There’s no doubt that buying a new home is an exciting time in anyone’s life. However, with a new home comes a wealth of responsibilities that you now have to keep in mind to help you protect this major investment. To help you care for your home’s electrical system, we at Quality Electrical Contractors have put together this handy guide to electrical care for new (and long-time!) homeowners.
- Make sure you have enough outlets – It’s easy to overlook outlets when you’re walking through your dream home, but not having enough can quickly become a major nuisance. A residential electrician can install more outlets for you if there are not enough to suit your needs.
- Check the wires – Few things could be worse than having an electrical failure, or worse, a fire, in your new home. Make sure you do a walkthrough and check for exposed or frayed wiring that will need immediate attention. It’s also worthwhile to have a trained residential electrician come check things out.
- Don’t overload the outlets – This is especially important in older homes, but there’s still a risk of overloading your outlets in new builds. Avoid plugging multiple major appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, and dryers into the same outlet.
- Make extension cords a short-term fix – Extension cords are a handy temporary fix for lack of outlets, but you shouldn’t rely on them long-term since they can create a tripping hazard, electrical shock, or even a fire if they wear out. If you find yourself constantly using them, talk with a residential electrician about installing more outlets in convenient locations.
- Unplug – Making sure you unplug appliances when you’re not using them is a great way to not only save money on your energy bills but also help you avoid electrical fires. Unplugging also helps you avoid costly replacements if there is an electrical surge at your home.