Home Electrical Safety in Kitchener-Waterloo

Our home’s electrical system is something we don’t think about often as it is so incorporated into our daily routines. However, what many homeowners fail to realize is that electrical hazards throughout their homes are more common than they may think. Therefore, to ensure that homeowners are aware of the aspects in their home that could potentially result in an electrical fire or electrocution, here is a list of some of the most common electrical safety hazards you may have in your home:

Outdated electrical wiring or wiring that has been poorly installed without the guidance of a professional and certified electrician. 

Generally speaking, your electrical wiring throughout your home should last upwards of 50 years before it will need to be replaced. However, around the 30-year mark, your wiring will begin to diminish, causing your electrical system to become a fire hazard and an electric shock risk. On the other hand, if electrical components of your home have been installed by someone who is not a professional, certified electrician, you can also be putting your home and family at risk. This is because electrical work is highly complex, and without the proper knowledge and experience, the potential for errors to occur is high.

Improperly using extension cords throughout your home. 

While extension cords can come in handy when you need extra plugs around your home, if you use too many of them, you run the risk of overloading your electrical system. This can then lead to electrical fires, electrocution, and damage to your appliances and electrical devices.

Electrical outlets that are not protected 

While not as big of a hazard for older children and adults, if you have young children in your home and electrical outlets that are not protected or covered, small children can get electrocuted if they put something into one of your outlets.

Using light bulbs that are the wrong wattage 

Again, although this may not seem like a big deal, using light bulbs that are the wrong wattage for your lamp can cause an electrical fire should your electrical system become overloaded.

Home appliances plugged-in by water sources 

Whether it be your toaster, hair dryer, straightener, or phone charger, electrical appliances that are plugged into the wall while also being near water can increase your chances of being electrocuted.

Smoke alarms that are not working 

All of the above-noted hazards can put your home at risk of being damaged as a result of an electrical fire. Therefore, if the smoke alarms throughout your home are not working, it can lead to serious damage throughout your home and severe bodily harm or death to you and your family.

As you can see, electrical hazards, whether we notice them or not, are common in many homes. Therefore, it is crucial that homeowners in London, Ontario, take note of the ones they have and create a plan to fix these hazards before something goes wrong. With the help of the certified electrical team at Dunn Heating, we can provide you with guidance in creating an electrical home safety plan to ensure that you, your family, and your home are protected from potential risks.

Call us directly or book an appointment with the team at Dunn Heating today! We are available 24/7/365 days of the year and do not charge extra for electrical services required during after-hours, on weekends, for emergencies, or on holidays!

Electrical safety hazards are more common than you may think. Therefore, it’s crucial that homeowners recognize and fix the potential hazards throughout their homes so they can avoid any risks. Here is a closer look at how you can make sure that your home in London, Ontario, is safe for you and your family.

Keep your home appliances dry. 

Electricity and water can result in an electric shock that causes severe bodily harm or death. Therefore, homeowners need to make sure that their home appliances are away from moisture when they are not in use to ensure they do not suffer water damage that can then spark when plugged in again.

Cover your electrical outlets 

Young children have a tendency to play with things they shouldn’t, including your electrical outlets. Therefore, if you have small children in your home, we recommend putting covers on your outlets so they do not have the ability to place objects or their fingers into your electrical outlets and shock themselves.

Use the correct light bulbs for your lamps and fixtures. 

Before changing your light bulbs, make sure to take note of the watts your lighting fixtures and lamps require. That way, you can purchase the correct light bulbs from your local hardware store rather than install a new light bulb that can overheat due to having a greater maximum wattage.

Take note of your electrical cords. 

While using electrical cords in your home is okay, make sure that you do not install them:

• Under your carpets
• Across any of your furniture
• In high-traffic areas throughout your home
• Nailed into the wall
• By any running water

Additionally, homeowners should also inspect their electrical cords frequently to ensure there is no damage, such as frayed wires.

Ensure you have GFCI protection 

GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupters. These safety devices will shut off the electricity in your home if there is a disconnect between the electricity coming into your home and the current going out to avoid electric shock and electrical fires.

Create a home electrical safety plan 

Partnering with a professional electrical company on your home electrical safety plan can provide you with knowledge on how to keep your home safe and up to code when it comes to your electrical system. Dunn Heating have worked with thousands of homeowners in London, Ontario, to help them develop a home safety plan that works for their needs and lifestyles. Therefore, if you believe that your home requires an electrical inspection and a safety plan moving forward, we recommend booking an appointment with our certified electricians.

Call us directly or book an appointment with the electrical team at Dunn Heating today!

Electricity is an invisible hazard that many homeowners do not think about during their daily routines. However, electrical hazards can not only cause electric shocks, but they can also cause fires in your home that will cause damage to your home. Common injuries that can result from a high-voltage electrical shock due to hazards in your home include:

• Cardiac arrest or a heart attack
• Damage to your muscles, nerves, and tissues that results from the electrical current passing through your body
• Severe burns on the skin
• Hearing loss
• Blindness
• Death

On the other hand, electrical fires can cause damage to your home, bodily injury, and death. This is precisely why having basic knowledge of electrical safety is key to preventing accidents from occurring. While it can be challenging to tell electrical safety hazards throughout your home that could indicate there is something wrong with your home’s electrical system, early detection is vital. Here is a closer look at some of the signs that could indicate there is something wrong with the electrical system throughout your home and that you have safety hazards you are unaware of:

• You are operating too many extension cords in your home.
• You see that your fuse box wires are burned.
• Your electrical outlets feel warm when you touch them.
• Your circuit breakers frequently trip throughout the week.
• There are flickering lights throughout your home.
• There is a strong burning smell coming from somewhere throughout your home, but you are unable to locate the cause.
• You hear a buzzing noise throughout your home.
• You frequently experience an electric shock when you plug in your appliances.

Faulty wiring and misuse of your home’s electrical system are not something to ignore. Therefore, if you recognize any of these signs or habits around your home, it may be time to book an appointment with the professional electrical team at Dunn Heating.

With over 55 years of experience, our certified electricians have the skills and knowledge required to ensure your electrical system is working optimally and safely throughout your home. We are also able to provide you with home electrical safety guidance so you can perform your daily routines while preventing damage and injuries.

Book an appointment with the electrical team at Dunn Heating by calling us directly or using our online form. We are available 24/7/365 days of the year and do not charge extra for electrical services required during after-hours, on weekends, for emergencies, or on holidays!

With our help and guidance, homeowners in London, Ontario, can rest assured knowing their home is in good hands with Dunn Heating.