Electrical maintenance of your house is no joke. A single mishap can burn down your property and be potentially lethal for your loved ones.
A person living in Georgia needs to be twice as aware of the dangers of poor electrical maintenance in Georgia, as tropical storms and floods can wreak havoc in your hometown at any time.
How electricity works may seem like alien knowledge to most of us, but learning the basics can keep your house and family safe.
Ensure proper maintenance to prevent any accidents. Here are some of the best tips for electrical maintenance in Georgia.
Don’t Try To DIY
Some of us take pride in maintaining our homes. We keep the house clean and the lawn mowed and make sure to be winter-proof every year. But, unlike other kinds of home maintenance, our electric system is not the same.
Your home’s electrical maintenance in Georgia should not be your next DIY project. Unless you are an electrician or an electrical engineer by profession, don’t try to fix issues with your electrical system. The most you can do is change a light bulb or add a new power strip.
Professionals who handle electricity know what they are doing and come prepared for safe handling. You, as a noob, should not take the risk of trying to fix something and getting electrocuted.
Hire Professional Maintenance
Most of us call an electrician unless something is broken or the fuse blows up. If you live in Georgia, your house must have braved many unpredictable thunderstorms and the dangers it brings.
Having electrical disturbances after bad weather is quite common in Georgia. So, consider hiring professional electrical maintenance after the storm passes. If you don’t want to do that, get it checked by an experienced electrician at least once a year.
A professional can thoroughly inspect your electric panel and test the circuit breakers. Faulty wearing, worn-out switches, and other electrical issues can put you and your family at risk. So, getting them checked and replaced is a crucial part of your electrical maintenance.
All About Outlets
Have you ever felt like there aren’t enough outlets in the house? Due to the rise of devices and appliances we use, no home seems to have enough outlets. We often use extension cords or power strips to get more out of a single outlet.
Whether using an extension or not, you need to be careful about your outlets, wires, and power strips. Try to keep the wires out of the way to ensure that no one trips and falls.
Always turn off the outlet when cleaning. Don’t push too hard, and try to turn the outlet off before plugging in. If the cable from a cord wears off, change it because it can be a health hazard.
If you are thinking of renovating your house, consider upgrading your electrical system and adding more outlets.
Don’t Overload
The electrical system of every house has a capacity. If your house is old, chances are it cannot handle so many appliances and devices.
Modern electrical items also need more power to run. Using too many electronics items in such a house can cause an overload, leading to a power outage. This outage occurs when a circuit breaker shuts off power during overload.
Without a breaker, the electrical system will catch fire. It is crucial to know how much electricity consumption your system can handle. Don’t run too many appliances at once.
Beware of Faulty Wiring
Have you noticed the light flicker? Even after changing the bulb, the light may not stop flickering. Most flickering lights are caused by faulty wiring.
You have to keep an eye out to notice faulty wiring. Notice when an outlet stops working, or a particular switch doesn’t function well. If you feel any room has faulty wiring, call a professional and get them changed.
Faulty wiring and poor grounding can be a dangerous combination during thunderstorms. So, any resident of Georgia should get faulty wires of their house changed as soon as they notice the issue.
Get Surge Protection
Power surges are typical during thunderstorms. If you want to ensure electrical maintenance of your house, you must consider installing a surge protection system. This can help protect you and your expensive electronics from getting fried during power surges.
Grounding and earthing your electric system is crucial for every house. Your electrical outlets need to be grounded for surge protectors to work.
Any sudden power surge or lightning and thunder can cause power outages and mess up your electric items. Talk to your electrician so that you can ensure the complete electrical safety of your household through a grounded electric supply.
Clean Safely
Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning electrical outlets, wirings, and other components. Avoid bringing water to the equation, as water can increase your chance of getting electrocuted.
Be careful while handling your circuit breaker box. Make sure it’s labeled and never keep it open when children are around. If you clean or check the circuit breaker box, ensure the kids stay away.
Bottom Line
Electrical maintenance is a huge part of home safety, especially in Georgia. Proper maintenance can ensure that your electric system runs smoothly without accidents. Be careful with outlets, and only use as many devices as your electric system can handle.
Get surge protection to protect your electrical items. Power surges are common during thunderstorms, so check if your outlets are properly grounded. Let professionals handle maintenance such as changing faulty wires or any other upgrades.
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