Autumn Electrical Risks
You may be surprised to learn that autumn has unique electrical safety risks. These risks are the result of the changing seasons and, with them, our changing habits. From decorating for Halloween to dealing with falling leaves, it is important to be aware of how the cooler weather brings new electrical safety risks.
The risk of home fires increases in the fall due to the following activities:
- Increased usage of electrical heating devices
- Shorter, colder days mean more time spent inside
- More time spent in the kitchen, including for Holiday cooking
- Increased usage of things like candles and fireplaces
- Increased usage of extension cords
The changing weather also creates greater electrical risks. With an increase in storms, you are more likely to suffer power outages and water damage. If not taken care of properly, you can suffer an electrical shock or become injured.
Autumn Smoke Alarm Roundup
Every fall, you should review all of the smoke alarms in your home to ensure that they have fresh batteries and are in good working order. This process is quick and shouldn’t take more than 10 or 15 minutes. If you have a hard time remembering to do this, we recommend setting a recurring reminder in your phone calendar to alert you to check your smoke alarms on October 1.
If you find that a smoke detector isn’t working, or you suspect it is faulty, call Lightning Bug Electric for help. Similarly, if you find an area in your home that doesn’t have a smoke alarm, you should contact us. We can help you install a new smoke alarm and ensure that all your other detectors are working properly.
You should have smoke detectors in the following areas:
- On every level of your home
- In every bedroom
- Outside each sleeping area
- In your living room or family room
- Near your stairwells
Teaching Your Children Fall Electrical Safety
Electrical safety should be on everyone’s radar, even your children. Furthermore, it is never too early to start teaching your children good electrical safety. This fall, make electrical safety a priority and help your children understand the risks and how they can prevent accidents.
Important fall electrical safety tips for kids:
- Only use kitchen appliances with adult supervision
- Make sure candles are not left burning unattended
- Make sure all electrical heating devices are used with adult supervision
- Turn all electrical heating devices, such as space heaters, off before going to bed or leaving the house
- Keep flammable objects away from stoves, fireplaces, candles, or other electrical devices
Be Careful About Overloading Circuits
As we move into the holiday season, many people are excited to decorate their homes for autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Halloween decorations, in particular, tend to have a variety of electrical components. It’s become more popular to have inflatable lawn decorations, Halloween lights, and animatronics. All of these things require power.
If you are decorating your home for Halloween, be careful that you do not overload your circuits. Avoid using excessive outlet extenders and extension cords. These can cause you to cause a circuit overload unwittingly.
Additionally, if you install electrical decorations outside, such as lights or moving figures, ensure they are rated for outdoor use. If bad weather is on the horizon, disconnect them to avoid an electrical short. If a storm or water has damaged an electronic device, do not plug it in. Water is incredibly conductive, and using electronic devices around water is extremely dangerous.
Review our blog, “Five Fall Electrical Maintenance Tips for a Brighter Winter,” to learn more about electrical safety and what you can do this autumn to keep your home and your family safe.