Everyone would surely agree that electrical home appliances are prone to electrical short circuits that usually lead to fire accidents. In a study on fire incidents done in 2007, data showed that 19% of this incident was caused by electrical short circuits. Homeowners who are starting to build their own home should concentrate their efforts not only on how their houses should look like after the construction but also how safe it is for their family particularly with regards to the electrical system.
In designing the electrical system of your home, be sure that the one doing it had undergone proper training and got a professional license. Proper installation and specification of wire are needed in designing the electrical system; it should withstand the highest rated current that may be installed in your homes. The designer should take into consideration important factors like the kind of wires, insulation and the physical effect of nature, climate in the electrical system.
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For those who has been in their homes for the past 9 years or more, it would be best to start hiring inspector to reevaluate your electrical installation and electrical system for safety. The standard years being followed in some countries for electrical inspection on private homes is 10 years. In doing so, you will know whether your current electrical system is still fitted with regards to the number of your electrical appliances at home or if it already needs rewiring.
After all the construction and inspection, homeowners should regularly check electrical connections and follow the tips below:
a. Regularly check condition of electrical sockets
- Check visually for any abnormalities that you can notice, sometimes you wouldn't know insects may have started living within the sockets
b. Make sure to plug appliances to correct electrical socket
- Be sure to know the correct electrical sockets for your appliances. Check whether the socket is for 110-volt appliances or for 220-volt so you can protect your appliances and your self from being electrocuted
c. Clean electrical safety switch or circuit breaker
- Clean and check your safety switch and make sure that nothing gets in the way of the safety switch or circuit breaker
d. Check electrical cables
- Make it a habit to check all cables including extension cables before using them tp make sure that they are not damaged or cut.
e. Unplug electrical appliances when not in use.
- This is common yet definitely the most important tip in protecting your appliances and avoiding fire accidents. Again, unplug electrical appliances and turn off lights when not in use.
You should also consider installing GFCI outlet in your home. GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter is one of the newest technology that everyone should use now. It is designed to protect homeowners from electric shock. Its working principle is the same with electrical fuse, it monitors the amount of electrical current flowing and when any imbalance took place in the system that would generate heat, it would automatically cut or trip the electrical system. This kind of outlet is more recommended on private homes especially with someone who has child living with them if things get wrong GFCI has the capacity of one-thirtieth of a second to react. This is also useful to home appliances that might cause short circuit.
Lastly, another thing that owners should consider getting is a smoke detector because it can detect smoke fast and can alert homeowners fast. Each smoke detector is classified according to their price and sensitivity to fire smoke.
The above-mentioned tips will not only protect and maintain your appliances but will also protect you and your family from accidents caused by poor electrical system or damaged appliance.
Proper Care of Electrical Appliances CARE IMPROVEMENT PLUS PROVIDER
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