(NAPSI)—Here’s news that may spark your interest: According to
the National Fire Protection Association, electrical failures or malfunctions
are factors in some 43,000 home fires a year. Your home, however, can be
protected. Here, from the experts at Electrical Safety Foundation
International, the premier nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to
promoting electrical safety at home and in the workplace, are tips on how:
Have your home inspected by a licensed electrician every 10 years; sooner
if your home is 40 years old or older, if it’s undergone a major
renovation or if you’ve added major new appliances lately. In between,
check out this checklist.
Switches and Outlets
• Are they working?
• Do plugs fit snugly? If so, they should be fine for now.
• Do they make crackling, buzzing or sizzling sounds?
• Are they warm to the touch?
These can be signs of a fire in the wall. Have an electrician check it out
right away.
Electrical Panel
Every home has a service panel that distributes electricity to your home.
It’s usually in the basement, garage or utility area. Service panels
have fuses or circuit breakers that keep wires from overloading and causing a
fire.
• Make sure all circuit breakers and fuses are the proper size.
• Replace standard circuit breakers with arc fault circuit
interrupters (AFCIs). Damaged or malfunctioning wiring is the leading cause
of electrical fires. An arc fault is caused by damaged, overheated or
stressed electrical wiring or devices. AFCIs can prevent 50 percent of home
fires. Without AFCIs, arc faults may be hidden until it’s too late.
Extension Cords
Extension cords are a convenient way to provide power right where you need
it when working in or around your home, but using them improperly can be
dangerous.
• Extension cords should be used only on a temporary basis.
• Make sure extension cords are properly rated for their intended
use, indoor or outdoor, and meet or exceed the power needs of the appliance
or device being used.
• Inspect cords for cracked, frayed, loose or bare wires, and loose
connections.
• Never use a cord that feels hot.
• Don’t run extension cords through walls or ceilings. This
may cause the cord to overheat, creating a serious fire hazard.
• Don’t nail or staple electrical cords to walls or
baseboards.
• Make sure cords are not pinched in doors, windows or under heavy
furniture, which could damage the insulation.
• Keep extension cords out of high-traffic areas such as doorways or
walkways.
• Insert plugs fully so no part of the prongs is exposed when the
extension cord is in use.
• Ensure that all extension cords are certified by a nationally
recognized testing laboratory such as UL, CSA or ETL, and always read the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Learn More
For further facts and tips on safety, visit www.esfi.org.
“Have your home inspected by a licensed electrician every 10
years; sooner if your home is 40 years old or older, if it’s undergone
a major renovation or if you’ve added major new appliances lately. http://bit.ly/2BOGotn”
On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)