Is your home safe?
May is electrical safety month
Courtesy of Mark C.Turner Owner of M & M Electric of N.W., Inc...

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), electrical distribution systems are the third leading cause of home fires, which account for an annual average of 910 deaths, nearly 7000 injuries, and approximately 1.7 billion dollars in property damage. Even with the advancements in electrical design and devices these numbers tend to be rising but many in the industry believe we can improve these statistics if we educate ourselves on the importance of regular electrical inspections.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) recommends that homeowners have their homes inspected by a Qualified Electrical Inspector or a Licensed Electrical Contractor if the homeowner answers yes to any of the following questions:

Do you own a home that was previously owned?

Is your home 10 years or older and had a major renovation, or added any major appliances?

Is your home over 40 years old?

Has your home been home been hit by lightning or surges?

Some signs that may indicate possible electrical hazards, irregardless of the age of the home, are as follows:

Frequent breaker tripping Dim or flickering lights Arcing, sizzling sound smell of wire burning Warm switch or receptacle plates Shocking or tingling when using a device Damaged or frayed wire

Improperly sized breakers or fuses

GFCI receptacles not present in an area where water may be used

Smoke detectors that have not been properly tested (pushing the button is not a proper test method for smoke detectors)

Don't let your home or family become a home fire statistic. Contact ESFiat info@esfi.org or call them at 703-841-3229 for safety information and simply call your local licensed electrical contractor or licensed electrical inspector and ask if they offer electrical inspections for your home.

Let's take the time this May, and make an effort to make our homes and businesses electrically safe as possible.