The fall season typically features shorter days, crisper temperatures and unpredictable weather. This generally means that you’ll keep the lights on longer, turn up the heat and contend with outdoor appliances getting covered in rain or perhaps a bit of early-season snow. If you’re not careful, you could be putting yourself at risk of an electrical emergency. However, there are steps that you can take to minimize that risk.
Have Your Home’s Electrical System Inspected
One of the easiest ways to prevent an electrical issue is to have your home’s electrical components inspected before the weather starts to turn. An inspection may turn up evidence of chewed wires, a charred outlet or other issues that could result in an electrical fire or damage to one or more areas of your house.
An inspection may also find issues with your electrical panel, which facilitates the operation of all electrical items in your home. If there are problems with the panel, it may be difficult or impossible to meet your electrical needs in a safe or convenient fashion.
You should also have the outlets inspected, as they can often be the source of electrical safety issues. For instance, if they are hot to the touch, it might indicate that there is enough heat for a fire to potentially occur. You might also notice that the outlet is charred or that it gives off an odd odor. Although you might not think about them much, an outlet does have a shelf life of about 20 years. If you haven’t replaced them in the past two decades, it’s generally best to get new ones to be on the safe side.
Look for Outlets with GFCIs
Modern electrical outlets will typically come with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). They are often used in areas that are prone to moisture or in any area where there may be a relatively high electrical load. If a fault is detected, power is cut to the outlet. In addition to preventing surge issues, it can also reduce your chances of being electrocuted if you happen to touch the electrified area.
Get Rid of Your Fuse Box
If your home was built prior to 1950, there is a chance that it was built with a fuse box as opposed to a circuit breaker. While a fuse box may have been enough to power your home safely in the past, it’s unlikely that this is true today.
Upgrading to a modern circuit breaker means that you don’t risk having to go to the store just because a fuse burned out and you don’t have any extra on hand. Furthermore, modern circuit breakers are designed to handle larger electrical loads, which means that they are less likely to overheat or otherwise fail to work as intended.
This can be especially important in the modern age, where it’s nearly a necessity to run multiple appliances, keep the lights on and use electronic devices all at the same time. These devices may include your television, computer or smartphone, and other items. A wireless router, for instance, can also use a lot of resources to make sure that everyone stays connected while at home.
Consider Rewiring Your Home
If you do replace your fuse box or upgrade your electrical panel, you’ll likely want to consider upgrading other areas of the electrical system. Namely, you should strongly consider putting new wires in the home that are capable of standing up to modern electrical demands.
Opting for a rewire may also be a great idea if you haven’t had this done in the last 20 years or so, regardless of what else you’re doing. In fact, if your home was built in the 1960s, it’s possible that it has aluminum wires instead of the more sturdy and reliable copper version.
Although aluminum is considered by many to be passable, copper is preferred among electricians. This is because it’s less likely to expand when it becomes hot and is less likely to catch on fire compared to aluminum.
Make Sure That Wires Are Properly Grounded
You don’t need to overhaul your home’s electrical system to ensure that it operates properly this fall. For instance, making sure that wires are properly grounded can be an easy way to make sure that current can flow safely around and away from your house if necessary. Otherwise, your appliances, electrical devices or wires could all be at risk of an electrical surge, which may increase the chance of appliance or device malfunction. It could also increase the risk of an electrical fire.
Make Sure Outdoor Wires Are Properly Buried or Covered
If you have a hot tub, heat pump or other items located outdoors, they’ll likely have wires that run from the device to the electrical grid. You should make sure those wires are not exposed to the elements either by having them buried underground or placed in a protective enclosure. This will reduce the risk that they are exposed to moisture. You may also want to check that any wires located near a basement or other areas that are prone to ponding or pooling are resistant to that moisture.
Never Assume a Wire Isn’t Live
You can never assume that a wire isn’t live just because it isn’t plugged in or because it doesn’t seem to be delivering power to a light or other item. Instead, make sure that they are checked with a voltage tester or similar tool before anyone touches them or does anything to them. Ideally, a professional will be called to test a wire as that person will have the tools, knowledge and experience to do so safely.
If You Do Work Near Electrical Components
It’s possible that you’ll perform tasks in close proximity to a water heater, furnace or other electric items. For instance, you might need to mop a floor near an electric stove or paint a bathroom wall that has an outlet on it.
One of the easiest ways to prevent a problem in such a scenario is to turn the electricity off. You are also encouraged to wear rubber gloves and use tools that have rubber handles so that they don’t become energized if they come into contact with a wire or outlet.
You should also make sure to wear clothes that aren’t too baggy so that they don’t become intertwined with something that has the potential to become electrified. In addition, be sure to refrain from wearing metal jewelry or anything that might allow current to flow through your body.
If you need help working with electrical components, call John Henry's Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electrical in Omaha. In addition, we can also provide assistance installing a new air conditioner, repairing a furnace or upgrading a water heater. Our team can provide you with home wiring, residential drain cleaning services and pipe repair to ensure that your home functions at peak efficiency at all times, too.
