electrical overloading can result in serious short-circuits. Find what the exact capacities of the cords are, so that they can be used in the correct manner. - Keep a tab on the condition of the wires and fuses Just because all the electrical appliances at your home are working fine, does not mean that there are no problems with the wires.
Hire an electrical expert to inspect for probable frays and/or other telltale signs of damages. Replace the affected wires (if any) immediately. - Organize and label the electrical cables properly Properly organizing all the electrical cords and wires is of essence, for keeping the everyday appliances safe and smoothly operational.Use wire marker ties to create separate, well-maintained wire groups, and use customized labels to mark them correctly. Messy wires are the perfect recipe for disaster!
- Has a functional fire extinguisher at home In case a fire does break out, you should be ready to combat the situation with a fully-filled and easy-to-use fire extinguisher. Having fire sensors and alarms in the different rooms can also prove to be useful.
- Choose plugs of the right size Forcibly fitting a multi-plug into a circuit which seems to be slightly smaller should never be done. The entire circuit can burst in such cases, putting the well-being of both yourself and your electric gadgets at a huge risk. Use only such plugs that can be easily fitted into the sockets of the electrical power points at your home.
- Do not use too many extension cords Remember, extension cords are NOT a substitute of the standard electrical wires and cables. Do not use too many of these extension cords, particularly in places that are frequented by your family members (for example, the garden). Once again, buy a few wire marker ties to keep the cords correctly organized and labelled.
- Avoid changing circuit breaker settings frequently Consult an expert electrical practitioner, to know about the load level at which your circuit breakers should be set. Do not change this level without professional advice. The functionality of the circuit breakers can get damaged if you do so.
- Never ignore electrical trips The lights flicker at your home at times, the television screen gets blurred and you consider ‘minor’ electric trips for these issues. The likely result? A large electrical fire! Whenever you feel that the electrical circuits have developed a snag, get in touch with a professional electrician.
- Make sure that the electrical cables and gadgets have proper grounding Pretty basic, but often overlooked. Start using wires and cables, only after a stable, reliable ground connection has been established. You certainly don’t want to get ‘shocked’ in the literal sense!
- Avoid dampness near electrical plug points The risk of using electrical switches and sockets increase by several notches, in case there are signs of dampness near it. Keep all your electric points totally dry and moisture-free. That will keep risks of short circuits at a minimal level.
Using wire marker ties on the electrical wires is something that you can do on your own. However, the services of professional electricians should be availed of, for more serious electrical maintenance tasks.
About the Author: John Smith
John Smith is a professional electrical engineer. His articles on domestic electrical maintenance and safety are regularly published in various home improvement journals. In this article, he lists out 10 easy tips to keep electrical gadgets safe from damages.