According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical fires are the second leading cause of home fires in the United States. Blow dryers, space heaters, and faulty wiring are among the culprits causing electrical fires. Household electrical safety includes appliances and the home’s power setup. While most of us conduct a safety check when we initially move into a home—during a walk through and/or inspection—it’s important to routinely confirm your residence is electrically safe year-round.
We’ve created a general checklist but we recommend editing it to fit your home. Be sure to check:
- All plugs and switches to confirm they work properly. Plugs should fit snugly into outlets and shouldn’t be loose.
- Major appliances and AC units should be plugged into a wall outlet—not a surge protector or extension cord.
- Wires and cords should not be frayed or pinched by staples, nails, doors, and/or windows. Make sure furniture isn’t trapping a cord causing it to become compromised. Wires and cords should be damage-free.
- Appliances and wiring are not in contact with water.
- Light bulbs should match the wattage of all lamps and lighting (including overhead lights and ceiling fans).
- Fuses are turned to the on position.
As you’re checking your home, you should dispose of appliances or lamps if they have damaged cords and/or wiring. Consider unplugging items you don’t use on a regular basis. Unplugging unused items is a no brainer task you should include on your to-do list when you’re leaving for a trip and won’t be home for several days.
You should call a professional for repairs if you encounter:
- Buzzing sounds from appliances
- Odd smells near electrical units
- Sparking outlets and/or switches
- Warm to the touch light switches and/or electrical outlets
- Signs of pest marks or animal droppings near electrical items and/or appliances
While it may be tempting to consider a DIY repair, whenever you encounter a wiring concern, we highly recommend contacting a professional so you can avoid shock hazards, fires, or wiring issues that could jeopardize your entire home.
Most of us take our home’s electricity for granted. We plug something in when we want to use it and adjust our thermostat to the optimal temperature. It’s important for homeowners and renters to have a solid understanding of their home’s electrical system.