You want to keep your home in good working order, and that means you must learn at least some basic home maintenance.
One of the areas that many homeowners seem to neglect, though, is their electrical system. This is because most people never truly think about their electrical system until something goes wrong.
When you learn the basics and understand some of the simple electrical maintenance you can do, it will be easier to note where there are potential problems.
Let’s look at a few easy maintenance jobs you can do to help keep on top of your electrical system.
Check the Outlets
Go through your home and check each of your outlets to ensure they are still working. This includes your outdoor outlets.
The easiest way to do this is to get an outlet tester, which you can find online and in most hardware stores.
In addition to checking whether it’s working properly, you should also look at the plates to ensure they aren’t cracked and that there are no signs of discoloration or burns.
If there are, it could indicate an electrical problem you will want to have checked out by a professional.
If there are cracks, but there’s no sign of burning or melting of the wall plate or the plug, you can simply replace the wall plate on your own.
Just make sure that you turn off the power to that part of the home to ensure safety while you work. It’s always better to be safe rather than get a nasty shock.
Check Your Extension Cords and Overloaded Outlets
In addition to the outlets, look at the extension cords being used.
If you have appliances that generate a lot of heat or that use a lot of electricity, it’s better to have them plugged directly into a wall rather than an extension cord.
Also, don’t rely too much on extension cords and multi-plug extenders that allow you to plug in more devices to an outlet.
The more devices you add the more stress for that outlet and the greater the risk something could go wrong.
If you have a lot of items that need to be plugged in regularly, it might be a good idea to speak with an electrician about adding more outlets to your electrical system.
Unplug Unused Appliances
Did you know that even when you aren’t using an appliance, it is still drawing a small amount of power?
This means you could be spending more on your electrical bill annually than you should. Always keep unused appliances unplugged. This will also help to protect them from power surges and electrical fires.
Of course, there may be some items that you can’t unplug regularly because it’s difficult to reach the outlet. It might be inconvenient to continually unplug others.
However, you should try to keep at least some of your devices and appliances unplugged whenever possible.
Contact an Electrician for Bigger Problems
If you notice any flickering of your lights or have trouble with your fuses and the circuits tripping, don’t ignore them.
Electrical problems don’t go away or get better on their own. Most of the time, they will get worse, and they can increase the risk of fire and other major issues.
Although you can handle some maintenance on your own, your electrical system has the potential to be dangerous if you aren’t careful.
Any major issues, repairs, or replacements that need to be made should only be done by a trained professional. It’s always better to be safe rather than sorry.
With that being said, it’s generally best to call on the professionals when it comes to electricity.
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No matter if you need construction, remodeling or some other home services, count on us to make your house a beautiful and real safe home!
