How to Prepare for Electrical Outage

No matter how great a structure is, or how developed a country is, electrical trip offs and emergencies are still inevitable. Oftentimes, people tend to ignore these instances, especially when their routine and daily needs are not severely affected. However, it is important to remember that these electrical emergencies pose their own risks both to humans and to appliances. With this, it is important to stay mentally and physically prepared for any electrical outage in your place. It doesn’t take a professional electrician to execute some of these things.

Residential areas

Residential areas are more at risk to electric shocks and appliance damages because the chances are high that there is no technical person who knows how to properly handle the situation. Minutes or hours without electricity can also create severe discomfort among the residents due to lack of cooling or heating appliance. If the home requires constant air conditioning, make sure to constantly have back-up units that run on batteries. These can last for a couple of hours to maintain the level of comfort inside the house. It is also important to unplug all appliances once the outage happens to avoid any electric circuit problems once the electricity comes back. If this is too much of a hassle for you, then you can simply main power switch since this is also the safest way to stay away from electric shocks and damages.

Solar lamps and fans are also now readily available for emergency electrical situations. Make sure to constantly have them around in your home for optimum comfort. Having a fire extinguisher around will also go a long way for any residential space.

Office spaces

Commercial building and office spaces usually have a resident electrician to deal with these types of emergencies and other electrical needs. If you still do not have one in your office, then it’s time to keep in touch with a licensed electrician, immediately. Offices have more complex electrical requirements, which also mean more complicated process in times of electrical outage and other emergencies. The best that the employees can to is to make sure that their personal units like computers are unplugged the moment the electricity comes out. Failure to do so may cause damage to the computer units in the long-run. As for the other fixes around the building or office, call an electrician immediately to check the root of the problem and run the generator if there is one in the building.

Electrical outages may be inevitable but the discomfort that results out of it can be easily eased with proper preparation. Whether it is a residential or commercial space, it always pays to be aware of the electrical set-up of the area as part of preparing of these emergencies. Among the important things to learn are the location of the main power switch, the outlets and what devices are connected to them, as well as where to find a trusted electrician in case the situation calls for professional intervention. Never attempt to fix electrical connections by yourself to prevent life-threatening situations.

Electrical hazards around your house

Homes rely on electricity to function. This is especially true with the introduction of smart homes where everything is connected by some form of electrical wire or machine which needs the energy from electricity to function.

Despite the improved function of your homes, there are hazards that come with these electrical devices. You need to be able to reduce the risk of danger through common practices and with the help of your local electrician. For homeowners, they should know these typical areas where electrical units or connections can be a hazard to residents and structures.

Faulty wires

All wires need to follow a set of standards for safety which are created by a regulatory body for electrical systems. The characteristics of wire are identified to prevent it from being an electric or fire hazard.

Sub-standard wires will get damaged easily and the metal inside will corrode quicker than quality wires. An electrician will be able to inspect if you’re following electrical wire standards during an inspection. They will suggest and install new wires if needed.

Electrical connections near water sources

Bathrooms, kitchens, and wash areas are moist areas in houses. Outlets and other electrical connections should be far from the water sources. It keeps people from getting electrocuted while they are near water.

Water is a good conductor of electricity. You should stop using electrical appliances like your smartphone or hair dryer inside your restroom. Just wait ’til you get far away from any wet area.

Child hazard

Electrical sources are always a child hazard. You can’t control the child’s movement all the time which is why you should make an effort to keep your young children from coming into contact with electrical outlets and appliances.

For outlets, you can place covers or a child safe powerpoint. This keeps your child from poking their fingers or anything metallic into the holes of the outlet. Never leave your sockets unprotected if you have children around.

Bulbs and other lights

A blown bulb might shatter into pieces. The heat and electricity can cause flammable materials in your home to catch fire. Curtains and drapes are the most commonly hit by a blown out bulb which means you should keep it away from them.

Be sure to replace you bulbs regularly. Don’t wait for them to blow up before you think about changing them. You can get information about it’s service life on it’s box.

Extension wires

An extension wire is present in many homes. It allows the residents to extend the source of electricity however they want. You can charge you phone near your bed or run the washing machine outside to wash your clothes.

But, you just have to remember to keep it tucked in sections of the house where it will not get stepped on easily. People can trip over it and cause an accidental damage to the electrical wiring. Don’t use them as your only power source. It should only be used when needed and stored properly when not needed.

Hidden wires & cords

All homes have an electrical wire or cord that can’t be seen because either they are covered or behind some piece of furniture or appliance. You must keep cord and wires exposed so you can see if it is becoming a hazard to your home.