With people spending more time working, learning and entertaining themselves at home, practicing electrical safety has never been more important.
In honor of National Electrical Safety Month, ComEd offers these electrical safety tips to help keep you and your family safe at home:
-
Check electrical outlets for loose-fitting plugs that can cause shocks or start fires. Replace missing or broken wall plates, so inner wiring components are not exposed.
-
If you have young children, use safety covers on unused outlets. Consider installing tamper-resistant receptacles with a built-in shutter system that prevents small objects from being inserted into the outlet.
-
Check the cords of appliances in your home, as well as plugs and connectors. Make sure cords are not frayed, cracked or damaged, or placed under rugs or carpets, on furniture or in high traffic areas. Do not nail or staple cords to walls, floors or other objects.
-
Extension cords should be used on a temporary basis only. They are not a permanent wiring solution. Have additional outlets installed where you need them. If you are using extension cords, make sure they have safety closures to protect young children from shocks or mouth burns.
-
Never use an indoor extension cord for outdoor use. Use an extension cord specifically for outdoors. They are heavier and less likely to be damaged.
-
Check light bulbs and appliances to make sure the wattage matches fixture requirements. Do not replace bulbs with higher wattage than recommended. The bulb should be securely screwed in to prevent overheating.
-
If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker or gives you an electrical shock, immediately unplug, repair or replace it.
-
Check for or install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). A GFCI is an inexpensive electrical device that shuts off power instantly if there is problem. GFCIs should be installed in all “wet” areas of the home, such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements.
-
Check for or install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). A GFCI is an inexpensive electrical device that shuts off power instantly if there is problem. GFCIs should be installed in all “wet” areas of the home, such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements.
-
Consider installing arc-fault circuit interrupters on bedroom circuits, smoke detectors in all bedrooms and hallways within 15 feet of bedrooms, and at least one smoke detector on every level. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be within 15 feet of each bedroom. As always, check with your local electrical inspector if you have questions or concerns.
Electrical safety tips provided by safeelectricty.org
