Electrical Hazards at Home

electrician

Electrical Safety is Important

Since all of us use electrical power in our homes, we need to practice electrical safety. The cost to human life and property is too great a risk to ignore. Wireman Electric cares about the safety of our customers. We want to provide you with some basic safety tips to protect yourself and your family.

It is always a good idea to consult with a professional to identify problems, they know what to look for from power supplies, plugs, cords, and lighting fixtures to lamps and appliances.

You can also examine how emerging technology can provide energy resilience to homes and businesses.

Tips on Possible Hazards in the Home

Much can be avoided by simply following some basic electricity safety tips. Here is a simple checklist to follow. If any of these areas raise questions about their safety and their efficiency and effectiveness, ask us.

Here are eight of the most critical potential electrical hazards:

  1. Extension Cords: Extension cords can be hazardous not only if they are in poor condition, but also simply because they can be tripped on if not positioned and affixed properly. Although using the correct extension cord for the environment and application, will help to extend the life of the cord, they are meant to be periodically replaced. Avoid attempting to repair extension cords, instead replace them.
  2. Wet Hands: Any electrical component or appliance should never be handled with wet hands. For this reason, electrical switches and outlets next to a sink should be avoided. In this situation, the odds of you having wet hands while in the proximity of electricity increases dramatically. Keep all electrical appliances and sources away from showers, bathtubs, and sinks.
  3. Young Children: When a child is very young, everything is new and needs to be explored. It is best to keep an eye on curious children. There are also things you can do ahead of time, if you are expecting a child, that keeps them safe, like covering accessible outlets, and preventing them from sticking anything into the socket.
  4. Using Water on Electrical Fires: Never use water to attempt to dowse an electrical fire. Water actually fuels electrical fires. If you are concerned about the possibility of such a fire, use an extinguisher instead of water.
  5. Covered Cords and Wires: Covering cords and wires can cause them to overheat. Although rare, heated wires can sometimes lead to electrical fires. Since cords and wires radiate heat, it is better to play it safe and keep them clear of other items and keep them uncovered.
  6. Lightbulbs: Lightbulbs aren’t usually considered to be electrical hazards, they are not, in themselves, typically dangerous. However, when hot lightbulbs are near flammable objects, like paper, bed linens, drapes, or upholstery there is a fire risk.
  7. Outlets Near Water: Kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms should always have their electrical outlets installed a safe distance away from sources of water. Water is an electrical conductor. Keeping electrical sources and water at a safe distance from each other reduces the chance of shock.
  8. Damaged or Defective Wires: To avoid the chance of fires, power surges, or sparking, a quality wiring job conforms to rigid safety standards. For this reason, electrical work should be done by a professional and it is best to avoid doing it yourself. A qualified electrician can regularly check your wiring to make sure it is safe and undamaged, giving you the chance to replace faulty wiring that can be a hazard.

Choose Wire-man Electric for all your Electrical Work

By contacting Wire-Man Electric, you stay safe and in good operating order. Our experienced electricians serve Greater Vancouver, and we extend our services to Vancouver Island. Contact Wireman Electric and get a free quote.

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Reviews

Dante Gorn
Dante Gorn
2024-01-15
Very friendly, fast and efficient. Charges by time but definitely doesn't waste time. The job was done within 5-10 minutes and everything is working as it should.
Roberto Gonsalves
Roberto Gonsalves
2024-01-12
I highly recommend Harman ! He helped me out when I was in a crunch with the apartment building I'm managing . He will for sure be the guy I call for this buildings electrical issues going forward. Thanks again Harman!
Amneet Khaira
Amneet Khaira
2024-01-11
Full disclosure - I am Harm's sister but I've decided that it's finally time to leave his company a review. You can see through the 200 + reviews that Harm and his team are reliable. My husband and I have used Wireman for a number of years for various projects. They do great work and leave the site clean. On top of that, Harm is easy to deal with and is honest when providing electrical advice. Keep up the great work!
Merlin Oldejans
Merlin Oldejans
2023-06-01
Wireman Electric did an excellent job from start to finish. The crew were professional and always showed up on time. The quality of work was great and I am happy to recommend them!
The Centre for Child Development
The Centre for Child Development
2023-04-03
Harm was extremely professional and committed, persisting to find a solution for our portable power situation. He worked with us to get our portable onto a dedicated electrical service instead of being powered by a gas generator! As a non-profit organization, every penny counts and this will lower our costs and our carbon footprint. Thank you to Harm and your team for a great job!!
Jesse Davidge
Jesse Davidge
2023-03-02
We had a 400amp service installed at my house. Harman and his team did a great job and were very responsive to any questions/concerns I had. Appreciate the work they did.
Monica
Monica
2023-01-08
Barry Warne
Barry Warne
2022-10-19
Top notch crew! Expedient. Friendly. Prompt and professional.
VM Travis
VM Travis
2022-09-20
Second time using their services because I was impressed by the great service they provided regarding installing my bathroom fan. Ali came this time to fix 2 outlets in my kitchen. After checking both out, it turned out only 1 needed fixing. He explained to me what the issue was and also checked out why 1 outlet that had a smart plug that was not working. Don't call anyone else! This company is the best.
Tanya Zukewich
Tanya Zukewich
2022-05-31
Wire-Man Electric is awesome! Harman and his crew are great! They came on time, were professional and cleaned up before they left. I would recommend this company to do any electrical work.