Mr. Electric of Hamilton North Park Plaza PO Brantford, ON N3R 7X5 (519) 752-2050 - offering expert assistance when it comes to your home or business' electrical needs.

1. Tips for Making Your Home
Electrically Safe

2. Introduction
 No one has to tell any of us about the value that electricity
brings to our lives. Our lights, heat, television, computers,
radios, they all rely on electricity to some degree. Of
course, most of us are also aware of how dangerous
electricity can be when it isn’t properly contained.
 Below are some tips you can follow to make sure your
entire home is electrically safe. You may need an
electrician to get some or all of them done, but it’s well
worth the effort.

3. Whole House Surge Protector
 Power surges happen from time to time, and most homes aren’t
adequately protected. According to electrical service experts
Mr.Electric, a power surge may be caused by appliances cycling
power off and on, lightning strikes, fallen power lines or bad
wiring.
 When this surge of power comes into your home, basically
anything with a microprocessor may be affected. This includes:
 Washers  Telephones
 Dryers  Alarms
 Refrigerators  Microwaves
 Televisions  Ovens

4. Whole House Surge Protector
 Imagine how much money would be lost if all of these
items were ruined? Not to mention the information stored
on your computer.
 Getting a whole house surge protector will protect
everything in the entire house.
 Then, you can put it out of your mind and just go about
your business.

5. Using a Surge Protector
 If you choose to use smaller surge protectors that aren’t
designed for the whole house, you must follow some
important rules to avoid starting a fire. According to
Mr.Electric:
 Use retail surge protectors for light loads only.
 Only plug a surge protector into a standard outlet.
 You will have to replace the surge protector in the event
of a large surge like a lightning strike.

6. Using a Surge Protector
 Use surge protectors with internal circuit breakers to
prevent fires.
 The surge protector will feel hot if it s overloaded.
 Don’t use a surge protector in a moist area.
 Position the surge protector in a spot where it will get
good air circulation.
 Don’t choose the cheapest surge protector if it won’t
meet your needs.

7. Get a Generator
 A properly installed and operated generator will help keep
everything going and keep you and your family safe. Make
sure you have it installed by a licensed electrician if you’re
unsure and follow these tips once it is up and running:
 Read the manual and follow all of the instructions
carefully.
 Don’t operate a generator inside the house.
 Do not exceed the wattage restrictions of your
generator.
 Place a carbon monoxide detector close to all bedrooms.

8. Get a Generator
 Ensure the generator isn’t cracked or damaged.
 Don’t plug the generator into a wall outlet.
 Run the generator occasionally to make sure it is
operational.
 Try to keep excessive dirt and dust off the generator.
 Position your generator on a flat surface.
 Only turn the generator on when you actually need
it.

9. Prevent Faults
 An electrician can come in and install arc fault circuit
interrupters and ground fault circuit interrupters to help
protect against dangerous electrical faults that could start
a fire. An arc fault might happen due to:
 Chair leg on an extension cord.
 Wires punctured by nails or screws.
 Cords and wires that are overheated.
 Improper or loose electrical connections.
 Ruptured or frayed extension cords.
 Wires that have been chewed up by rodents.

10. Go Wireless
 Naturally, an effective way to stay safe electrically is to use
wireless controls for some of your appliances and lighting.
 With a remote device, you can turn lights or appliances off
and on without getting up, dim lights when you want or
even adjust your thermostat.
 Using wireless controls for lighting or appliances is a lot
more convenient and it also helps out the environment.

11. Upgrade Current Wiring
 It goes without saying that if you have an aging electrical
system in your home, you should probably have it
upgraded. Having a qualified electrician come in and
upgrade your current wiring is an effective way to bump up
the safety and keep everyone in the household safe.

12. Upgrade Current Wiring
 Sometimes, a home is wired so poorly or is in such rough
condition that even the electrician is shocked at what he
finds. It really doesn’t take too much of an electrical
hazard to start a fire in your house. If you’re lucky the
only thing you’ll lose is the house, which is why it makes
sense to have your electrical system checked out as soon as
possible.