DIY Electrical Maintenance

When it comes to extensive electrical services, it’s important to rely on professional help. That’s because, with residential electrical systems, there are many things that can go wrong. However, for the more simple electrical repairs, you can easily do them on your own if you take the right safety precautions. Mathews CCAC is here to show you how with a few DIY electrical tips.

Surge Protector Guidelines

Surge protectors are just that – protectors of electronic equipment such as computers, televisions and appliances from increases in electrical line voltage. These surges cause a change in demand for electricity.

Whether it’s an appliance taking more power than it should or randomly turning off and on, it’s important to protect your home and electronics. Living in Texas, you would not want your air conditioner to stop working – especially during the summer!

Here are a few surge protectors to choose from:

• Surge protector power strip
• Wall-mount surge protectors
• Whole-house surge protectors
• Energy-saving surge protectors
• Remote-controlled surge protectors

If none of these seem to interest you, you can also look into one called uninterruptible power supply (UPS). It allows you to have not only surge protection but also backup power for important devices.

How To Use A Surge Protector

Most importantly, you do not want to plug one surge protector into another. This can cause it to lose its purpose. Some more tips for properly using your device include:

• Make sure they don’t overheat.
• Keep them away from any kind of moisture.
• The closer the surge protector is to the electronic device, the more protection it will have.
• Regularly check it for any physical damage so you can replace it as needed.

By following these safety guidelines, you can keep your household safe from broken electronics, power surges and potential housefires. Reach out to our team to learn more about electrical system inspections and services.

Lightbulbs And Smoke Detectors

Believe it or not, a loose light bulb can become dangerous. In addition to arcing and creating a fire hazard, a loose bulb can fall and shatter on the floor. If you didn’t know this happened, you could potentially walk blindly into the room and get hurt by the shards of glass. Always make sure your light bulbs are screwed in correctly to avoid any dangerous situations.

Smoke detectors are also something you want to make sure stays secure and is running efficiently. With a smoke detector, your household can stay safe in the event of a fire. These devices should be placed on every level of your house in each hallway and bedroom.

Not Crowding Outlets

At some point, or even currently, you may have a few outlets that have more than two appliances plugged in. This can cause that outlet to stop working since it can overload and trip the breaker. Or worse, if the crowded outlet shares a circuit with another outlet, there’s a real risk of fire. Do not crowd your outlets.

Rely On Mathews CCAC

Electrical maintenance doesn’t always have to be hard. Here at Mathews CCAC, we aim to provide home electrical tips that are easy to access. Is it time for professional electrical services for your home? No worries, give us a call and we’ll be more than happy to help!