From freezing temperatures and ice accumulation to excessive rain and snow, winter weather can put a lot of strain on your home’s electrical systems. To ensure that you, your family, and your home stay safe throughout the cold of winter, there are several actions that should be completed throughout the season. As a team of experienced residential electrical contractors, BNR Electric knows how hazardous winter can be for electrical systems. That is why we have compiled a list of electrical safety tips for winter to help you keep your home safe and minimize the risk of injury, electrical fire, and other hazards.
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4 Electrical Safety Tips to Keep Your Home Safe During Winter
To ensure optimal electrical safety during winter, consider the following tips:
1. Be Cautious with Heaters
If your home is equipped with electric baseboard heaters or you use zone heaters, you will likely be using them a lot more than normal during winter. While these heaters are a great way to keep your home warm, they can pose several hazards if they are not used properly. When your heaters are in use, be sure to keep all flammable materials—blankets, plants, clothing, paper—at least 3 ft away from them. If you are using a portable zone heater, it is also important to ensure that they are plugged into a dedicated outlet instead of an extension cord as the former option is much safer.
2. Know How to Handle a Power Outage
Power outages are more likely to occur during winter due to damage to power lines caused by excessive wind, snow, ice, and low temperatures. Instead of frantically reacting to an unexpected outage, it is best to ensure that you and your family are sufficiently prepared. Start by creating a detailed power outage plan and reviewing it with every member of your household. This will ensure that everyone knows what they need to do should you unexpectedly lose power. Next, prepare some easily accessible LED flashlights and an emergency kit that contains enough supplies to last up to 72 hours without power. Some of the supplies that your power outage emergency kit should include are batteries, candles, matches, flashlights, bottled water, and non-perishable foods.
3. Invest in a Backup Generator
Your home could be without power for several days during a power outage if you live in a remote area. A backup generator can provide power to key areas of your home—refrigerator, heaters, etc.—during prolonged outages and ensure that your home remains comfortable. Consider purchasing a suitable unit for your home to ensure that you always have power when you need it. If you currently own a generator, be sure that it is full of fuel and in good working order throughout winter.
4. Use Surge Protectors
It is important to be prepared for power surges in addition to power outages. Though these hazards often only last for a few milliseconds or seconds at most, they can cause severe damage to appliances and other devices that are plugged in during the surge. To protect these devices, consider installing small surge protectors (power strips) for important outlets and invest in a whole-home surge protector to keep your appliances safe.
To learn more about our residential electrical services or to discuss the details of your project, get in touch with the team at BNR Electric. We can be reached through our online contact form and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our services or your project.