With spring being a season of renewal, many homeowners are focused on cleaning up their homes, doing their landscaping, and prepping for the warmer weather ahead. One thing that you don’t want to overlook is your home’s electrical system. With increased moisture, storm activity, outdoor activities, and fluctuating temperatures, your electrical components are more prone to malfunctions. We encourage homeowners to take the proper time to evaluate their systems and prevent safety hazards from developing.
Inspect Outdoor Components
One of our best electrical safety tips for homeowners is to inspect your outdoor electrical system components. This electrical safety tip is crucial because moisture levels increase during the spring’s seasonal shift. As snow melts and rainfall becomes more frequent, humidity levels start to rise. Whenever moisture comes into contact with electricity, it can create a plethora of problems.
Start by examining all your outdoor electrical components for any signs of rust, discoloration, or even loose covers. These components include your outlets, extension cords, lighting, and other fixtures. Anywhere that moisture can infiltrate these components, it can lead to unwanted trouble.
Test GFCI Outlets
GFCI outlets are specifically designed to prevent electrical shock when water comes into contact with your electrical outlet. Spring is the perfect time of year to test these to ensure that they’re operating correctly. GFCI outlets are mandatory in all the wet rooms of your home, like your kitchen, garage, bathroom, basement, and even your outdoor spaces. You can easily distinguish these outlets because they’re square and have both a test and a reset button.
To test each outlet, simply press the test button. This should cut the power to the outlet. You can ensure that it kills the power by plugging something into the outlet and then hitting the test button to see if it shuts off. If it does, that means your outlet is working, and you can hit the reset button to restore functionality. If hitting the test button doesn’t cut the power to the outlet, it’s defective and needs to be replaced by a professional.
Inspect Your Panel Box and Surge Protector
Springtime storms can put a lot of stress on your home’s electrical system. High winds, thunderstorms, and even lightning strikes can all contribute to sudden voltage surges, which can damage sensitive electronics and appliances throughout your home. Having a whole-home surge protection device can help absorb that excess energy before it reaches your appliances and electronics.
Spring is the perfect time to inspect your panel box and your whole-home surge protector. When looking at your panel box, check for any signs of rust, odd smells, or unusual noises. Make sure that all the circuit breakers are adequately labeled so that even emergency personnel can read what they’re for. Ensure that the indicator light is on, showcasing that your whole-home surge protector is functioning properly.
Test Indoor Components
Another necessary part of your spring electrical safety routine is testing your indoor electrical components. This includes your light switches, lighting fixtures, and electrical outlets. You want to ensure that they’re functioning properly and that there’s no scorching, burning smell, or unusual noises coming from any of them. If you notice that your outlets are producing sparks when you’re plugging in devices or that your plugs are starting to fall out of the outlet, it’s time to call a professional to replace that outlet.
Get a Professional Inspection
In general, most homes can benefit from an electrical inspection about every three to five years. If you have a home that’s 40 years old or more, you may want to consider getting an inspection every two years. During this inspection, professionals will inspect all the different components of your electrical system. This ranges from everything from your outlets to your wiring, lighting fixtures, and even your weather head.
Technicians will test voltages to ensure that every line is working properly and let you know if any malfunctions should be addressed in the near future. This is a great way to detect problems early on and repair them before they turn into major issues.
Expert Electrical Inspections
Farmers Electric Design & Construction provides expert electrical inspection services for Bothell, WA and the surrounding communities. We can also help with all your electrical repairs, generator installations, and replacements. Just call our office to book your next electrical service appointment.