5 Tips For Keeping Your Electrical System in Good Health Over the Holidays
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5 Tips For Keeping Your Electrical System In Good Health Over the Holidays
Can your home’s electrical system safely handle your holiday lighting? The holiday season is quickly approaching, and you may be thinking about how you want to decorate your home this year. An important part of your planning is with your electrical system to make sure everything is in top shape to handle the extra load put on the system. You should be able celebrate with the peace of mind that your home and guests will be safe. Here are some things that can happen if your system is not in top shape, the benefits of maintaining your electrical system, and 5 Tips For Keeping Your Electrical System in Good Health Over the Holidays.
Risks Posed Without Electrical System Maintenance
Here are some electrical setback pains you could experience if your system is not maintained:
- Power Surges – High electrical activity in your home can cause power surges. Therefor, if there are many electrical appliances, lights and other devices continuously cycling off and on, it puts a strain on the system that may lead to a power surge. Adding electric holiday decorations will only add to the strain and may guarantee a power surge, which can cause damage to appliances and electronics.
- Electric Bill – The winter season is often a time for higher electric bills, and adding electric holiday decorations will increase the cost of your electricity. So making sure your electrical system is running in top shape will help decrease any wasted power. Another way to help reduce the costs during the holidays is by using LED holiday lights.
For example, Annual Energy Outlook reports the cost of running a Standard C-7 4 watt lights at 10.5 cents per kilowatt-hour is $25.13. The cost of LED lights is .56 cents. In conclusion, there is a huge difference in cost, so it is worth upgrading to LED holiday lights. - House Fire and Injuries – Unfortunately, electrical systems that are not maintained can cause house fires and injuries. The Red Cross reports nearly 47,000 fires happen during the winter holiday season. Many of these fires are due to outdated and older outlets that are not properly grounded and unable to protect the system against sparks, shocks, or electrocution. Oftentimes, people that have older systems will use plug strips for additional outlet needs instead of contacting an electrician to add additional outlets. Power strips can add to an overloaded system, which can end in disaster.
Benefits of Maintaining Your Electrical System
Your home electrical system will benefit from maintenance, which means you and your loved ones will also benefit from the safety it brings.
- Cost Efficiency – Keeping your system running in top shape and switching to LED lights will help increase your electrical efficiency and decrease your electrical costs.
- Power Surges – With your electrical system running in top shape, you will be less likely to have power surges that can damage your electronics or appliances.
- Safety – You will have the peace of mind that your property is protected and your friends and family will be safe from accidental fire or electrocution.
5 Tips for Electrical System Maintenance
- Scheduled Inspection – The best way you can prevent problems with your electrical system is to have an expert check it out. It’s best to have a regularly scheduled inspection by your local electrical company. This way, you will have an expert assess your system for any concerns or problem areas that need attention.
- Upgrade Outlets – If you own an older home, the outlets may not be updated. An outlet with the two-prong openings and no third opening for a ground is outdated. These outlets are not sufficiently grounded and will not protect against sparks, shocks, or electrocution. Above all, having an electrician replace old outlets will help prevent power surges, fires, and electrocution.
- Install Additional Outlets – If you find yourself out of outlet space often, it may be time to add some additional outlets. While power strips are handy to add additional outlets, they can easily become overloaded and are a leading cause of electrical house fires. To be sure, contact your local electrician to evaluate your home for additional outlets to reduce the number of plug strips or extension cords you use.
- Inspect Holiday Light Strings and Decorations – Before you hook-up the holiday lights and decorations, be sure to inspect them to make sure the electrical cords are in good shape. Do not use any that have frayed or any other type of damage to the power cord. These can cause someone to be shocked or lead to a fire.
- Install Surge Protection Devices – To prevent power surges that can damage electronics and appliances or start a fire, contact an electrician to install your home with surge protection devices.
Enjoy peace of mind keeping your home and everyone safe by maintaining your electrical system, instead of worrying about electrical hazards or the burden of costly repairs,
Why is Ryan Gath My Best Choice For Electrical Maintenance?
Here at Ryan Gath Electric, we want to make sure that you and your loved ones can enjoy holiday cheer without having to worry about blown fuses, power surges, or even electrical fires. When you call us for electrical system maintenance this season, we will work with you every step of the way to get your home’s electrical system operating safely to accommodate all your holiday lights decorations. So don’t let the power go out in the middle of your celebration – Call Ryan Gath today!
