The electrical safety of your home is not easy to take. Electricity plays a vital role in powering properties. It is important to know what should be checked and routinely tested and how to do these tasks. The goal: Provide the people (and pets) who occupy your living space, security and peace of mind.
Every year, an average of 51,000 electrical home fires occur, killing nearly 500 people, injuring more than 1,400 people, and causing property damage of more than $ 1.3 billion (National Fire Protection Association, 2003- 2007). In addition, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that nearly 400 people suffer an electric shock each year in the United States.
Step by step home electrical safety instructions
Use this guide to perform a comprehensive electrical safety check of your home.
Important: If you discover a problem that is too complex or dangerous for a do-it-yourself job, contact a licensed electrician to do it for you. With electrical work it is always better to be on the safe side!
Control panels
When inspecting your panel, consider these questions and best practices, especially when building, remodeling, or adding to your home.
- How old is your homeHow old is your control panel? If one of the devices is older than 30 years, check whether you can update or replace the panel.
- Do you have enough power to power today's devices or gadgets? You don't want to unwittingly overload your system by simply connecting your smartphone for charging.
- Do you have an FPE panel? If so, check whether it can be replaced – pronto! This mechanism is intended to trip your circuit breaker if it reaches too high a value for safety reasons and to serve as a fire protection method. However, electrical engineer and materials scientist Jesse Aronstein and the CPSC spent two years studying rod locomotive breakers in homes built between 1960 and 1985 and found that they didn't work properly in 51% of the cases.
- Do your lights flicker?This can be a warning of poor electrical connections: an area can mean that a local branch circuit needs to be repaired. Multiple areas mean that it can be the control panel.
- Are your service cables worn or damaged? You are responsible for the cables that connect your house / building and the control panel to the external lines. Look for worn / damaged insulation, loose cables, or damaged / missing terminals and anchors. Then contact a trained electrician for help with repairs.
- Does your panel show signs of moisture?Rust, chalky white residues or corrosion on cables or metal parts of your panel indicate possible water damage. Have it checked by a specialist.
Sockets
Common warning signs like these indicate that you should ask a trained electrician for help:
- Sparks: "The United States Fire Department determines that sparks, embers, or flames from control gear account for about 2% of electrical fires." (3) Water damage, short circuits, outdated sockets, and improper repairs can cause sparks. If you see sparks, immediately do the following:
- Turn off the circuit breaker associated with the affected outlet.
- Disconnect all devices connected to the ignition socket.
- Call an approved electrician to perform an outlet inspection.
- to hum: This sound comes from the AC power and almost always indicates a loose connection or a bad socket.
- Outlets overloaded: Each device requires a certain amount of electricity. Adding too many high-energy devices can require more than the circuit can safely deliver and overload.
- Other fire hazards: Incorrect cabling, outdated lighting fixtures or defective surge protective devices pose a higher risk of an electrical fire. Perform regular maintenance and inspections to stay ahead of potential problems.
- Correct use of the generator – Make sure your power generator is installed and serviced annually by a certified electrician to ensure that power outages don't cost you time, money, and leave you in the dark!
- Carbon monoxide detectors – Be sure to perform a battery check and detector test to ensure that your CO detector is working properly.
Preventive measures you can take
Keep track of electrical problems by taking these measures to avoid major problems.
Childproof your home
You can take the following steps to ensure the safety of your children and your home:
- Buy and insert safety covers for all unused sockets.
- Install front panels on all electrical outlets to cover all cables and reduce the risk of electric shock.
- Keep this in mind for your first review:
- If the sockets are hot, make sure that the devices do not overload the socket.
- If the electrical plugs do not fit properly in the sockets, replace the socket.
- Have electrical outlets and switches that do not work properly checked by an electrician.
- Talk to your kids about electrical safety and why it matters. You can use the resources of the Electrical Safety Foundation International and P.I. Plug to make it more entertaining, interactive and educational.
Carry out an electrical safety check on all sockets
You can use this ESFI checklist or run the Home Electrical Safety Challenge to work your way through the house and examine the individual outlets in your house.
Replace old / outdated sockets with GFCI and AFCI sockets
The main functions of RCCBs (RCCBs) and RCDs (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters) are to protect adults and children from electric shocks and to prevent electrical fires. These helpful ESFI videos explain how these security devices work and where you can find (and need) them at home:
Install surge protectors to protect your home, devices and equipment
An increase in voltage can seriously damage your equipment. One of the following can cause a surge to turn on and off frequently, or to suddenly break the circuit:
- Large devices (e.g. air conditioning, dryer, dishwasher)
- Hair dryers and power tools
- Nature and weather (e.g. branches touching power lines)
Overvoltage protection is used to limit the voltage supplied to an electrical device by blocking or short-circuiting undesired voltages above the safety threshold. This saves your devices and equipment – and your paperback exchange! Make electrical safety in your home a priority. Carry out these checks routinely. Teach your children safe practices when it comes to electricity, appliances, and home appliances. It could save your life and that of your family.
Additional resources
- PSA video on electrical safety from ESFI
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Outdoor Electrical Safety Checklist
- Electrical fire protection materials from the United States Fire Protection Agency
- CPSC checklist for electrical safety from room to room
- NFPA electrical safety checklist
