Did you know that electrical fires are responsible for almost 2 billion worth of damage each year? And why not, look around you. I mean, we used electricity for almost every creature comfort in the house and that’s why safeguarding against electrical hazards is so important. And a good place to start, is the breaker box. This labeling, right here on the door, is very important because if there’s a problem in the house, you can come and shut down the source of the problem without having to search for it. And also a lot of people leave the doors open on this, if there’s going to be a problem on the breaker box, keep in the box.
Every lamp and fixture is marked with information about what wattage bulb it needs. Using a 100-watt bulb in a fixture mark for 60 watts is asking for trouble. Higher wattage bulbs can damage the fixture, which leads to fire. If you need more light, don’t increase the wattage, add another lamp. Typically, things don’t work well if they’re not plug in, but take a look at your cords, for instance, this extension cord. Look closely on where that goes into the plug, it’s frayed, it’s damaged, and it is a nightmare waiting to happen. Also, if you reach and grab a cord and it feels warm, say warmer than the others around it, that’s a good sign of a bad cord.
Now most of us know that electricity and water do not go together, but in any given time, slip of the hand, hairdryer ends up in the sink. That’s why the outlet beside the sink looks like this. This is called the GFCI, which stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, and it is there to protect you and keep you from being electrocuted. Think of the areas where these are need to be, anywhere where electricity has close proximity to water, that would be the kitchen, the laundry room, the utility room, as well as all of your bathroom.
Here’s another important safety tool, it’s called an AFCI, which stands for Arch Fault Circuit Interrupter. Now these are already existing in a lot of newer homes, but it is a particularly a good idea for an older home, because it is constantly checking for a wiring problem that may lead to a fire. It’s not necessarily a do it yourself project, you going to have to hire professional electrician to install it. It is a small price to pay for your piece of mind. With tips for a healthy home, I’m Jay Baker.
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