Electricity buzzes along in the background of your life from morning to night. It charges your phone to keep you connected, runs your appliances so you can whip up a smoothie or scramble an egg, and provides light to read by (or power to binge your favorite series!) after the sun sets.
But electricity also comes with risks: It’s the third leading cause of home fires in the United States. Every year, there are 51,000 electrical fires, along with 1,400 injuries and 500 deaths in this country, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. And these fires are costly, causing over $1.3 billion in property damage a year.
The good news is that many mishaps can be avoided by learning and practicing a few electrical safety basics. It’s important to know the warning signs of electrical danger as well as electrical safety do’s and don’ts. Read on to spark ideas for how to keep your home and life humming along safely.
⚠️ Watch for These Electrical Warning Signs
Flickering lights. Lights that randomly flicker on and off may seem like a scene from a scary movie, but the danger is real. The issue could be as simple as a loose light bulb. Other common causes of flickering lights include corroded sockets, aging light switches or voltage fluctuations that may indicate a more serious problem with the electrical system in your house. For example, your electrical panel may not have enough capacity to handle your needs. Most newer homes have panels with a capacity of at least 200 amps, but that’s not always the case for older ones that haven’t had an electrical upgrade.
Old wiring. Homes built before the mid-1900s may have knob-and-tube wiring, which wasn’t designed to handle the electrical demands of modern appliances. Older wiring may be more likely to have exposed live wires, which can pose a risk of fire and electric shock. Knob-and-tube systems also lack grounding, a modern safety feature that helps prevent burns and shocks. If you suspect you have old wiring in your home, contact a licensed electrician for an inspection, and consider getting a quote to have your home rewired.
Fuse box problems. While newer homes have breaker boxes with switches that can be flipped on and off, many older homes have a fuse box: an older technology that can present problems. Fuse boxes may not be able to handle the electrical needs of modern homes, and fuses may blow and need to be replaced when a circuit gets overloaded. Some homeowners mistakenly use a fuse of the wrong size, which can cause electrical surges. If you have a fuse box, make sure you’re using the correct fuse size and consider upgrading to a breaker box.
Warm or sparking outlet. If you notice that a light switch or electrical outlet feels warm to the touch or an outlet is discolored or emits sparks, this signals a problem and possible fire hazard. Turn off the switch (if it’s on) and contact an electrician to diagnose and fix the problem right away.
Problems with appliances. If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse or trips a circuit breaker; if you feel a shock while using it; or you get a whiff of melting plastic or a burning smell—these are danger signs. Stop using the appliance immediately and contact an electrician. You may need to replace the appliance or upgrade your electrical system.
A bright idea to help you stay safe: Perform regular electricity safety walk throughs of your home. You can use this room-by-room electrical safety guide from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Take note of any issues you spot, including these signs of electrical trouble:
Electrical Safety at Home: Do’s and Don’ts
Not every electrical catastrophe is sparked by a problem with wiring. Sometimes small errors at home can lead to an electric shock or house fire. Follow these electrical safety do’s and dont’s to stay safe at home.
✔ Do’s
- Check and replace old or frayed cords. Inspect your appliances, devices, lamps—anything that plugs in—for wear and tear on the cord. A worn or frayed cord can cause a fire. If you find a damaged cord, replace it or swap it out for a new appliance.
- Light up your home safely. Verify that you’re using the correct wattage of light bulb for lamps and other light fixtures in your home. Bulbs of a higher-than-recommended wattage can overheat, damage the fixture and possibly cause a fire.
- Use the right outlets. Make sure you have ground-fault circuit interruptors (GFCIs) in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry or utility area, wet bar, garage, unfinished basement or crawl space and outdoors. These outlets have a safety mechanism that stops the flow of electricity when necessary to prevent lethal shocks. They’re required by the National Electrical Code for new construction, and they’re essential anywhere that an electrical device could make contact with moisture or water.
- Hire a qualified electrician to fix any issues. Ask neighbors, friends or family for recommendations for a good electrician. Check your state’s licensing website to verify that they hold a valid state license, and request a copy of the license from the electrician as well. A state license shows that the electrician completed training, passed required tests and gained enough experience to properly address electrical issues in your home.
✘ Don’ts
- Attempt DIY electrical projects. As tempting as it may be to do home projects yourself to save money or sharpen your handy skills, it’s generally best to avoid the DIY route with electricity. You could get burned or shocked while doing the project, and even a small error could have big consequences for your home and safety.
- Plug extension cords into each other. We’ve all been there: You need to plug something in, and the extension cord isn’t long enough. But avoid “daisy chaining,” which is connecting two or more extension cords or power strips together. This can cause electrical current overload and lead to a fire.
- Run cords under rugs or furniture. It may seem wise to run a small appliance or lamp cord under an area rug, mattress or piece of furniture to keep it out of the way and avoid trip hazards. But it’s dangerous: Cords produce heat when in use. Foot traffic over a cord under a rug can also wear down the cord over time, exposing the wires inside and creating an additional fire hazard.
- Try to jam a three-prong plug in two-prong outlets. Don’t ever tamper with a plug by removing the third prong to shove a three-prong plug into a two-prong outlet. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to electric shock and serious injury.
- Use an extension cord improperly. It’s fine to use an extension cord temporarily, but they’re not meant to be used for days, weeks or months at a time. Also, never plug a major appliance, space heater or fan into an extension cord because it can cause a fire. And when working outside, only use an extension cord rated for outdoor use.
We hope you return to this guide and share it for a jolt of inspiration to take action and check an electrical safety item off your to-do list.
View Comments (17)
This information was very informative. Thank you
Very helpful
yes it was useful. Thanks.
When I read extension cord is meant to be temporary, it made me wonder about surge protectors which most of us use as an extension cord??
Always very helpful!
None necessary. Helpful information.
Very interesting and helpful. Some of which I would never have thought about. I am definitely going to make some changes in my home. Thanks for the insights.
Excellent reminders of cautions using electricity and our appliances.
Great advice
Thank you