Electrical Tips For Home Owners

If you have breakers tripping and fuses blowing on a regular basis, it's time to bring in a professional to inspect your home.

Be sure all your circuits are properly grounded. A circuit consists of wires transporting electrical current to your lights and appliances, so properly grounded wiring is connected to a ground wire in your home.

All outlets near wet locations such as kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms should be Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI).

Water and electricity don't mix, so unplug any appliance before you wash or wipe it down.

If you have children or grandchildren, put protectors in all your outlets or replace them with tamper-resistant outlets, as these outlets are now required by code in all new homes.

Replace any frayed wires in your house, as they can potentially cause shocks or fires.

Replace all plugs that wobble or fit loosely in the socket.

Never force a plug into a socket, and never attempt to adjust a plugs metal prongs to make it fit. Both actions are dangerous!

Make sure all plugs and cords are kept a safe distance from heat sources such as radiators or space heaters. Don't place furniture on top of cords, and don't run cords under rugs or blankets.

Any indication of dimming lights, flickering lights, a sizzling sound, or a burning odor mandate a prompt professional investigation.

Never plug a generator directly into your home's electrical system, as this can unintentionally damage appliances or even put you at risk. Hire an electrician to get it done safety.

When outside, only use cords (and items) labeled for outdoor use.

Extension cords are a temporary solution. They shouldn't be used to power home appliances on a permanent basis. Most extension cords aren't built to handle high-powered items such as air conditioners, refrigerators, or space heaters.

Don't leave extension cords plugged in if they're not in use, as they can create an electrical or fire hazard.

A key smart maintenance tip: Hire in a professional electrician annually to check your electrical systems, just as you would get a checkup for your personal health. A licensed electrician can check your electrical panel, tighten any wires that need it, and even use an infrared tester to identify which circuit breakers are getting too hot in the fuse box. This keep your electrical system working efficiently, and gives you peace of mind about the safety of your home.

South bay Maintenance can take care of your electrical maintenance needs

We have license subs for your bigger electrical jobs. They’re independent from us, we will be your contracting source. (310) 706-56-15