Must Know Info For New Homeowners

As a brand-new homeowner, you should know a few tips to help prevent accidents in the future. Whether you have little ones running around or live by yourself, it’s essential to keep your home and family secure. 

Electricity plays a significant role in daily life. Even while you’re sleeping, electricity is running through your house and some appliances. This article will look at five essential electrical tips for new homeowners. 

1. Wattage Checks

First, check if you’re using the correct wattage in all of your appliances and light fixtures. Here’s where you can find the recommended wattage of your light fixtures:

• Labeled inside or on the socket of the fixture
• Marked underneath the cover of ceiling lights
• Included in the installation instructions
• Printed on the light fixture’s packaging

If you can’t find a wattage for a light fixture, we recommend using a 60-watt bulb or one with an even lower wattage than that. For untagged ceiling fixtures, use a 25-watt bulb.

Furthermore, we recommend using LED bulbs as the primary source of light in your home. LED bulbs are more energy-efficient and provide significant monthly electrical savings for your home. 

2. Eliminate The Risk Of Electrical Overload

Another pro tip is to beware of overloaded outlets in your new home. Putting a single electrical outlet under a heavy load is a common cause of electrical issues. Examine each outlet in your home and make sure they’re cool to the touch and work correctly.

Furthermore, you should avoid plugging major appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, microwaves, and hair dryers into surge protectors or extension cords. Overloaded systems are one of the top causes of residential electrical fires. 

3. Check For Damage To Plugs And Extension Cords

You should regularly scan every power and extension cord in your new home for signs of splitting or fraying. Damaged power cords can potentially cause fires and electrocution, so it’s essential to take time to examine each power cord in your home. 

If you see any signs of damage, make sure to replace or repair them as soon as possible. Furthermore, you should never staple your power cords in place or hide them under rugs or furniture. When cords are placed under rugs, they can overheat and act as a tripping hazard.

4. Keep Your Ears, Nose and Eyes Alert

It’s important to know what to be aware of when it comes to potential electrical issues. Here’s a list of key warning signs:

• Faint buzzing sounds from electrical outlets, appliances, walls, or lamps
• Warm electrical outlets, light switches, or areas near ceiling lamps
• Strange odors around electrical units
• Sparking outlets
• Light bulbs that burn out too fast
• Frequently tripped circuit breakers

If you notice any of these red flags, make sure to contact your local electrician immediately. They can identify any issues, and the maintenance they provide could result in considerable electrical savings. 

5. Give Your Electronics Room To Breath

Your residential electrical equipment can overheat and short-circuit without proper air circulation.

For this reason, check if any of your appliances are covered by something, tucked away deep in a corner, or hidden in a cabinet. You’ll want to relocate or readjust the positioning so that the appliances have room to breathe.

Don’t Wait To Get The Help You Need

If you need any electrical advice or repairs for your new home, contact your local electrician Sansbury Electric. Unless you’re a highly experienced or trained DIYer, electrical maintenance should be completed by an expert. Even if you are experienced, you could violate your home insurance policy if you’re not a licensed electrician. 

Whenever you need help with anything electric, make sure to give us a call or send us a message. We take pride in protecting the ones we help and do everything in our power to keep your home secure.

Sansbury Electric is a small, locally-owned business, with over 30 years of experience that have served Washington, D.C, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware since 2010. Our team is known for our high-quality electrical services with a team that delivers a client focused experience. Honesty, ease for the client, friendliness, and an on-time and on-budget experience are the core values that drive our day-to-day interactions.