How to Prevent Electrical Hazards in Your Wiring Devices

wiring devices philippinesEvery year, plenty of people fall victim to electrical hazards. The number tends to rise sometime around December. To avoid this, we are advised to take necessary precautions, including replacing your old wiring devices. When neglected, faulty wiring devices in the Philippines can spark problems and electrical hazards.

Save your home from future hazards by taking the necessary steps to prevent electrical problems in your wiring devices. Here is a list of things you can do to minimize the risk of electrical hazards.

 

Check Extension Cords

Before turning on or plugging something in your extension cords, inspect them first. Make sure that the insulation doesn’t have cracks, tears, or abrasions. Also, do not to knot the cables. Knotting extension cables can harm the conductor and increase the risk of fire.

Inspect Power Tools

Inspect your power tools regularly. If you see that the cords and plugs’ insulation, blades, or grounding pin is damaged, have them repaired before using them again. Watch out for overheating, smoke, or a burning smell. If you experience any of these in your tools, stop using them as soon as possible.

Replace Damaged Insulated Tools

Check your insulated tools for damages. If you find a crack or cut on the insulated layer of the tool, stop using it. Once damaged, your insulated tool becomes more of an electrical conductor and puts you at risk of injury.

Don’t Alter Electrical Plugs

Sometimes, people alter electrical plugs to fit into a socket. NEVER do this because it is dangerous. This will increase the chances of catching fire in your home, and the likelihood of electrocution and shock. If you really need to modify your electrical plug, have an electrician do it. An even safer option would be to just replace your old two-prong outlets with grounded outlets which has three prongs.

Keep Extension Cords Inside

Are you using an extension cord for your lights display outside? Keep the extension cord in a safe place or inside the house as much as possible. If the cord cannot be placed inside the house, just make sure that it won’t be stepped on or run over by your car outside. Otherwise, the cord’s conductor might break or become deformed. Just because you can’t see a tear in the cord, doesn’t mean that you are safe! Conductor damage happens in the core of the cable and might lead to electrical fire.

Keep Your Wiring Devices Dry

Electricity and water don’t mix well. So whatever happens, keep your wiring devices dry. Don’t use power tools in wet environment. You can install GFCI, which can detect when a powered device comes into contact with water. When this happens, the GFCI shuts off the power to prevent shocks and burns. It can help save you from electrocution!

Use Outlet Covers

Exposed outlets might harm children. Unknown to the dangers of electrocution or shock, they might stick their fingers or other objects in the socket. To avoid this, purchase outlet covers from your electrical supplier.

 

Anyone can be a victim of electrical hazard due to damaged wiring devices. So make sure to take the necessary precaution advised above. And remember that it’s important to protect your home from these hazards not only during December, but all year round.

Safety Tips to Protect Your Home This Christmas

christmas safety

Long before December arrived, people have already started unpacking their old Christmas decorations. Lights and trees are set up in and around the home in preparation of this festive holiday. People feel especially generous during this time of the year. However, just because this is the season of giving, doesn’t mean that you have to give up everything including your house and its contents.

Your house might be susceptible to different dangers in the midst of celebration. Cases of electrical fires and burglary are often listed during Christmas season so remember to keep your home safe. To avoid electrical mishaps, some people invest in AVR in the Philippines. Aside from that, there are other ways to protect your home this Christmas.

Home Security

The cold air and long nights keep people from leaving their beds. If you want to hole up in your room for the rest of the day, at least make sure that your house is secured from thievery. Make sure to lock your doors and set up your house alarms to keep unwanted people out of your home.

Anyone can be a victim of burglary. So basically, you and your whole neighborhood are probably in the same predicament. Watch out for each other’s homes and be vigilant about suspicious activities on your street.

Social Media Discretion

Be cautious about the things you post on social media. In this day and age, people feel the need to post everything on their social media accounts. However, it’s advisable to be discrete on social media during this season.

For obvious reasons, you shouldn’t announce that you will be leaving on a week-long holiday with no one to watch over your house or anything of the same nature. It could attract the attention of people willing to see just how secure your home is.

Hide Valuables

Christmas is a season of get-togethers. There are parties everywhere, probably even your home. In this case, make sure to keep your valuables out of your guests’ sight. You can trust your friend not to steal from the pile of gifts under your Christmas tree, but can you trust his friend not to pocket one of your valuable figurines?

Also, make sure to dispose containers and wrappers properly. Don’t leave packages of your new purchases sitting on the curb for your garbage collector to pick up. If you do, then your neighbors won’t be the only ones who know that you bought a new TV or laptop; chances are, burglars will too.

Electrical Mishaps

With all the Christmas lights and lit candles, it’s so easy to catch fire during this season. That is why you should be more careful with your electrical devices to avoid mishaps. Before you put up your decorations, inspect the wires to make sure that nothing is damaged or frayed.

Also, if you have tons of decorations to plug, do not overload your outlets. Do not use electronics in places where there is an abundance of water. Make sure to unplug or turn off your Christmas lights and blow out the candles each night before going to bed or before leaving the house. Lastly, your decorations can catch fire pretty easily, so make sure that they are at least 3 feet away from any open fire.

We have no control over other people’s actions or accidents. But what we do have control over, is our own attitude and actions. So during this Christmas season, make sure to take the necessary precautions to protect your homes not only from burglars but from accidents and mishaps as well.