Checklist to Identify Possible Electrical Hazards at Home
by Kevin Smith AuthorYou probably had a brief electrical
inspection when you bought your home. However, you probably didn’t know that
you’re supposed to inspect your home’s electrical system every six months. If
your home is over 40 years old, or if you’ve recently done renovations, you
should surely have an electrician come out and do a full residential
electrical inspection in Philadelphia, PA, again. Here are some
of the things to be aware of when inspecting your own electrical system.
Outlets and Light Switches
Make sure that your switches and outlets
are working properly. If any of them are discolored or warm to the touch, you
should call an electrician to come and replace them as soon as possible.
Another sign of a serious problem is if your switches and outlets are making
sounds such as crackling or buzzing.
Extension Cords
Extension cords should always be used only
temporarily. If you have any extension cords that have been in use for over a
month or so, then you may want to look into other options. Further, your
extension cords should be rated by an independent testing laboratory and not
have any damage whatsoever on them.
GFCIs and AFCIs
Ground fault circuit protection (GFCI) and
safer arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) should be tested every 30 days. If
your house is beyond a certain age, then it may have standard circuit breakers.
For optimum safety, replace these with AFCIs so that you’ll be better prepared
and informed regarding potential dangerous electrical conditions.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Your carbon monoxide detector should be
tested at least once every 30 days. The same goes for your smoke alarms. Also
note that code requirements indicate you should have a smoke detector installed
on every floor of the home, as well as in and just outside every bedroom.
Electrical Appliances
The best thing you can do with your
electrical appliances is simply to make sure they are cleaned regularly. You
should also make sure there is enough clearance around your electrical
appliances so that air can circulate through to avoid overheating.
Electrical Panel
Have your electrical panel serviced
regularly and affix a label to it that says when it was serviced last. If you
have problems with circuit breakers tripping or fuses blowing, call in an
electrician to figure out where the problem lies and fix it right away.
Knowing the signs of electrical problems is
important to keep your home safe from electrical disasters. Furthermore, if
you’ve done any renovations recently or you’ve just moved into your home, you
should have a full residential electrical inspection in
Philadelphia, PA, done right away to make sure everything is
safe and secure.
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Created on Apr 18th 2019 23:40. Viewed 400 times.