10 things you really need to know about electricity Most people know that electricity is dangerous and can be deadly but there are specific things that some people aren't quite sure of when it comes to electricity. For instance, if an appliance falls into water but isn't turned on can you reach in and take it out of the water? Some people are unclear as to whether the appliance must be on before it will shock. The truth is, as long as the appliance is plugged in, electricity still surges through the cord. Never reach into water to remove a plugged-in appliance. Shut the circuit box down before taking the appliance out of any liquid. Electricians I would like some clarification on this please.
Some people have been known to remove a third prong from an appliance cord because it wouldn't fit into the outlet. Is this safe? No. The third prong is a ground that helps to protect from electric shock. Instead of removing the prong use an adapter before plugging in the appliance. Home owners take care of everything from lawns to roofs to plants but what about your electricity? House fires are extremely dangerous and deadly. Have the electrical wires in your home inspected after 10 years, 40 years and anytime you purchase a house, new or not. What about electrical tape? Everyone's used it at one time or another for repairing damaged cords, but is it safe? Actually, no. The tape is usually vinyl and is not rated to handle the heat that is generated by electrical wires. The tape can melt and catch on fire. Besides tape another thing that people use with wires sometimes are nails, tacks or staples. Rather than let electrical wires lay on the floor some people tack them to baseboards. Never use any metal that will penetrate the coating of the wires. Not only can it expose bare wires but kids and animals can be easily shocked when touching staples and other metals that are being used with electrical cords. Lots of people have extension cords because they lack enough electrical outlets. Extension cords are a temporary solution since they can overheat and catch fire. Do you know what to do if you blow a fuse or trip a circuit breaker? Do you need an electrician? Usually the cause is that too many appliances are running on one circuit. Figure out which circuit has tripped and unplug some electrical items before flipping the breaker back on again. Call an electrician if the problem happens repeatedly. If there is a section of your house that uses quite a few electronic devices it's okay to use power strips but it's even better to have an electrician come to install more outlets. It's safer since it eliminates the need for power strips to be lying around on the floor. Lamps are one thing about which many owners are not knowledgeable. Most lamps or light fixtures have recommended bulb wattage but some people ignore this and use any size watt light bulb. It's only safe to use the recommended bulb wattage or lower on any light. Outdoors, if you see a downed power line, stay completely clear of it. Don't think it's okay to run over it with a car or to walk around it. Power surges can make the wire jump and move around, increasing the danger to yourself or your family. The more you know about electricity the safer you and your family is. Read up on electrical dangers and teach your kids electrical safety from an early age.
