Saving money is a very important part of owning a new house. Using the electrical appliances incorrectly can be bad for your wallet and safety. If you are inexperienced in using electrical appliances, it would be better to hire professionals before beginning to use them. However, if you are adventurous enough to explore on your own, these are some useful tips that could help keep you safe with electricity usage in your house. For electrical emergencies, make sure to immediately contact a 24 hour electrician Brisbane. Here are 10 emergency electrical tips for homeowners which you need to know now.
All switches must have properly-fitted plastic faceplatesÂ
While most people tend to overlook this simple aspect, these faceplates play an important role, especially during emergencies. The problem with many homeowners is that they tend to purchase the cheapest faceplates available in the market. They should instead spend a little more money on high-quality faceplates, for several reasons.
Turn off all power switches before replacing any fuses Â
Electricity in Australia is an absolute necessity in this day and age. We use electricity for so many things and it’s only natural that we would assume that they’re safe. However, this isn’t the most practical way to deal with electrical emergencies. If you have a household full of children or pets, it makes sense for you to always turn off all power switches before replacing any fuses.
Fix the GFCI as soon as possible Â
To reduce your risk of electric shock, you must be always familiar with where all the power switches are located. In some cases, however, there might be some faulty electrical appliances or wires which caused a short circuit and tripped the circuit breaker – this is when a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) comes in handy. If you have a GFCI, you must fix the fault as soon as possible.
Electricity and water do not mix Â
It’s easy for us to assume that electricity and water don’t mix – some people even make jokes about it! However, this isn’t something to laugh at since some electrical emergencies can be caused by exposure to your appliances or wires to water. This happens quite more often than we would like and the first thing that homeowners tend to do is turn on the main power supply. Doing this will only put you in danger and cause further damages.
Don’t overload your outlets Â
A common mistake that novices tend to do is plugging in too many appliances into a single powerpoint. Don’t let yourself be caught up by the idea of having everything plugged in at all times, especially if you have kids or pets around the house. There are several ways for you to deal with this problem without having to use extension cords and power boards – one solution is to install additional power switches and outlets that could handle more than one device each.
Use the right type of fuse for your appliances Â
One of the most important things to remember is that not all electric appliances use the same type of fuses. It’s best if you have a separate fuse box in your house where you could store different types of fuses according to the brand and model number. Apart from this, it would also be easier if each appliance has its fuse so you won’t need to rely on too many power strips or extension cords when in an emergency.
Turn off everything before starting household repairs Â
If there are some faulty wiring with your electrical appliances, it’s always better if you turn them all off before attempting any household repairs. This might be difficult especially if you’re already halfway through the project, but it would only be wise to do this. If you live in an area where there’s a frequent power outage, it’s best if you invest in a backup generator as soon as possible.
Unplug appliances before using them Â
Even if you’ve already turned off all power switches, it’s always better to unplug the appliances first before you start using them. This is a common safety precaution that even electrical engineers or professionals follow – this way, there will be no risk of electric shocks at all. If you have young children and pets at home, make sure that everyone else knows about this rule as well.
