Electrical Checklist & Safety Tips for Summer
The summer months can be different for the electrical consumption of your home. During summer, your home consumes more electricity than usual, and with that in mind, it is important to make sure that your electrical system works perfectly.
The best way to ensure that everything works perfectly fine is to hire an Electrician in North Vancouver and get an electrical inspection. All you need to do is find an electrician near me, and they will inspect all the electrical connections for you. However, it is vital for you to practice safety measures on your own so that you can avoid any misfortune.
Electrical Checklist & Safety Tips For The Summer
Here are some things you must keep in consideration when you are getting an electrical inspection:
1. Cover Your Outlets
Many of us like to host pool parties during summer, but it is very important to stay safe when doing so. Having said that, you must use water resistant covers for all the outlets you have outdoors and near your pool. This will help prevent any unforeseeable circumstances and save your loved ones from electrical shocks.
Other than that, avoid touching any electrical outlets when you get out of the pool as your hand might still be wet and yiou could get an electric shock.
2. Check Ceiling Fans
If your home has any ceiling fans, you need to make sure that they work fine. Ceiling fans are not entirely out of fashion and can be very functional. For example, if you want to give your air conditioning a break, you can easily turn on your ceiling fans, and they will give your room the ventilation it needs to keep you cool.
You can also use them with your air conditioner, and that will make your home feel cooler. Before the summer starts, get an electrician to come to fix and service your ceiling fans, so they keep working.
3. Test Your Smoke Detectors
The number of home fires increases during the summers, and it is important for you to have the necessary protection and safety measures. This is why you must check your smoke detectors to see if they are working. If the smoke detector is not working, you may have to replace it, and an electrician in North Vancouver can replace it for you. Not just that, but it is also a good idea to test the carbon monoxide detectors in your home. This is also one of the most important electrical safety tips.
4. Do Not Leave Devices Plugged In
To be extremely safe, it is best to unplug all your devices after you are done using them. If you are not using a device, plugging it into a socket will not be a good idea. It can cause a safety hazard and will also waste energy. It does not matter if the device is turned off; it will still consume some electricity, and if you keep it plugged in for a long time, which will only waste energy.
Go through your home and look for all the devices you are not using that are plugged in, and unplug them.
5. Get Surge Protection
Power surges are very common and can cause a lot of damage to your electrical wiring and different appliances. Every year several people have to spend a lot of money fixing all the damages caused by surges in electricity. However, you can easily avoid this by installing surge protection.
For surge protection, you can get devices that first detect the power surge and then redirect the surge to the ground. This helps protect your electrical circuits and all the electrical problems that may happen. Instead of going for individual surge protectors, you must get surge protection for the whole house so that all your appliances are safe. An electrician can help you install power surge protectors.
6. Fix Tripped Circuit Breakers
If you have noticed that your circuit breaker keeps tripping, then you should find out why. It is possible for your circuit breaker to trip every time you use an electrical appliance. This is an indicator that there is a bigger problem for you to address.
Ideally, you will be able to put it back in its place. The main electrical panel will also tell you what exactly caused the circuit breaker to trip. If the issue is small, you can simply reset the breaker. However, if the breaker does not reset when you try to, you should leave it be and get in touch with an electrician right away!
7. Replace Extension Cords With Permanent Solutions
It is not safe to use extension cords as permanent solutions for your electrical needs. If you need an extension cord for a long time, then that means that your electrical circuits are overpowered. Using the extension cord will only deteriorate it, becoming a fire risk.
Therefore, you must get new outlets or let an electrician come up with solutions that will help you meet your electrical needs without having to depend on extension cords.
8. Buy A Generator
The summers are not a very good time when it comes to electricity, and you can expect some power outages. You shouldn't have to spend your time in the heat and instead buy a generator that you can use each time the power goes out.
There are many benefits of having a generator, and an electrician will be able to guide you with the best one.
9. Clear Power Lines Off Trees
It is a common mistake for homeowners to only consider the inside of their home for electrical maintenance work, but the outside matters just as much. One of the most common problems includes trees or branches in the way of power lines. If you have trees outside your home and they are very close to power lines, then you should trim them so they do not touch them.
If there is a storm, it may cause the tree to swing or break, hitting the power lines. This can cause problems such as power outages or electrical fires.
10. Ground Electrical Connections To Pools
During the summer, many of us have pool parties. Before having a pool party, you must make sure that you ground all the electrical connections so you can avoid any mishaps. If you do not ground all your connections, then that can cause electrical shocks, and it can be a very dangerous situation for you and your family.
Do not try to ground the electrical connections to your pools on your own but call an electrician in North Vancouver to do it for you. This way, you will be sure that you don't have to worry about electrical shocks.
11. Get GFCI Outlets
You may want to change the electrical outlets in your home to something that is safer. The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets are highly sensitive to any changes in the electrical current. As soon as these outlets experience any changes, they immediately cut off the power. This will help you save your electrical devices and wirings from facing damage. Moreover, they are also very safe. With a GFCI outlet, you won't have to worry about electrical shocks.
When you get an electrical inspection, you can ask your electrician in North Vancouver to install the GFCI outlets for you.
12. Don't Overload The Circuits
Overloading a circuit can result in unpleasant situations, and you may have to face significant damages. This is why, if you have a lack of circuits, it is always a good idea to ask your electrician to install new circuits so that you don't have to overpower one.
13. Get Electrical Inspection
Before summer starts, you must contact an 'electrician near me and ask them for an electrical inspection. Since you do not have a lot of experience with electrical work, it is a good idea to let an expert take a look at all the electrical wiring and appliances to make sure everything is as it should be.
How Can Kato Electrical Help You?
Kato Electrical can help you get connected with the best electrician in North Vancouver. They offer electrical inspection and also offer to fix all the electrical issues. If you are looking for expert services for your electrical requirements, then you must contact Kato Electrical. Their electricians are trained to give you the best services and ensure that your home is safe for the summer.
You may want to DIY the maintenance, but it is best if you leave it to the experts as they know what they are doing and will be able to ensure that your home is as safe as possible. Reach out to Kato Electrical today and get an electrical inspection.