Tips for Safely Handling Electrical Repairs at Home by Jon Yankasky

 Jon Yankasky

Tips for Safely Handling Electrical Repairs at Home by Jon Yankasky

Electrical malfunctions are one of the leading causes of home fires and deaths. To avoid unnecessary risks and save yourself from unnecessary headaches, it is wise to hire a professional for any necessary repairs.

Before beginning any electrical work, you should locate and switch off the circuit breaker associated with the fixture you will be working on. Furthermore, it is a good idea to have tools specifically tailored for electricity, such as insulated screwdrivers and wire connectors.

Check the Wiring

Jon Yankasky suggests that wiring in your home is an integral component of its electrical system. Still, damaged, frayed, or poorly installed wires pose a severe safety risk and potential fire hazard. Faulty wiring has been one of the leading causes of residential house fires across the US in recent years and a common cause of electrical malfunctions.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) data shows that home fires caused by electrical malfunctions were responsible for an average of 440 civilian deaths and 1,250 injuries from 2012 to 2016.

That is why it's vitally important to regularly inspect the integrity of your wires, both to avoid fire hazards and electrocution hazards that could range from minor discomforting shocks up to serious burns or even death. If ever in doubt about the state of your wiring systems, don't hesitate to contact an IBEW/NECA electrical professional in your area for a professional assessment.

Before undertaking any electrical repairs in your home, switch off the power at the breaker box - this is one of the simplest and essential ways to protect against serious injury or damage. Also, wear protective gloves when handling tools and cutting into walls or floors to avoid getting cut by nails or wires.

After turning off the power, carefully inspect all wires to verify they are no longer live. Jon Yankasky highlights that while you should be able to tell just by looking, if unsure, it may be beneficial to use a multimeter to test for voltage; do it carefully and only test non-energized wires using this technique.

Any extension cords running under rugs or carpeting pose a tripping hazard. In contrast, worn-out extension cords with exposed wires or cracked insulation should be immediately replaced as they pose serious safety concerns and should be addressed as quickly as possible.

Test the Outlets

Receptacles, where we plug our appliances and other electrical devices into, make many tasks much simpler than they would be otherwise. While these outlets are extremely beneficial, if they're mistreated, they could become dangerous hazards.

If your outlets fail to hold plugs securely or make popping noises when plugged or unplugged from them, it may be wise to have an electrician inspect them, as this could result in electrical shock or fire hazards.

Jon Yankasky mentions that remembering the complexity of your home electrical system is key for efficiently diagnosing issues and conducting repairs at home. Also important is knowing what not to do - such as splicing wires together without an accessible junction box in walls without using tape, as this could put your family at serious risk from fires.

When conducting electrical repairs at home, note that you must not assume you have turned off all the power sources. Instead, go directly to your electrical panel and switch off the appropriate circuit breaker for each fixture that needs repairing, marking it so you don't accidentally reactivate it later while working.

Additionally, outlets in wet environments like bathrooms and kitchens should be equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). These outlets can help prevent electrocution or electrical fire by cutting off power if there is an issue with the outlet itself.

Checking for tripping or overheating with a voltmeter is also an effective way to identify loose or damaged wiring and will prevent the overloading of circuits with too much power.

Check the Circuit Breakers

Just about everyone understands the importance of shutting off the power to any fixture or wiring before initiating electrical repairs. But disregarding this advice could prove extremely dangerous; consider this scenario: when replacing a light fixture's switch, going to your panel to switch it off before opening up your fixture to access and unbolting the old switch can lead to disastrous results if wires remain connected despite your best efforts in disconnecting power sources from it all before replacing the old switch with a new one - potentially fatal mistakes that should not be taken lightly!

According to Jon Yankasky, once the correct breaker has been turned off and all devices connected to it have been unplugged, even though all other connections may have been removed, it remains possible that the breaker itself is defective. Water, excess heat, or humidity could have compromised it in such a way as to cause it to malfunction, resulting in potentially hazardous arcing, which can result in smoke, fire, or wiring damage.

Have a multimeter on hand and test the circuit breaker to see if it works as designed. If it doesn't show any indications of a problem, contact a licensed electrician to review its panel and any wiring it controls.

When your circuit breaker trips, it often indicates that too much demand has been placed on it and needs redistributing or increasing capacity. Or it may indicate physical damage such as scorch marks or melted wires, which need to be addressed immediately.

Check the Outlet Covers

When conducting electrical work, it's essential to remember the risks posed by electricity. Electricity can lead to serious burns, injuries, and fires if left unsupervised; thankfully, some steps can reduce this risk when working with electricity.

Always wear rubber gloves when handling wires to prevent them from slipping and cutting your skin, while you should also wear eyewear with face shielding and protective eyewear to shield yourself from flying sparks. In addition, be sure to wear long pants and sturdy work boots. In addition, avoid extension cords whenever possible as these are less sturdy and could pose a tripping hazard; always read instructions when purchasing new electrical equipment and keep a copy handy to help understand its functionality.    

Regularly inspect your outlets for signs of damage or wear and tear, such as cracking, wearing out, or becoming rusty. Any outlet exhibiting such symptoms should be replaced promptly, as per Jon Yankasky. Furthermore, wet hands should never touch an outlet nor use it near water; water is an electricity conductor which could lead to electrocution if touched or used near it. Lastly, keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case an emergency arises.

Regularly inspecting outlet covers to ensure they're secure is also key since loose covers could fall off and pose serious hazards to you and your family. Also, be wary of plugging too many appliances simultaneously, as overloading can overheat circuits and cause overheating or even ignite fires.

Some electrical issues are too complex to manage independently; therefore, professional assistance should always be sought for major electrical repairs. But you can easily maintain home safety with regular wiring inspections, using outlets correctly, avoiding overloading, and informing household members about the dangers of faulty outlets. By catching issues early on and eliminating wasteful energy usage, early intervention allows peace of mind while reducing energy usage costs significantly.