Electrical Safety at Home: Tips for Working From Home

Electrical Safety Tips for Working From Home

Are you one of the many lucky work-from-home professionals? Your home office may feel like familiar turf, but there are still hazards abound that you need to plan for. Electrical systems, from outlets to power cords, are one of those hazards. When planning your home office, you should always prioritize your electrical safety at home. When set up improperly, an overloaded outlet or loose extension cord can be hazardous. Electrical shocks and house fires are two of the many serious side effects of faulty electrical work. To avoid injury, be sure to follow proper working from home safety tips and always know when to call in a professional.

Stay safe by following these working from home safety tips:

Avoid Overloading Outlets

In today’s technology-driven world, it’s common to have lots of electronic devices and appliances plugged into your outlets. From kitchen appliances to cell phone chargers, you may notice your outlets becoming crowded. Overloading outlets is dangerous, especially if you’re using a multi-plug adapter to accommodate a large number of devices. As a rule of thumb, only one heat-producing electronic device should be plugged into an outlet at a time. These include coffee makers, tea kettles, and hair dryers. Additionally, certain large appliances like ovens, refrigerators, and laundry machines should always be plugged directly into a wall instead of an extension cord or adapter.

Use Light Bulbs of Proper Wattage

One of the most common home electrical projects is replacing a burnt-out lightbulb. While thi si sa fairly easy task to do physically, it’s important to pay attention to wattage requirements. Luckily, all light fixtures and lamps should have a sticker on them that indicates the maximum wattage the fixture can handle. Be sure all new bulbs are below the maximum wattage to prevent overheating. In addition, be sure any incandescent lamps are equipped with shades to prevent any items near the lamp from heating up.

If you’re looking for an energy-efficient option, consider replacing your bulbs with LEDs.

Don’t Run Cords Under Carpets or Doors

It’s no secret that electrical cords are unsightly and can blight an otherwise visually appealing room. You may feel the urge to hide cords under rugs or run them under a door to make them less subtle. However, running a cord under a rug or carpet is a serious fire hazard and should be avoided. If you’re struggling to safely run a cord, talk to an electrician about adding new outlets to put your chords within safe reaching distance.

Replace Damaged Extension Cords

Frayed or damaged extension cords can be dangerous to both you and your environment. Instead of trying to patch up damaged cords, it’s better to replace them. New extension cords will greatly reduce the odds of surges, sparks, and electrical fires. Be sure that your new cord also has surge protection for additional electrical safety at home while you complete your project.

Keep Power Tools Away from Water

It’s a common fact of life that electricity and water don’t mix, but it can be easy to overlook this during the chaos of home renovations. Any electrical work done in the kitchen, bathroom, or outdoors can be especially hazardous due to the damp nature of these environments. Double-check that power to these areas is switched off and that your power tools and chords are kept away from puddles of water. In addition, make sure all tools are plugged into GFCI outlets. These specialized outlets are grounded and will quickly shut off if they are exposed to moisture.

Keep Kids and Pets Safe

Children and pets are naturally curious and may try to play with cords, power tools, and other devices you have out in your work space. Be sure to secure your work area so kids and pets don’t inadvertently put themselves at risk. In addition, you can put tamper-resistant safety caps in electrical sockets and secure loose cords so kids don’t trip on them or tug on them.

Know When to Call a Pro

Lots of household electrical projects, even ones that may seem easy at first, can be very dangerous. The risk of being electrocuted or causing a house fire are high. That’s why it’s essential to know the limits of your electrical skills and call a trained electrician when needed. Examples of scenarios when you should seek professional electrical work include: burning odors, sparking outlets, and frequently tripped circuit breakers.

Many people are working from home and spending more time there in general. It makes sense to want to improve your home’s electrical system to make it easier, safer, and more efficient to use all the devices you need to live your life. This may be especially important if you work from home and need to run a home office out of your home. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your outlets, replace a lightbulb, or convert a room into a home office, be sure to follow basic tips for electrical safety at home.