5 Tips for Maintaining Your Electrical System
While the electrical system is a fundamental component in your house, it is often overlooked until a problem arises. In addition to causing expensive repairs, a faulty electrical system can damage your home and appliances and is life-threatening. Read on for five tips for maintaining your electrical system to extend its lifespan, enhance safety, and reduce the cost of future repairs.
1. Avoid overloading your system
Overloading is one of the most significant problems associated with most homes’ electrical systems. It often results from plugging different devices or appliances into the same outlet, which causes power outages or shortages in your house. Electrical products and appliances often utilize different power levels. To prevent system overload, you should first determine the amount of power your electrical outlets provide before plugging in any devices. Ensure each appliance in your home has its outlet to keep your electrical system in excellent condition.
2. Never mix electricity and water
Water and electricity should never mix, as their combination can be hazardous. An electricity-water mixture could cause severe damage to your electrical systems and appliances or give you or your loved one an electric shock. For this reason, you should always take extreme precautions when handling any electrical appliances near water.
Be sure to dry your hands when turning the electrical system or appliances on or off. You should also never leave devices like hair curlers or blow dryers unattended. Pay more attention to the outlets and wiring in rooms with regular exposure to water, including kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor sockets, and mudrooms or laundry rooms. You could install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets in these rooms to minimize the risk of electric shock. GFCI outlets detect interruptions with current and cut the power.
3. Replace old and damaged wiring
Suppose you live in an older home or notice flickering or dimming lights, discolored or hot outlets, burning smell, or frequent circuit breaker tripping. In that case, you should consider contacting an electrician for rewiring. Older, faulty circuits and loose wiring connections can result in electric shocks, make your home vulnerable to fires, and may not support your home appliance, so you should consider replacing or upgrading it.
4. Avoid DIY electrical repair projects
It can be tempting to handle issues with your electrical system by yourself to reduce expenses. However, electrical repairs are some of the most dangerous DIY projects, so you could compromise your safety. Without proper knowledge and skills, you could also cause more damage, increasing the repair costs. For these reasons, consider hiring a professional for all your home electrical installation and repair projects.
5. Schedule routine inspections
An effective way to ensure your home’s electricity system is in excellent condition is by conducting regular checks. Invest in a tester to identify wear and tear, damage, or anything outside the normal on your electric system. Alternatively, schedule regular electrical system inspections with a reputable and licensed Quality Electric Service. This enables you to catch minor issues on time before they escalate into extensive damages.
Endnote
Ensuring proper electrical system maintenance is crucial to keeping your home in top conditions. Replace old and damaged wiring, schedule routine checks, and avoid overloading and taking on DIY electrical projects to maintain your electrical system.
