Electricity provides us with light, warmth and music. It allows us to access our favorite television shows and websites. These days, many of us even read on a device powered by electricity. It’s a fundamental part of modern life, but when something goes wrong, the electrical hazards can be deadly.
Electrical Fires: How Often Do They Occur?
According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 500 people are killed in house electrical fires each year, and a frightening 51,000 electrical fires occur in general. Even if everyone survives the fire, many families are left out in the cold after their home and all possessions are destroyed. If this sounds like your worst nightmare, rest assured electrical hazards preventable.
Staying Safe: Do You Have Electrical Hazards in Your Home?
- Watch Your Lighting
Never use bulbs with a wattage higher than designed for the fixture you’re putting them in. Most lamps have a small label that states the recommended wattage. Be extra careful with halogen lamps, which tend to run hotter than other lighting equipment. If you choose to use these lamps, make sure they are not surrounded by flammable materials.
- Check Your Sockets
Overloading a socket is never a good thing. Rather than plugging multiple extenders into an outlet to allow for more devices, consider talking to an electrician about installing additional sockets. Many older homes were not designed for the modern world. A few decades ago, people didn’t have cell phones, e-readers, laptops and gaming consoles to find outlets for. Rather than deal with this hassle and possibly start a fire, it makes more sense to have an additional outlet installed where you need it.
- Give it a Feel
If you’re concerned that an outlet might be hazardous, give it a gentle touch with dry hands. If it feels hot, you likely have a problem brewing. Many people don’t realize that electrical wiring wears out over time, much like every other part of your home. The peace of mind can be worth the price when it comes to having modern wiring put in. If you’re worried, consider getting a quote from an electrician.
- Deal with Exposed Wiring
Not every home is up to par. If you move into an apartment and find exposed wiring in the sockets, be sure to speak to your landlord right away. This is a fire hazard, and it likely isn’t up to code. If you have exposed wiring in your own home, now is the time to have it taken care of. Make sure all outlets have covers. Not only can exposed wiring lead to house electrical fires, but it can also cause electrocution in children or pets.
Keep Your Home Safe: National Electrical Safety Month
girl sleeping in her bed at home
May is National Electrical Safety Month, and the team at Mister Sparky Electricians is happy to share these ideas to help you keep your home safer. If you’re concerned that your wiring, lighting or electrical devices might be dangerous, please contact us today. With every Mister Sparky appointment, we provide a full safety inspection to help uncover any electrical safety hazard in your home. Our expert electricians will keep you knowledgeable about the current safety status of your house. Schedule your service today at 281-907-8418 or text us with the link at the top of the page and for immediate help.
On Time Guarantee
We’re Here Whenever You Need Us
“We’re on time you’ll see or your electrical repair is free”. We back our superior electrical service with not only integrity, transparency, and dependability, but also our On Time Guarantee. We understand your time is valuable which is why we guarantee we will be there when you call.
When you need expert electrician services in Houston or surrounding areas, just give us a call at (713) 428-2120 or click here to book your appointment online so we can send a Mister Sparky technician to help you as soon as possible.
Red Carpet Treatment
The Respect you Deserve
Our technicians understand the value of being neat and considerate while working in your personal space, which is reflected in how we leave your home after solving eletrical issues.
Mister Sparky protects your home while he’s working: he slips on shoe covers (“floor savers”) and will even go the extra mile and roll out a red carpet to protect your flooring from dirt, scuffing, and scratches. Work completed, he vacuums the area to ensure that he leaves your home as clean or cleaner, than he found it.
Starched White Shirt
The Mister Sparky Standard
Because of Mister Sparky’s commitment to excellent service, we believe in hiring only the most professional and knowledgeable Houston Electricians. This means that in addition to technical excellence, all Mister Sparky electricians must uphold our Starched White Shirt standard for conduct and professionalism.
You can easily recognize a Mister Sparky electrician by his clean-cut, freshly shaven appearance and his signature starched white shirt and gray pants.
