Winter in Michigan means colder weather. Many people stay warm by plugging in their electric blankets or portable heaters or curling up in front of the fire. However, keeping warm with electronics comes with increased electrical safety hazards. This is also a great time of year to check for damage to your existing electrical systems. Take these preventative measures to practice winter safety and protect you and your family from winter electrical safety hazards.
Purchasing Electrical Equipment
Statistics show consumers purchase more electrical appliances in the winter than they do during the other seasons. A critical winter safety tip when it comes to electricity is paying attention to the products you buy. When buying new electrical equipment, be careful to avoid purchasing equipment with unreliable safety rankings. “Knock-off” or unknown brands often practice inferior manufacturing processes and use lower-quality materials to put cheaper products out on the market. These products can be very dangerous to use, causing damage, injuries and occasionally death from electrical mishaps.
Follow these tips to avoid purchasing cheap and potentially dangerous electrical products:
- Only purchase products from high-quality stores, companies and retailers.
- Don’t always go for the cheapest product. If it seems like you’re getting too much of a bargain, you probably are. With this in mind, extremely cheap products can mean the product is defective or unsafe.
- Check for the manufacturer’s name and contact information before purchasing a product. If you’re not able to find anything about the company that manufactured the product, consider purchasing a different brand.
- Always read the warning labels. Grammatical errors and misspellings or unclear instructions can be a sign of a badly-made product.
Inspect Existing Electrical Appliances and Equipment
Start winter off strong by testing all your existing electrical appliances and equipment for damage. Watch for loose connections, tattered wires and cords and pinched or bent insulation on wires. Also, take note of cracked or overheated wires and other related signs of wiring damage.
Check everything in your home including electrical heaters, smoke alarms, lighting and electrical sockets. Furthermore, if you notice any signs of damage or excessive wear and tear, replace the appliance or equipment or have it repaired if possible.
Working with a qualified electrician when you’re checking your home or office is always recommended. They can check that your electrical equipment is compliant with safety standards.
Electrical Heaters and Lights
Refresh your winter safety knowledge regarding electrical heaters and lights. Regularly clean your heaters to get rid of dust build-up. Always keep your heaters in open spaces in comparison to closed-in and blocked places like under your desk. Turning electrical heaters on in enclosed spaces increases the risks of overheating and causing electrical fires. Additionally, never leave plugged-in and turned on electrical heaters unattended.
Also, keep light bulbs far enough away from flammable materials such as plastic products, curtains and bedding materials. Before changing any defective light bulbs, turn off the light switch and then unplug the light from the socket. Make sure you’re using the correct wattage type to avoid overheating.
Electric Heated Blankets
Check for electrical damage on any heated blankets and heated pet beds before using them. Make sure they’re free of any damage and that wires are where they should be and not sticking out anywhere. Additionally, always turn off any electrical heating products when they’re not being used and keep heavy and flammable materials away from them at all times.
Water Electrical Safety
All outlets in bathrooms and kitchens should be installed a safe distance away from any water-based appliances like sinks and showers. If they’re not installed this way, consider investing in outlet plug covers. These covers help prevent against accidental electrical shock from contact while wet.
Additionally, never handle electrical appliances such as hairdryers and toasters while your hands are still wet. If you have children, remind them to make sure their hands are thoroughly dry before they plug anything in and to stay a safe distance away from any sinks or bathtubs when using any electronics or appliances.
Electrical and Extension Cords
Always plug appliances and other electrical devices directly into an electrical socket if you can. If an extension cord is necessary, make sure they’re situated in an area to prevent tripping. Consider purchasing a cord organizer and floor cord protectors if you have to run extension cords along the floor.
Additionally, keep cords away from hot surfaces and heating devices such as electrical heaters. Avoid covering them with blankets and other items because covering cords causes overheating. Insert socket covers into unused electrical sockets and never overload your extension cords with too many appliances or electrical devices.
Winter Safety Measures for Children
Take preventative steps to keep children away from potentially hazardous areas. In addition to using socket plug covers, keep all wiring and cords out of their reach and make sure they stay at a safe enough distance away from electrical heaters and other potentially dangerous appliances and devices. Look at your home from a child’s perspective. Get down to their level and do a thorough safety check of your home, evaluating potential dangers.
Safely Store Away Summer Appliances
While transitioning your home for winter, check your summer appliances and devices for damage before storing them away or turning them off until the warmer seasons. Do a check-up of your fans, air conditioners and humidifiers. If you notice any issues, you’ll have time to replace or repair them before you need them again.
Leave Adequate Space Around Electronic Devices and Appliances
Any appliance you use should have enough unused space around them. This ensures their internal cooling system works efficiently. This works for all items including computers, TVs, refrigerators, freezers and anything else you use regularly. Additionally. do a thorough check of each appliance. Look at the instructor’s manual for recommendations for empty space and make adjustments to their current positions if necessary.
Experiencing Electrical Fires
Avoiding electrical fires is one of the most serious winter safety tips. If you do experience an electrical fire, never pour water on it. Adding water to the flames only adds fuel to the existing fire. It’s best to use a fire extinguisher. If you don’t have a fire extinguisher available, leave your home or office building as quickly as possible and call the fire department.
Trust the Experts
Always hire a licensed, experienced electrician to check out your electrical systems and wiring. Certified electricians have specialized equipment for conducting safe and accurate electricity audits.
Practice winter safety. Review general electrical safety tips and strategies and check your home or office for any damage or potential electrical hazards. Taking reasonable safety steps helps reduce the risk of electrical fires and protects children, yourself and others from electrical shocks.
United Electrical Contractors of Michigan are your market leaders in residential, commercial and industrial electrical services. For any questions about what our licensed and reliable electricians can do for you, contact us today for more information.
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