11 Electrical Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life

How safe are you around electricity?

Electricity has transformed our world, and it is hard to imagine life without it. Not a day goes by without us using it, but it can also be very dangerous.

Read on for 11 crucial electrical safety tips that could save your life.

1. Unplug Unused Appliances

If your appliances are not in use, remember to unplug them. Unplugged items are at no risk of power surges, overheating, or electrical failure. This isn’t only about protecting your home and appliances. Following this tip could also save you money.

Each year, Australians waste money on standby power. That’s an easy saving to make. Although it is the simplest electrical safety tip on this list, it is the one we all struggle with the most. If you often forget to unplug your unused appliances, consider smart plugs that allow you to schedule when each outlet is active.

2. Read the Instructions

It’s simple, but most of us never read the instructions before using an appliance.

Most appliances are simple, but some have special handling requirements. You need to read the instructions to discover any cleaning instructions or maintenance actions you should carry out. They may also contain troubleshooting guides or potential faults to be aware of.

If you follow the instructions but have problems, you should stop using the appliance. Contact a qualified electrician in Elsternwick to have it checked out immediately.

3. Look After Your Unused Cables

Just because electrical cables aren’t in use doesn’t mean you should stop treating them with care. You should store your cables even when not in use to prevent damage.

When storing cables, try to avoid the temptation of wrapping them around other items. Over time, this behaviour can stretch them and increase the chance of overheating.

Keep cables out of hot areas and off hot surfaces, as heat can damage the insulation inside, increasing the chance of problems.

4. Allow Space for Air Circulation

No matter how efficient an electrical device is, it will always create heat. Unless you have good air circulation around your appliances, they are at risk of overheating and shorting out. This can make them a fire hazard and shorten their lifespan.

Larger appliances like cookers and dryers often have exhaust fans. Fan failure can allow dangerous gases to build up, in addition to overheating. Regularly check them for dirt and debris, and call an electrician if you notice they are not working.

5. Respect Your Outlets

It is easy to accidentally knock outlets if they are at ground level. So always check them before you use them. Make sure that they do not feel warm and that the faceplate is secure and undamaged. If you feel heat coming from an outlet, do not use it; get it checked out by a qualified electrician as soon as possible.

Each outlet in your home is designed for a certain load. Overloading an outlet risks an electrical fire or damage to your appliances. Under normal circumstances, this is more than enough for your needs, but using extension cords and converters can cause too much load.

Try to limit your use of extension cords where possible and ensure that only one high-draw appliance, like a heater, is connected to each outlet.

6. Don’t Mix Water and Electricity

Make sure that all your electrical appliances and equipment are always dry and away from water. Failing to do so risks damage to your appliances and personal injury to yourself.

If you are working with electrical appliances, make sure that your hands are dry and that you are away from water sources. Even water-resistant products should be handled very carefully around water.

7. Replace Damaged Cords

Damaged and faulty power cords are one of the major causes of electrical issues. They are a leading cause of electrical fires and a major electrocution risk.

Rubber fatigue, crushing, and stapling are the most common causes of cord damage. Avoid making hard twists and bends with your cables and keep them away from furniture legs. If you have pets or pests, always check your cables for chew marks before you use them. Try to keep the cord uncovered. The increased heat can speed up rubber fatigue.

If you do find a bad cable, always make sure to cut it in half before you throw it away. This way, you cannot forget and use the cable again in the future.

8. Always Cut the Power

Whenever you have an electrical issue, your first action should always be to shut off the power. This will immediately stop a problem before it grows out of control. Make sure you know exactly where your circuit breaker is and how to isolate each area of your home.

If you are carrying out any electrical work, make sure to cut the power first to ensure your breaker is working, and test that the circuits are correctly labelled. Older homes are particularly prone to having non-standard setups.

9. Check for Earth Leakage Protection

Devices that trip your circuit when they detect current leakage or an earth fault are useful for protecting your home, as they make you aware of faults before you notice them. Requirements have changed over the years, so an older home may not have the protection a newer one does.

10. Installation of Residual Current Devices (safety switches)

RCDs, or RCBOs (Residual Current Breakers with Over-Current), are safety devices installed in your electrical board that trip your circuit if they detect current leakage or an earth fault. These are useful for protecting your home from electrical issues and, more importantly, your family from electric shock. Requirements for which circuits must be protected have changed over time, so it’s worth having an older board looked at.

11. Always Hire a Professional

When renovating your home, trying to do as much as you can yourself is a sensible idea. But unless you are an electrician, your electrics should always be handled by a qualified professional. Poor electrical work creates an ever-present danger to you and your family.

An electrician will know not only how to get everything to work but also which codes and practices to follow to ensure the safety of your work.

Electrical Safety Tips to Protect Your Home

Although electricity plays a huge part in our lives, we must respect it. By following these electrical safety tips, you will avoid the most common causes of electrical injury and make your home safer for you and your family.

If you need an electrician in Elsternwick, contact us today at Carda Electrics. All our work is guaranteed, and our staff are fully certified to current Victorian safety regulations.