Celebrate National Wellness Month and Implement These Important Safety Measures

How to Keep Families Safe at Home

National Wellness Month may be about highlighting self-care, stress reduction, and the pursuit of happiness, but all of those things won’t be possible if safety isn’t provided first, and what better place to begin than the home? The following are necessary safety measures that homeowners should take to ensure that they and the people they love remain safe, stress-free, and happy in the most comfortable of all places - the home.

Importance of Smoke Detectors

smoke detectorA smoke detector is one of the most critical devices homeowners can install in their homes to provide a line of defense against fire hazards. Not only do they give peace of mind that there will be a warning in the event of smoke or a fire, but they are also required in all states to be installed in designated areas in the house. This is because smoke detectors are highly effective. 

Smoke detectors should be maintained regularly with checks and battery replacement. Batteries on smoke detectors usually only last six months, after which the smoke detector can begin to chirp to indicate battery replacement is needed. But modern versions of this device can now last up to 10 years without battery replacement.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save Lives

detectorAside from smoke detectors, a carbon monoxide detector is another crucial device to install at home to protect against carbon monoxide inhalation. Carbon monoxide, which is produced when carbon is burned incompletely, is a colorless and odorless gas that can be lethal if left undetected. 

Similar to smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors are regulated by each state and are required in all but two. Because of this, many homes have a combined smoke and carbon monoxide detector instead of having a separate device to detect each hazard. However, unless it’s specified that the device can detect both, carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are not the same. 

Schedule an Electrical Inspection

A routine electrical safety inspection is one of the most vital precautions homeowners can take to ensure that their homes meet the standards of electrical safety prescribed by the law. Ensuring homes are subject to regular electrical inspections lowers the risk of fires and electrocutions that overloaded circuits, frayed wiring, or faulty electrical installation may cause.

These inspections are ideally conducted every three to five years by an electrician to assess the home’s electrical system and the changing power demands of its occupants. However, an electrical inspection must be conducted earlier if homeowners become aware of the following hazardous signs:

  • Small shocks when plugging or unplugging appliances
  • Burning smell 
  • Flickering lights
  • Sparks coming out of outlets
  • Hot or discolored outlets

About Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air

Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air has been serving the community of Port St. Lucie and the surrounding areas since 1988. They offer upfront pricing, same-day service, and 24/7 emergency service. Call them today for electrical services in Port St. Lucie, FL.

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It's May Which Means It's Electrical Safety Month!

Different Ways To Practice Electrical Safety This Month and Always!

Electricity has come to be one of the standard systems inside every modern home. At the beginning of its time, people had electricity installed into their homes but were still too afraid to use it, so they would still rely on candles! Today, society has grown so accustomed to it that it’s easier to forget just how dangerous electrical systems can be. That’s why there is an entire month dedicated to electrical safety! It is crucial that homeowners are especially aware of how to maintain an electrically safe home in today’s world. There are different devices and protection that can be installed into the home. Homeowners should also be aware of several warning signs that could spell out danger. 

The Different Electrical Safety Devices 

There are four standard electrical safety devices that should be installed in every home today. 

These four devices include: 

  • Circuit Breakers
  • Fuses
  • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
  • Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI)

All of these devices work in different areas of the home to prevent an electrical overload. Overload can happen in the event of a power outage or if too many things are plugged in at once. If it weren’t for electrical safety devices such as these, homeowners would have to be ten times more cautious and aware of what electronics they use, how many they use at once, and even when a storm is expected! 

Common Warning Signs of An Overloaded Electrical System

overloadedThe main warning sign that an electrical system is overloaded is when a fuse pops. This is the universal sign that the system is overloaded with too many electronics plugged in at once and pulling too much energy from the electrical panel. That said, there are other signs as well. 

Common warning signs of an overloaded electrical system include: 

  • Fuses and circuit breakers that are tripped often
  • Flickering or dimming lights
  • Crackling or buzzing receptacles 
  • The wall is hot around the receptacles
  • A burning smell coming from the receptacles

Another common sign is when homeowners turn off an appliance or light switch and feel a mild shock. 

Information On Surge Protection and Why it’s Important

surge

Another critical electrical safety tip is to have surge protectors in the home. Surge protectors allow homeowners to plug in multiple things at once without overloading a receptacle or the system itself. They work by alternating the current circuits to prevent voltage spikes that cause problems. 

The main benefit of surge protectors and why they are so important is because they protect devices from surprise peaks in electricity. These power surges can damage devices and appliances, but with a surge protector, this doesn’t happen.  

Elite Electric & Air Keeps Their Customers Safe

When it comes to electricity, there is no time to mess around. The Port St. Lucie electrical professionals at Elite Electric & Air work 24/7 to provide excellent, efficient, and safe service for their customers. They’ve been in the industry for more than 30 years, so homeowners can trust that they will get the job done right no matter what. It’s time to call today!