In Northern Colorado, you have all types of homes, from charmingly old to brand new. And you know what all of them have in common? Electrical safety. As a homeowner, you absolutely have to think about it because in doing so, you’re protecting yourself, your family, and your property. 

Of course, everybody knows how important electrical safety is but nobody really thinks about it until things go wrong. Your lights flicker or you smell something burning from an outlet, and then you start to panic. Oh, if only you thought of it sooner, you could have prevented all of this from happening. 

In this article, we’ll show you how to keep your home safe and how to spot risks. 

Common Electrical Hazards

In Northern Colorado, some homes have already celebrated a three-figure birthday, and others are brand new and super modern. This diversity is great for the market, but not so great for electrical safety. Luckily, there are some excellent electricians you can call and they’re all up to date on the latest safety guidelines through electrical continuing education.

Still, it’s good to know what can be risky, so let’s go over it. 

 1. Old Wiring

A lot of older homes still have old wiring systems and, although they work, they’re not designed to handle the electrical demands of the modern world.  Knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum wiring, or systems that were installed decades ago are not just inefficient; they’re also prone to overheating and degradation. 

The only way around this is to replace old wiring with new. 

 2. Overloaded Circuits

Today, households usually need more power than older electrical systems can handle, so circuits can easily overload. Signs of an overloaded circuit are frequent tripped breakers, flickering lights, and warm outlets. If you don’t handle it on time, you risk the wiring getting damaged, which can create a fire hazard. 

Install extra circuits or upgrade your electrical panel to help with this issue. 

 3. DIY Repairs

You might think it will be fine if you just make some repairs on your own, but that’s actually one of the worst things you can do, unless you’re an electrician. If you make a mistake, it can lead to short circuits, shocks, or fires. 

Electrical work should only be done by licensed professionals. 

 4. Faulty Appliances

If your appliances are damaged or not maintained properly, it can cause an electrical hazard. Frayed cords, loose connections, or something malfunctioning on the inside can cause shocks, overheating, or even a fire. 

Check your appliances on a regular basis and if anything’s damaged, handle it immediately. 

How to Improve Electrical Safety in Your Home

Making your home safer isn’t as complicated as it seems, and to be completely frank, one of the best ways to keep your home safer is to not mess with any electrical repairs yourself.

But apart from that, here’s what else you can do.

 1. Create a Safe Electrical Environment

This pretty much means that you should handle anything risky before it becomes an emergency.  

One of the most common issues is overloaded outlets, so instead of plugging several high-wattage appliances into one outlet, spread it out across a few circuits. Surge protectors are another excellent way to make your home safer. 

Also, make sure you can always easily access your electrical panel because, if there’s an emergency, it can be key to shutting off power. 

 2. Testing and Monitoring

Testing and keeping an eye on your home’s electrical system can give you a chance to catch small problems before they become big ones. GFCIs are very important, especially in areas that can get really humid, like kitchens and bathrooms. GFCIs protect against electrical shocks and you should test them every month. Testing is simple; just press the “test” button and you’ll see if they’re okay or not. 

In addition to this, monitor your outlets and switches. If the color is off in some places, if there’s weird heat coming off anything, or if you see cracks, then you need to see if there are issues with wiring. 

 3. Use Modern Technology

Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms near bedrooms and kitchens. If there’s a fire or a gas leak, they’ll warn you immediately. Fire may be easier to notice without a smoke detector, but that’s not the case with a gas leak, and carbon monoxide poisoning can be lethal. 

You should also think about upgrading your home with smart devices, like outlets that monitor how much energy is being used and that can detect problems. 

Conclusion

Keeping your home safe really comes down to regular inspections and reacting as soon as you see something is wrong. No electrical issue is small because, if you leave it unhandled, it can turn into a catastrophe. A warm outlet might seem like something insignificant, but it can turn into a fire, so get in touch with a professional the moment you see something that’s not right. 

2 Interlinking Opportunities:

From https://northfortynews.com/category/news/consumer-advisory-winter-heating-safety-tips-from-the-office-of-the-utility-consumer-advocate/ with anchor when using electric space heaters

From https://northfortynews.com/category/gardens-landscapes/safe-hanging-of-holiday-lights/ with anchor To avoid fire