So, the winters have almost arrived. Your closet would be full of warm clothes. Right? Each of us welcomes the season with special care but you might be forgetting something. Have you made sure that your electrical system is working properly? Have you taken all the necessary measures to avoid accidental fires? If not, then it’s time to do so.
The Winter season comes with elevated risks of accidental fire. In fact, most of the residential fires occur in December and January. The reason is the increased power usage during the winters. Special care is needed in using space heaters, lights and electrical blankets. According to National Fire Protection Agency, about 40% of home fires are due to space heaters. (Electrical Safety Tips for This Winter Season, n.d.)
In this article, we will discuss some essential “Electrical Safety Tips for Winters” to help you keep yourself as well as your family safe these winters.
Let’s start then!
ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS FOR WINTERS
The key to electrical safety is the controlled and careful usage of electricity. Even a little negligence can lead to drastic consequences. Some of the significant electrical safety tips for winters are as follows: –
Take Care When Using Space Heaters
No doubt, space heaters are among the basic needs of winters but as discussed earlier, they also increase the risk of residential fires. Never plug your heater directly into an extension cord or power board. Instead, use only a wall receptacle outlet that can bear higher wattage. If no outlet is currently available in the desired area, call an electrician to rough-in a new one for you. Also, ensure that your space heater plug isn’t damaged.
Maintaining enough distance (minimum 3 feet) between space heaters and flammable items, such as draperies, clothes, paper, etc. is yet another crucial factor. Besides, it’s super risky to use space heaters in damp areas. Hence, avoid this mistake too.
An intelligent choice of heaters can help you save your money, home and family. If you’re looking for one to heat a large-sized room, it’s better to opt for a higher-watt heater. Space heaters are also available with tip-over and overheat protection. They are safer as compared to others.
Never Overload Your Circuits
Overloading your circuits can result in great damage. Make sure that the current load doesn’t exceed the recommended wattage for a particular light fixture (i.e., your light fixture socket showing a maximum 60-watt load and a 100-watt bulb is used). Avoid multiple plug adapters on a single circuit and excessive use of extension leads. Only three-prong cords should be inserted in three-prong outlets to avoid overloading the power outlets. Remember that a warm plug or extension lead is a sign of potential overload.
Also, if you live in old or historic home, be aware of the missing grounding issue. This is common in older homes. Missing ground wiring in outlets is dangerous; however, there is a solution for this problem that don’t require re-wiring the entire home. So, make sure to discuss that with a licensed electrician.
Switch Off the Appliances Not Being Used
This step can not only add to your safety but will also contribute to reduced electric bills. Always remember to turn off the lights and fans when leaving the room. Once you have finished pressing your clothes, vacuum-cleaning your room or other power-dependent tasks, remove the appliances from the plug.
Maintain Enough Gap Between Combustible Items and Heat Sources
This point had already been discussed in the first heading. It’s essential to keep heat sources, such as stoves, fireplaces, space heaters and other heat-generating equipment at a minimum of 3 feet distance from the combustible items. The common flammable items in homes include draperies, Gasoline, oils, clothes, and upholstered or wooden furniture. This is the simplest tip to protect your children and pets from burn or injury.
Monitor Your Power Lines and Consider Installing Power Surge Protector
Thunderstorms and strong winds are common during winters. These can blow down your power lines. Most of the time, the trees sway and fall across the lines, tugging them down. The power lines must have enough clearance from the surrounding objects. Spare a few minutes to investigate the power cable of your home. In case of any defect or lack of clearance, get in touch with a local utility company to help you fix the issue. It’s better to complete this task before the arrival of winter to avoid any sort of inconvenience.
In addition, consider installing a home surge protector at your main panel. This would provide an entire house protection against surge events during power outages and storms, especially for sensitive electronic devices, computers and other household appliances. It’s worth it!
Fix Up Leaks (If Any)
Often leakages occur in homes due to excessive pressure within the drains. When dirt and debris keep depositing inside the drains, they cause the drains to crack or rupture, ultimately contributing to leakage. Untreated leaks lead to corrosion and mold development within the various parts of your home. This adversely affects your electrical system. Even minor interaction of electricity with water may lead to an accidental fire. Make sure to waterproof your home and fix any possible leakage to avoid damage to your home and power system.
Knowledge About Your Home’s Electrical System Can Help
Basic know-how about your home’s electrical system can significantly reduce the risks of residential fires. During winters, your switches may be tripped due to frequent power fluctuations. When the current, flowing through a circuit, exceeds the maximum load, it leads to circuit breakage and ultimately, the switch trips. It’s beneficial to know how to turn them on again manually.
Monitor your home’s electrical system, including electrical panels (particularly the main panel), circuits and switches. Also, ensure that the current is flowing smoothly throughout the system and the circuits and switches are working efficiently. This will help you take immediate safety measures to prevent potential accidents or hazards.
Keep An Eye on Electrical Blankets
Electrical blankets can also lead to combustion due to malfunctioning and improper usage. Make sure to avoid using electrical blankets during sleeping. Also, if you find any damaged areas in your blanket, it’s advised to discard them immediately to avoid potential fire risks.
Strictly follow the recommended precautions, otherwise, the results can be intense fire and/or burn. Investigate the plug and cord to ensure that there are no signs of defects and damage and they are working efficiently. Remember, never overlay an electrical blanket with any other blanket as it elevates the risks of burning.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors Are Must
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that each year, a minimum of 430 U.S. residents die whereas 50,000 people enter the emergency room due to accidental Carbon Monoxide poisoning. (Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risk Rises During Winter Storms, 2021)
The prime causes include the use of heat sources, natural gas, charcoal and wood, especially in winters. Since CO is an odorless gas, people often can’t detect it even when it reaches high concentrations that ultimately causes death. In fact, even lower levels of this toxic gas can lead to incurable injuries. To protect yourself and your family, install a Carbon Monoxide detector/alarm. Also, avoid using fossil fuel burners or gas ovens for heating your room.
Make Sure Your Generator Is Working Properly
To maintain a steady power flow in your home in the winter season, it’s a wise decision to install or repair your generator. Strong winds and storms during this season may affect your home power supply. To avoid inconvenience, portable generator installation is the best choice. However, make sure to place them as far from the home as possible because they emit toxic Carbon Monoxide gas.
A dedicated circuit with the amount of wattage required for operating or charging the generator is an intelligent choice. If you already have a generator at your home, examine it once to know whether it needs any repair or maintenance, so that you can get it done before the winter arrives.
Hire a Professional to Check the Wiring
Are you done with all the above steps? But one thing is still missing. It’s a wire inspection by a professional. Sometimes, your home has bad wiring which you aren’t aware of. In fact, this can lead to the most drastic consequences, especially in winters when you are using more electrical appliances. A skilled professional from SparkWise Electric can inspect worn, lose or damaged connections and wiring. We can also identify other issues in your home’s electrical system, including electrical panels, circuit breakers, switches and fuses. Once the problem has been detected, it’s possible to take immediate safety measures. Therefore, get the services of an expert electrician in your area, before winter arrives.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Winter is the most awaited season for most of us. However, it also demands additional care. Even minor carelessness can lead to severe damage. To protect yourself, your home and your family, it’s necessary to strictly follow the precautions. The use of electrical appliances should be careful and limited. Turning off the devices when not in use, avoiding excessive current load on a circuit, maintaining an efficiently working power system, and hiring a certified electrician are among the most essential safety measures.
