Without an electrical system, we would be living in the dark; in more ways than one. The electrical systems in our homes are absolutely essential to our daily living. However essential they may be, they can still be harboring some safety hazards that you might not be aware of. The sad truth is that electrical fires happen quite often and are responsible for up to 500 deaths and thousands of injuries every year in the US. The most unfortunate part of the entire thing is that most of those accidents could have been avoided with a little education. Burley Electrical Services is here to talk about electrical hazards in your home that you need to be aware of.

Common Electrical Hazards at Home

By far, the biggest electrical danger is fire. This is destructive and incredibly dangerous as well. Here are some electrical hazards that can easily lead to electrical fires in your home:
– Overloaded Circuits: All the circuits in your home have a limit to the load that they are able to handle. This is measured in amps. When that rating is exceeded, it can lead to overheating and could potentially lead to an electrical fire. If you have noticed that your breakers are tripping often, the outlets in your home feel warm to the touch, or lights in the house are flickering, these are all signs of an overloaded circuit.
– Outdated Wiring: It can be easy to forget that your home was more than likely not built to handle the electrical demands that you place on it every day. If you have knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum wiring in your home, it is definitely an electrical hazard that should be addressed.
– Damaged Electrical Wiring: If you have any damage to the wiring in your house, it is also an electrical concern that you want to fix. Damage to wiring can happen from a number of different things including rodent damage, aging or physical wear and tear. Signs that you have wiring that’s damaged includes frayed wires, discoloration around the outlets and a burning smell near or around your outlets.
– Extension Cord Misuse: While extension cords can truly be a lifesaver, it is easy to misuse them. If you aren’t using them the way that they are intended to be used, it can lead to some serious safety hazards. You should always understand the rating of the extension cord to make sure you’re not overloading it. Another thing to be aware of is where you’re plugging on in. Try to always plug them into grounded outlets. Also, make sure they aren’t becoming a permanent fixture in your home. If they are, consider having more outlets added to your space to accommodate your electrical needs.

Electrical Repairs, Lighting Consultations, Fixture Installation & More in Pompano Beach, Imperial Point, Plantation, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Davie, Lighthouse Point, Parkland & Fort Lauderdale, Florida

If you have any problems with your electrical system that puts your home at risk of a fire, you can turn to Burley Electrical Services to come inspect the problem and repair it for you. Call us today!