Owning a home and maintaining it properly can be a lot of responsibility. We all have busy lives with many things requiring our attention, but make sure that electrical maintenance doesn’t fall off of your to-do list. While this task is often overlooked by homeowners, it’s extremely important for your home’s safety. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some electrical maintenance tasks every homeowner should know and be able to do.
Schedule Professional Inspections Annually
Annual inspections conducted by professional electricians bring a number of benefits. Having a professional inspect your electrical systems allows them to identify potential problems. This allows you to address issues before they become out-of-control headaches. Even if the inspection identifies an issue that doesn’t need immediate attention, it allows you to plan and budget for when you need to have the actual work done. Not only do you avoid emergency situations, you also keep repair costs down in the long run.
Check Electrical Outlets & Switches
You can do your own annual inspection of your home’s electrical outlets and switches. Test them to make sure they work without getting hot. If any do overheat when in use, have a professional replace them. Tighten screws and connection to wires since they can loosen as time passes. Also, make sure you’re using surge protectors to keep electrical components protected from the occasional power surge.
Inspect Extension Cords
Give extension cords the same attention you would wall outlets. If they’re hot when operating, rearrange the plugs using them or replace the extension cord. If you’re unsure how to resolve any issue, contact a professional electrician.
Pay Attention to Warning Signs
It’s easy to miss or even ignore some electrical warning signs. If you observe any of these indicators, contact a professional right away:
- Burning smells at switches or outlets
- Circuit breakers that trip often
- Flickering lights
- Humming or buzzing outlets
- Sparks from outlets, switches, or fixtures
Clean To Avoid Problems
Dust, dirt, or debris near outlets, switches, fixtures, or appliances runs the risk of being flammable. Simply wiping down or vacuuming areas around these components goes a long way toward preventing fires.
Unplug Devices
If you’re not using it, unplug it. Devices or appliances that are plugged in, but not in use, still consume some power. Unplugging brings multiple benefits:
- Reduce power consumption
- Reduce risk of fires
- Protect the device from power surges
- Lower energy costs
- Extend the life of the device
Test Threat Detectors & Alarms
Test your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire alarms on a monthly basis to ensure they’re working properly. And set a reminder for yourself to replace the batteries every six months. If any of your sensors are 10 years or older, they should be replaced as well.
Contact Kolb Electric for Reliable Electrical Services
Most house fires begin with electrical problems. These simple tasks can help you keep your home and family safe with minimal cost and effort. In the long run, you’ll also save money on repairs and energy costs.
If you need help with any of these maintenance checklist items, be sure to reach out to Kolb Electric for electrical services. Our team has nearly 100 years of experience serving the electrical needs of homes and businesses throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
For help with any electrical maintenance task, call the Kolb Electric experts at 877-287-1179 or contact us online today.
