Holiday electrical safety tips

So you’re finally off to that vacation that you’ve craved for a long time. Or, you have to be away for work purposes for a significant amount of time. Either way, your house will be left unsupervised for a few days. It goes without saying, but so will your electrical appliances. Sparkies Electrical has put together a list of how to keep your home safe from electrical mishaps while you are away. Enjoy!

Examine

Take a look at all your wires, cords and appliances. Check for any kinks, tears or frays. If you find any abnormalities anywhere, take steps to fix the issue before you leave. Call an electrician if you feel like you need one.

Unplug

Unplug all your appliances before you leave for your holiday. This will help in two different ways. Firstly, if all your appliances are switched off, the risk of an electrical mishap or fire is reduced substantially. Secondly, when you unplug all your appliances, your electricity bill is bound to go down. There are a lot of appliances around the regular household that contribute in racking up the electricity bill even when they are not being operated. These phantom electricity users include: modems, television sets, gaming consoles and coffee pots. Make sure you turn these appliances off before you leave your house for a cheaper bill and a worry free trip!

Lights

Do not keep your lights on to keep burglars away. Chances are you’ll have lost more than you’ll have gained. Firstly, your electric bill will be huge. Secondly, the light might over heat and cause a fire. On top of that, it is bad for the environment because it is such a waste of energy. If you are still inclined to make burglars think that there’s someone home, electricians suggest getting a light switch timer that will periodically turn on and off.

Power Lines

Prune the trees, bushes or shrubs in your backyard that are around power lines. Make sure there are no obstacles like trees and such near the place where the power lines run into the house.

At the end of the day, it is always better to be safe than sorry. So, take the time and effort to make sure your home is as safe as possible from electrical accidents while you are away. It is better to spend that time and labour than to grieve later.