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Although Dallas Fort Worth, TX, residents enjoy relatively mild weather, that doesn’t mean homeowners don’t deal with electrical safety issues on occasion. Consistently cool weather punctuated by the occasional severe storm means that household electrical systems must work harder than usual. However, you can ensure a safe and comfortable winter season for you and your family by taking the right precautions. The following are winter electrical safety tips for Dallas Fort Worth area property owners.
Inspect and Maintain Heating Systems
Your household heating unit is probably the most significant electrical component that you use during winter. Even if you heat with natural gas, your furnace still uses electric fans and blowers to distribute the heat throughout the home. No matter what kind of heating system you have, scheduling an inspection prior to the onset of winter helps ensure optimal efficiency and safety for the months ahead. A routine inspection can not only discover potential hazards such as loose and/or worn-out wiring, but it can also make your system run more efficiently, saving money on your utility costs.
Dirty filters are one of the main culprits when it comes to inefficiencies, such as overheating, in household heating units. During a routine inspection, the technician will either replace or clean your filter, depending on what type of system you have. As a bonus, you’ll enjoy better indoor air quality as the result of a clean filter.
The technician will also check your circuit load during the inspection. This ensures that circuits can handle the load being placed on them, decreasing the risk of tripped breakers and electrical fires.
Use Space Heaters Safely
Although space heaters provide a convenient way to add warmth to individual rooms and areas, they come with substantial safety risks if not handled with proper care. To help safeguard against potentially dangerous mishaps, always place your space heater at least three feet away from items such as curtains, furniture, bedding, and anything else that might be flammable.
Space heaters should also be plugged directly into wall outlets. Using extension cords and/or power strips may result in overheating and tripping hazards. Turn space heaters off when unattended, and never run one overnight or when you’re absent from home.
Protect Your Outdoor Electrical Components
Winter conditions can take their toll on outdoor electrical systems, particularly during storms and cold weather. Before plugging in an indoor holiday light display, check for frayed cords and damaged outlets. Using weatherproof covers on outdoor outlets helps minimize the chances of moisture entering and causing them to short circuit, which poses a serious fire risk. All outdoor items should be safely unplugged when they’re not in use.
Use Holiday Lights Safely
Festive holiday displays typically involve a substantial increase in electricity use. To stay safe while enjoying seasonal lighting, consider using LED lights instead of their standard counterparts. LED lights use lower amounts of electricity as well as generate less heat, reducing the risk of overheating and presenting less of a fire danger.
Lights and decorations that use electricity should be certified by a recognized safety-testing organization, such as the Underwriter’s Laboratory, or UL for short. Avoid using anything without this certification. This helps you avoid putting your household at risk. It also makes it unlikely that your homeowner’s insurance will turn down your claim if the worst should happen and your holiday lighting starts a fire.
Your holiday light display should also be spread out among several circuits to avoid unintentional overload. For added protection, use an outdoor power strip equipped with a built-in circuit breaker.
Before putting up your outdoor lights, inspect each bulb individually for breaks or cracks, and check for frayed wires and damaged plugs. Replace any faulty components prior to stringing and putting them up.
Prepare Your Household for Power Outages
Winter weather events in Dallas Fort Worth and surrounding communities can lead to power outages. Without proper preparation, you and your family could experience substantial discomfort and inconvenience during these outages. Here’s how to prepare for them:
Have a Source of Backup Power Ready
A portable generator or a battery backup system will keep lights, heat, and essential household devices operating safely during an outage.
Install Surge Protectors
Sudden power surges are common during periods of grid-related instability. Your household electrical system is most vulnerable during power restoration, which can lead to surges that damage and even destroy appliances and electronics.
Stock Up on Home Supplies
Keep nonperishable food and beverage items, flashlights, and batteries on hand to help your family stay as comfortable and safe as possible through prolonged power outages.
Avoid DIY Electrical Repairs
Although it may seem tempting to attempt DIY electrical repairs yourself, this approach could end up costing you more in the long run. Minor tasks such as changing light bulbs are fine, but issues such as faulty wiring and constantly overloaded circuits should be left in the hands of professionals to avoid creating safety and fire hazards. Always seek the services of a licensed electrician who is familiar with your local building codes rather than trusting a general handyman.
Be Proactive About Circuit Overloads
Most households use more electricity during winter due to increased use of furnaces, lights, and even stoves and other kitchen appliances. To avoid putting too much strain on your electrical system, be aware of how many high-wattage appliances are running at the same time.
If you find yourself constantly adjusting appliances and settings because your electric panel isn’t up to the needs of your household, it’s probably time to have it upgraded. This is particularly true for older homes. Keep in mind that most older properties were built during a time when families didn’t have the same number of devices and appliances as we do today. Larger appliances and devices that have heavy usage should have their own dedicated circuits to avoid tripping breakers.
Seal and Insulate Your Home
Electrical safety is about more than your household wiring, electrical panel, and careful use of space heaters, holiday lighting, and other electric-using appendages. A well-insulated home reduces strain on your heating and cooling systems, improving both efficiency and safety.
Seal Gaps and Cracks
Reduce drafts and keep warm air inside by using weatherstripping or caulking to seal any gaps around windows and doors.
Insulate Pipes and Attics
Proper insulation helps ensure that your HVAC system works smoothly and efficiently, minimizing the risk of overloads and other potentially hazardous issues.
Know the Signs of Electrical Problems
Knowing the early warning signs of impending electrical problems can prevent hazardous situations. Watch out for the following:
- Flickering lights
- Burning odors
- Hot outlets
- Scorch marks around outlets
- Breakers that constantly trip
In the event of an electrical emergency, turn off the main power supply, evacuate if necessary, and call 911. You should never try to put out an electrical fire with water due to the risk of shock or even electrocution.
Contact HR Phoenix for More Information
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