As our trusted Richardson TX electricians at J-Five Electric know, properly-working electricity is one of the most crucial components of any home. Whether by lighting the family dinner table or powering the office air conditioner, electricity is essential to our everyday lives. As important as electricity is, however, it also presents certain safety hazards if you aren’t too careful. Here are some safety tips to ensure your electricity won’t get the best of you.

A common cause of electrical fires is frayed or broken cords or wires. If you come across these in your home, it is best to replace the cord entirely. Do not try to simply tape or hold the cord back together. By replacing the cord, you can save yourself from the worry that comes with faulty wiring.

Perhaps the most common electric no-no is using electricity near water. It may seem like everyone knows this, it’s the age-old image of the hairdryer in the bathtub. But even wet floors near electricity present hazards. Keep your electrical products away from showers, bathtubs, swimming pools, and any other large sources of water.

It is also essential to remember that electricity needs proper ventilation. Particularly with televisions, computers, and all their accessories, do not try to load too many plugs into one outlet. Use a surge protector to even out the charges. This will ensure that your appliances do not overheat, preventing a potential electrical fire.

Also remember that extension cords should only been used when necessary, and  are not a permanent solution to your electric needs. Have one of our trained, insured, and licensed electricians install additional outlets to better suit your electric needs.

As always, for all your residential or commercial electric questions or concerns, call us at 972-591-0325 or visit us online today.

Extension cords are among the most common electrical devices found around the house. They are the reason your TVs, lamps and radios all run under one socket.

While this is convenient for you, not using the proper extension cord can be very dangerous for you and your family. According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, roughly 50 people are killed and 4,000 are injured from accidents involving improper usage of extension cords.

An extension cord’s ability to safely provide electrical power is based on length and gauge. The longer an extension cord is, the lower its gauge number will be. In other words, the longer it is, the thicker the wire is. Electrical experts say you want to use the shortest cord possible to reduce the chance of major injury.

There are three types of extension cords – heavy duty, medium duty and light duty – which are made for specific electrical appliances. Heavy-duty cords are designed to work for the larger appliances and power tools in a home. Heavy-duty cords work great for electrical devices with 10-15 amps of load.

Medium-duty cords are built for your laptops, portable DVD players, netbooks and other like devices. These cords are for devices of roughly 10 amps. Light-duty cords are designed for basic use with clocks, lamps and other small electrical devices. These are usually for devices no more than seven amps.

Our Dallas TX electricians can assist you with choosing the proper extension cords for your home living. Call our Dallas electrical company today, or contact us online for information.