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Stay Safe This Halloween With These Decorating Tips

Three Ways to Decorate Safely for Halloween

The electrical industry has come a long way over the years regarding electrical safety. Indeed, electricity is a dangerous utility, but it is used more than ever before while also increasing safety. That being said, just because electricity is the safest it has ever been doesn’t mean that accidents like electrical fires and shocks still don't occur. Halloween kicks off the decorating season that sees a spike in electricity mishaps.

This year, don’t be too scared to decorate for Halloween! Follow some simple electrical safety tips to keep the home, family, and trick-or-treaters safe. Here are the top tips for safe Halloween decorating.

Always Inspect Halloween Decorations

During the off-season, decorations of every kind are unceremoniously shoved into storage. In a hurry to move on to the next holiday, Halloween-celebrating homeowners often don’t take time to pack decorations properly. This leads to damage that can be a fire hazard the next year when decorations are brought out again.

To avoid hazards from stored decorations, always inspect them before installing them or turning them on. Start by looking for damaged cords and frayed wires that could start electrical fires. Check for missing or broken bulbs in lighting strands. Never damage wire insulation as decorations are installed.

Plan Ahead to Avoid Safety Issues

Halloween decorations can be placed pretty much anywhere. In the fall frenzy, homeowners love decorating indoors and outdoors with lights and Halloween inflatables. Electronics rating is one of the more important things to look out for as decoration supplies grow.

All electronics are rated for indoor or outdoor use, and the distinction is crucially important. Outdoor decorations are waterproof and weather resistant, making them safer to use outdoors. Indoor decorations are only made to be safe in a sheltered environment away from harsh weather and light. Using indoor decorations outside is an unsafe practice that wastes money by ruining decorations and potentially creating a shock or fire hazard.

In addition to checking the rating of Halloween decorations, it is important to plan to distribute decorations and electronics so as not to overload outlets and circuits. Overloading outlets can cause circuit wiring to overheat, making the wire insulation melt, which can cause an electrical fire. Try to put decorations on their own outlets and use circuits in different rooms whenever possible.

Use Surge Protectors For Safety

A surge protector is a type of electrical device that helps to protect a home from damage caused by power surges. Power surges can happen for various reasons, including lightning strikes, downed power lines, and even faults in a home's electrical system. While they may not seem like a big deal, power surges can cause serious damage to a house, appliances, and anything plugged into a home’s outlets.

Surge protectors work by directing excess electricity away from a home's wiring and into the ground. This protects the house from electrical fires and other damage caused by power surges. Surge protectors are an essential part of any home safety plan and can be used indoors and outdoors.

Surge protectors are also important for protecting Halloween decorations. These devices prevent large spikes in voltage from damaging the delicate electronics in Halloween inflatables and lighting. Adding surge protectors to a decorating scheme is a win-win for safety for any seasonal decorating.

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric has over 25 years of experience serving Montgomery, AL residents, and the surrounding areas. They have a service available to safely install holiday lights for homeowners. They offer military discounts, customer education, and a membership plan with perks. Call them today for electrical services or holiday lighting in Montgomery, AL.

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These Three Electrical Outlets Can Keep the Home Safe

What Outlets Come with Safety Features?

Electrical Safety Foundation International has some startling facts about electrical fires. It notes that there are around 51,000 electrical fires nationwide each year. These fires cause countless injuries and unfathomable property damage. This makes it crucial for homeowners to know the differences between electrical outlets and which ones keep the home safe. Three outlets that come with safety features to protect the house and its inhabitants include:

AFCI Outlets (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters)

AFCI outlets are ideal for helping to prevent electrical fires. Here’s a brief overview of how these devices work:

AFCI outlets monitor the flow of electricity.
Sometimes, a phenomenon called arcing happens. This is when electricity jumps from one wire to another––increasing the risk of electrical fires.
AFCI outlets sense abnormal activity and immediately stop the flow of electricity to prevent arcs from generating enough heat to start a fire.

With protection against electrical fires, homeowners can rest easy knowing their house is safe. Outlet installations are best left to the professionals. A trained electrician can install a new outlet while keeping the rest of the home’s electrical grid up to code.

GFCI Outlets (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)

GFCI outlets are the outlets with the “reset” and “power” buttons. While AFCI outlets specialize in reducing electrical fires, GFCIs reduce the likelihood of electrical shocks and electrocution. GFCI outlets are typically required in spaces with water, like kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces. Here’s a brief overview of how GFCIs work:

GFCI outlets monitor the amount of electricity flowing into and out of the circuit.
If the electricity flowing into the circuit differs from the amount leaving, the outlet will quickly shut off power to the circuit to prevent shocks.

When homeowners want to restore power to the outlet, they can press the “reset” button. Then, they should be able to use the outlet as normal. However, if the outlet keeps turning off, that means too much electricity is in the system. Homeowners should consult a professional if they notice this problem.

Childproof Outlets

Children account for 20 percent of all electrocution-related injuries. These incidents can lead to traumatic brain injuries, nerve damage, and burns. Parents should consider the benefits of installing childproof outlets even if their child has never shown interest in an outlet before. All it takes is one simple “experiment” to result in life-altering injuries.

Childproof outlets rely on springs and only allow prongs from electrical devices to enter the outlet, preventing children from being able to stick anything in the outlet and hurt themselves. They do not allow these objects to enter the outlet and form an electrical current:

Bobby pins
Fork tines
Paper clips
Toys
Scissors
Fingers

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric has over 25 years of experience serving its neighbors in Montgomery, AL, and the surrounding areas. They offer upfront pricing, on-time service, and military discounts. Call them today for outlet repair and replacement in Montgomery, AL.

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Beware These Three Common Electrical Hazards

Watch Out for These Common Electrical Hazards

Almost all homeowners and their families rely on their electrical systems nearly every day. As such, it would seem to make sense that they should have a basic understanding of potential safety hazards to look out for, but many do not, which can be a real danger. There are a number of potential dangers that can arise, especially due to the intricacies of home electrical systems.

Not only will having this knowledge allow homeowners to ensure the safety of themselves and their families, but it will also allow homeowners to avoid potentially costly electrical mishaps. The three main hazards that homeowners need to watch out for are overloaded power strips, old or faulty wiring, and mismatched lightbulbs. Continue reading for a thorough overview of each.

Overloaded Power Strips

Overloaded power strips can wreak havoc on electrical systems. What does this even mean, in the first place? Well, overloaded power strips are just as they sound - power strips that have too much stress put on them. Think of this as having a basic power strip with five different appliances plugged into it, each of which demands a high amount of electricity.

This can put excess strain on the strip and lead to hazardous malfunctions. For one, the probability of fire goes way up when a power strip is overloaded, which of course, will put homeowners and their families in danger. Even if a fire doesn’t start, the energy can lead to overheating that may melt any plastic on or around thr power strip. Neither of these outcomes is ideal or safe, so homeowners should avoid putting too much stress on any single power strip.

Old or Faulty Wiring

Electrical wiring is another potentially problematic area. Electrical systems consist of intricate wiring that facilitates the movement of electricity. It is of utmost importance that this wiring is properly working and as up-to-date as possible. Since most homes use electricity nearly every day, these wires are constantly working, so they can endure wear and tear.

Over time, there may be issues with the wiring insulation, pieces of wiring can get out of place, and there can be any number of other issues (let alone the possibility of faulty wiring in the first place). When these things happen, they create a real fire hazard as heat may not be properly under control. Melting can also occur, as was the case with overloaded power strips. The best way homeowners can avoid this is to have periodic professional electricians inspect their systems for any potential abnormalities.

Mismatched Lightbulbs

Mismatched lightbulbs are another hazard that may result when the wattage does not align with the bulb. The wattage and bulbs should align to ensure proper functioning - otherwise, there can be significant overheating that may put homeowners and their families at risk.

Similar to the two prior hazards described, mismatched lightbulbs can lead to melting and/or fires, neither of which homeowners probably want! The best way to avoid this is to check that the wattage aligns and, in the event of any uncertainty, for homeowners to seek the help of electrical professionals.

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric of Montgomery, AL has been providing quality electrical services since 1994. Founded upon the basic principle of trust, their team of skilled electricians believes in providing courteous, professional, expert services at affordable prices. Call them today for electrical help in Montgomery, AL!