Due to its commonplace existence in everyday life,
electricity and the hazards associated with it are too often taken for
granted. By following the tips listed below you can reduce the
chances of a fire occurring in your home.
When installing or replacing light bulbs, be
sure the wattage rating for the bulb does not exceed the minimum
rating of the fixture.
When using an extension cord be sure not run
it under a rug or twist it around a nail or hook.
Allow air space around appliances that can
cause overheating such as TV's, microwaves, stereos, and large lamps.
Make sure electrical appliances are
recognized by a national testing laboratory such as Underwriters
Laboratory (UL).
Never overload a socket. This often
occurs due to use of several "power strips" being plugged into each
other. Older homes are more likely to experience overloading.
Some common signs of overloading include: dimming lights when an
appliance goes on, a shrunken TV picture, slow heating appliances, or
fuses blowing frequently.
If a circuit breaker is constantly tripping,
there is an overload of appliances and you need to reduce the number
of appliances for that particular circuit.
