Electrical fires should be a concern for all home and business owners. Making sure that your electrical devices are working properly, that your breaker box is safe and up-to-date, and keeping an eye out for signs that your electrical system is running safely are all good places to start. In addition to safety tips, and electrical upgrades, many homeowners are seeking the services of licensed residential electricians to perform safety and energy audits when they have some electrical issues that they just can’t get to the bottom of. Looking for a residential electrician in Waynesboro, or the surrounding areas, to come to your home and perform an energy audit? ALC Weaver Electric can help.
Common Safety Tips from a Residential Electrician
There are some common causes of electrical fires. Some are more visible to the naked eye, while some live behind the walls of a home. Unsure if your home is at risk? Read on to learn about the most common offenders in terms of electrical safety.
- Old appliances and faulty outlets. If you have outlets that sometimes work, or only work when you “jiggle the plug in a certain way,” it is time to get an electrician out to check out the issue. Old appliances that do not meet current safety standards are also common problems.
- Extension cords and power strips that are overloaded. While it may seem convenient to plug in multiple extension cords into one power strip it is a safety issue that homeowners should be aware of. Instead of running your home’s appliances, or even lamps and televisions, on extension cords, they should be plugged directly into a wall or a specific power strip that can handle the load. The user of extension cords should be minimal through out your home. Having a residential electrician come out to adjust your power outlets would be a better long-term solution.
- Portable space heaters. Limit the use of portable space heaters and make sure that they are only in use when people are home to monitor them. In addition, they should be kept far away from fabric such as: sofas, curtains, and rugs.
- Upgraded breaker box. Older homes weren’t set up to run the amount of electrical equipment that the modern home owner may need. When a system is overloaded it will typically trip the breaker box, make the lights flicker, or create power surges.
How Can an Energy Audit Help Prevent Electrical Fires?
An energy audit, or assessment, is an analysis of the energy consumption of your home. It gives a detailed overview of how you are consuming power and helps residents understand which appliances consume the most energy. This can help and identify areas which are stressed beyond capacity or pose a safety hazard. The audit is the beginning of the journey towards improving the safety and energy efficiency of your home. It typically informs decisions to replace wiring, outlets, and upgrading appliances.
Prevent Safety Issues Today! Get in Touch with a Residential Electrician in Waynesboro
What are you waiting for? If you’ve been dealing with electrical issues for some time now is the time to take action. Electrical fires are too common and can be prevented with some foresight. Having a licensed electrician assess your electrical issues, or perform an energy audit on your home, get in touch with ALC Weaver Electric today.
ALC Weaver Electric
We are a professional, experienced electrical contractors certified and insured within the field. We offer residential and commercial electrical services in Hagerstown and the surrounding areas in MD, PA, and WV. With ALC Weaver Electric you get a quality job and 24-hour service.
