Category Archives: Safety

You probably don’t spend much time thinking about the electrical outlets in your home. It’s easy to overlook them when you plug in your cords and move on. However, when you need to install or replace an outlet you’ll find that there are a few different types from which to choose. Should you go with standard electrical outlets or an option that offers more safety or amperage? Consider the following when you need new electrical outlets in your Phoenix home.

Standard Electrical Outlets

You’re most likely familiar with standard outlets that are common in homes. These are 15-amp or 20-amp outlets that have a long slot, a short slot, and a half-circle grounding hole below the slots. Depending on your needs, you might want to consider a more specialized outlet.

GFCI Outlets

Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets are ideal for lowering the risk of being shocked. When you plug a device or small appliance into one of these electrical outlets, you don’t have to worry about ground faults. The GFCI outlet shuts off power as soon as it detects an electrical current leakage from the circuit.

Electricians typically install GFCI outlets in areas where homeowners have a higher risk of shock. This usually means putting them in areas where water is close by, such as in the bathroom and near kitchen sinks. GFCI outlets can provide safety in outdoor areas as well.

Tamper Resistant Outlets

When you have kids, you know the importance of babyproofing. The first goal is often to make sure little fingers don’t put anything into electrical outlets. Outlet caps can help with this, but it’s easy for kids to pull them out.

Tamper resistant outlets can provide peace of mind. Young children may try to stick a narrow object into an outlet just to see what happens. If this went unnoticed in a standard outlet, it could start a fire. Tamper resistant outlets require pressure to be added to both slots at the same time for the outlet to function. Although this type of outlet is resistant to tampering it\’s important to note that it doesn\’t fully childproof your outlet. Anyone could insert a plug into the outlet using even force.

An electrician can install these outlets throughout your home in place of standard outlets. After an electrician installs your new outlets they provide a permanent safety feature to give you peace of mind.

Weather Resistant Outlets

Outdoor electrical outlets are at risk of being wet or damp, so your electrician will need to install weather-resistant outlets. These outlets are designed to resist corrosion and potentially dangerous damage from exposure to moisture. Keep in mind that they’ll need to have weather-resistant covers on them, too.

Weather resistant outlets are the right choice when you need outlets installed near pools or on your patio or deck. You can safely use these outlets for plugging in tools, lights, and decorations without having to worry about electrical injuries.

High Amp Outlets

When 15 or 20 amps isn’t enough to handle your electrical load, you’ll want to look into having an electrician install high amp outlets. These outlets can handle larger loads from major appliances or heavy-duty power tools. You can find these in 30-amp or 50-amp options. The amount of amperage you’ll need will depend on what you’ll be using it for. Working with an electrician ensures that you get the right high amp outlet for your needs.

If you need help with anything from installing a new outlet to changing the entire electrical system in your home or commercial property in Phoenix, contact Turn It On Electric.

Most people spend close to one-third of their lives at their job. As a property manager, you should ensure that people in your building stay safe from electrical hazards.

Have you noticed there are too many items plugged into your power strips? Do you have several power strips connected to reach a faraway spot? Taking steps to fix electrical issues lowers the risk of fires that could endanger people in your building. Keep the following electrical safety tips in mind for your building to help prevent hazards and injuries.

Use Power Strips and Extension Cords Safely

Power strips provide a way for multiple items to get power from one outlet. However, it’s possible to have too much connected. When this happens the power strip won’t be able to safely handle the amount of electricity needed for all of the items. This can trip your circuit breaker or even start a fire. Consider an alternative option for electrical safety, such as having an electrician install additional outlets.

You might need extension cords at times to plug in certain devices or equipment. While these cords can be useful, they can be a problem. You might be tempted to run them under rugs or carpeting, where they won’t be seen. However, this is a serious electrical hazard. Cords can become frayed, damaged, or worn from being walked on having chairs roll over them. This creates a fire risk.

Remove Tripping Hazards

Cords can make an unsightly mess in your building, but you have to be careful about where you put them. Avoid putting cords across walkways or other areas that people pass through on a regular basis. Instead, place these cords along walls where they will be out of the way and out of sight. If you prefer, you can add removable wall clips to keep the cord where you want it.

Avoid Circuit Overloads

Overloaded circuits can cause a major fire risk. Office equipment that uses a large amount of electricity, such as copy machines, should have their own high amp outlet and dedicated power supply. Never plug this equipment in a standard outlet since they only handle a small amount of electricity. If your office has a kitchen, this electrical safety rule applies to refrigerators and other major appliances. Contact an electrician if you want to install a high amp outlet.

Check for Electrical Safety Issues

Don’t wait for a problem to happen. Instead, check for electrical safety issues on a regular basis. Walk through your building and check each area for problems, such as extension cords hiding under rugs. If anyone in your building notifies you about other problems, such as a faulty outlet, you should have a professional electrician repair it right away.

What to Do About Electrical Safety Problems

You can handle simple issues on your own, such as moving a cord out of a walkway to prevent people from tripping. However, when you have a more complex problem to deal with, you’ll want help from a trustworthy electrician. These types of tasks require expert knowledge and training in electrical safety.

Contact Turn It On Electric to have our commercial electricians review the electrical safety at your property.

House and property fires can quickly become very dangerous. So far in 2018, there have been 13 home fire fatalities in Arizona alone. Understanding the deadly nature of fires can help raise awareness about the danger they can present and the benefit of having enough functional smoke detectors throughout your home.

When the Fullers went to bed one night they smelled no smoke, but a fire was beginning to smolder in their attic. A few hours went by and the fire began to grow. The hard-wired fire alarms in each bedroom and hallway began screaming shrill warnings. The Fuller family rushed outside.

The cause of their fire was an electrical overload. Electrical malfunctions are the leading cause of attic fires in the United States. Fortunately, the family made it to safety in time and were able to call 911. The fire and smoke damage were limited to the attic.

Smoke Detectors Help Save Lives

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) determined three out of five deaths occurring in house fires happened in properties without working smoke detectors. Having functional detectors can help save lives.

The NFPA recommends installing smoke detectors in every bedroom, hallway, and on every level of your home. Manufacturers have even made smoke detectors specifically for attics. The location and placement of attic heat or smoke detectors are critical. Professional installation is recommended.

Significant Improvements in Smoke Detectors

Like anything, smoke detectors do require some maintenance and occasional replacement. Guidelines include:

• Test every smoke alarm once a month
• Replace all batteries at least once a year
• Replace the entire smoke alarm device every ten years or sooner if needed

Interconnecting all of your smoke detectors means that when one sounds an alarm, they all sound. Your local Phoenix-area electrician should manage this type of wiring.

Burned the Popcorn and Set Off the Alarm…Again!

You may be thinking, “I want to connect my smoke detectors, but when I burn something while cooking I’ll have the kitchen alarm and five other alarms to reset!” The good news is smoke alarm technology is getting smarter. Manufacturers are working to create smoke alarms that can distinguish between real fires and cooking smoke or other sources of false alarms.

Hard-Wired vs. Battery Smoke Detectors

Most smoke alarms use battery power. Although the device should signal when the battery is dead or dying regular battery replacement is necessary. Too many people forget to change the batteries leaving their family vulnerable to disaster. When functioning properly, a battery-powered smoke detector will only sound its alarm when smoke is detected in that room.

If you’re building a new home you can consider installing a hard-wired smoke alarm system. They come with a battery backup, in case the electrical connection fails. An interconnected system will alert all of the functioning detectors if a fire starts anywhere in your home.

You need to regularly test and replace both types of smoke detectors.

Turn It On Electric is Your Phoenix Electrician

At Turn It On Electric, we know the importance of new technology in our industry. We value long-term relationships with our Phoenix-area neighbors and customers. We want to be around to serve your children and grandchildren, too.

Contact Turn It On Electric if you have questions about replacing or installing new smoke detectors in your home or business.