With the cold winter day’s coming, we want all our customers and neighbors to be as safe as possible when keeping warm. Especially during this time of festivities and gatherings of loved ones, things we would normally be on top of tend to slip through the cracks. Please be careful and follow our quick list of 7 tips for your safety this winter season!
1. Monitor your Space Heater Use
Make sure to keep your space heaters at least four feet from any drapes, clothes, fabrics, and furniture. Leaving these items unattended near a heater can be a fire hazard. Also, avoid using an extension cord when plugging in a space heater since power strips aren’t designed to properly handle the high amount of electricity that most space heaters need. Using an extension cord or power strip can cause the device to melt or even worse cause a fire.
Be sure to turn off your portable heating units when you are finished with them, especially if you’re leaving the room. When using an electric blanket or pad, never use them while sleeping.
2. Make Sure Your Smoke and CO Detectors are Working Properly
Death’s from faulty smoke detectors and carbon monoxide poisoning is very common during the winter season because of the constant use of wood, gas, or coal. Check all your detectors and change all batteries or replace all faulty devices. These actions will keep you and your family safe in the long run.
3. Look Into Generator Installations or Repairs
A bad enough cold snap or winter storm can be highly damaging to a home’s electrical system. At the very least cold enough weather can leave you without power, which is always inconvenient. It may be useful to you to have a portable generator installed to supply continuous power if something were to happen.
You’re going to want to keep these generators as far away as possible from your home to avoid carbon monoxide entering the home. It’s also worth thinking about having a dedicated circuit installed for your generator so it isn’t receiving too much or too little energy.
An even better option is a whole house generator as they are typically more powerful than portable generators. Feel free to contact your trusted local electrician for a summary of your options.
4. Consider Your Circuits and Wattage and Avoid Overloads
Although the winter may exact a larger electrical need on your home’s electrical system, due to colder weather or festivities, try your best to avoid overloading your outlets. Stick to using extension cords temporarily. If you start to burden your home’s electrical system this can damage your outlets, your valuable electrical appliances, and devices, and even become an electrical fire hazard.
5. Don’t Place Flammable Objects near Heat Sources
Avoid placing flammable objects near heat sources. You want a minimum of 3 feet around heat sources clear of flammable items. Heat sources can be anything that emirates a considerable amount of heat but especially includes: wood stoves, space heaters, fireplaces, etc. This 3-foot perimeter can also keep children and pets safe from injury as well.
6. Watch Your Placement of Outlets and Power Strips
You’re going to want to avoid running electrical cords or power strips under furniture or rugs. If a power strip or cord is inappropriately covered, it can become a fire hazard if wires start to fray and spark. Consider converting your outlets to keep your small children safe from electric shocks.
Remember, You’re Fine With Tru-Line!
We urge you to follow these tips so that you can have a safe, warm, and memorable winter season this year. If you notice that your home is experiencing electrical issues, give Tru-Line Electric a ring! We would be more than happy to assess your home’s electrical safety needs and recommend affordable, efficient options for you.
