4 Ways to Make Your Electrical Outlets Safer for Your Growing Family
Posted on: 17 March 2020
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If your kids are getting older and becoming more independent, you may start to worry about electrical safety in your home as they use electronics and home appliances by themselves. One way to make your electricity safer is to make sure your outlets are safe and used the right way. Here are four ways to make your outlets safer for everyone in your home.
1. Have Damaged Outlets Repaired Promptly
An outlet that's hot, has char marks, or is cracked should be repaired as soon as possible. Don't use the outlet until an electrician takes a look at it. You may also want an electrician to take a look at old outlets that don't seem to hold on to plugs very well as it's important for plugs to fit snug and not lean forward and expose metal prongs.
2. Install GFCI Outlets to Protect Against Shock
GFCI outlets are so important that they're required by building codes for new homes. If you live in an old house, your home may not have these protective outlets, but an electrician can install them. These outlets are needed in wet areas of the home such as a garage, laundry room, kitchen, and bathroom. GFCI outlets are also required for outdoor outlets. They help protect you and your kids from electrical shock by cutting power to the outlet when an interruption in the current is detected.
3. Add More Outlets When They're Needed
You don't want your kids to rely on extension cords or power strips for all their electronic and gaming equipment as this could overload the circuits in your home. If you don't have enough outlets, have an electrician install more. You may want some dedicated circuits for things like the microwave in the kitchen and additional outlets put in the media room or family room so you don't have to worry about your kids using extension cords or causing a circuit to trip because of too many things plugged in at once.
4. Have Outlets Grounded
If outlets in your home only have two holes, talk to your electrician about switching to grounded outlets. Grounded outlets are safer and required in newly constructed homes. Plugs usually come with three prongs because of the need for grounding. Using adapters so your two-prong outlets can accept three-prong appliances isn't a safe option, especially when you have kids who may not be careful around electricity.
If your electrical system is old and you want to make it as safe as possible for your growing family, have an electrician look at your outlets, wiring, and the electrical panel so they can recommend upgrades to make your home safer.