Simple Electrical Safety Tips For Homeowners
Jun 7, 2016 4:00 AM
Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibility especially when it comes to handling electricity around the home. Here are a few simple electrical safety tips for homeowners that can greatly reduce the chances of accidents, injury and damage. For example, one of the most important strategies for reducing the chances of electrical fire around the home is to always listen to electrical breakers. When a breaker trips it is typically an indication that something is wrong with the circuit.
Breaker Trip
In short, it may be okay to reset a breaker that has tripped one time. But resetting a breaker multiple times is a sure way to create an electrical problem or an electrical fire. In most instances a breaker trips because the electrical load is simply too high. Homeowners are strongly advised to contact an electrician if a breaker trips more than one time. In fact, an electrical breaker box is the first line of defense for homeowners in keeping a home safe, free of fire and free of injuries.
Fight A Fire
Equally important is to handle any electrical fire with great care. Most firefighters and experts agree that homeowners should avoid fighting a fire and simply flee the home while waiting for the fire department to arrive. As an added note, it is important to never allow a fire to get between you and an exit. When in doubt, simply get out of a house where fire exists. Fire departments are very effective at arriving within minutes to fight a fire in your home. As many people may already know it is always important to avoid throwing water on any type of electrical fire.
Read And Understand
Because water conducts electricity, tossing water onto an electrical fire can actually cause it to become larger and more enraged. A chemical fire extinguisher is always the best option for homeowners wishing to fight an electrical fire. It is also a good idea to carefully read and understand all instructions associated with a home fire extinguisher. Make sure that the fire extinguisher is not expired and that it is fully charged. Checking fire extinguishers every time that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are checked is always a good policy. Finding out that a fire extinguisher is nonfunctional when it is needed the most is never a good feeling.
Modern Fire Extinguisher
Finally, homeowners should remember the four simple steps associated with operating a modern fire extinguisher. The acronym PASS is often used to help individuals remember these simple steps in operating any fire extinguisher. For example, “P” stands for pulling the safety pin on the fire extinguisher. The “A” is related to properly aiming the fire extinguisher nozzle directly at the base of the fire. The first “S” in PASS relates to the actual act of squeezing the handle on the fire extinguisher. Finally, the last “S” refers to the proper motion to use when releasing fire extinguisher agent onto a fire. Use a side-to-side motion until all flames are extinguished. Visit Mr. Electric on TrustDALE.com today to learn more.
