When the hot, humid summer weather comes back around, it’s likely that you and your family will spend more time outdoors. Whether it’s a day by the pool or having a cookout with neighbors, there are many great outdoor activities to enjoy. If you follow these tips from the experts, you can enjoy them safely.
1. Have Your Trees Trimmed Back
With hot summer weather come some nasty thunderstorms, complete with heavy wind gusts. If you have any tree branches hanging over the electrical wires on your property, it’s best to get them trimmed back. Hire a professional arborist to do this, as cutting branches around live electrical wires can be extremely dangerous.
2. Use Outdoor-Rated Appliances and Extension Cords
It’s not uncommon to want to use indoor appliances outdoors. And with the limited amount of outlets that are typically placed outside your home, it only makes sense that you may need to use an extension cord from time to time. Whenever you use an appliance or extension cord outside your house, make sure it’s rated for the outdoors, with extra protection against moisture and UV radiation.
3. Inspect Any Cords You Use Outdoors
When you have extension cords and appliances running outdoors, there’s always the possibility that wildlife will wreak havoc on your cords. It’s best to inspect all the cords you have outside every couple of weeks. If you see any exposed wiring or cracking of the outside insulation, then replace the cord. Any exposed wiring could lead to a potentially dangerous shock for anyone who touches it.
4. Make Sure You Have GFCI Outlets
Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets are specifically designed to be installed both outside and in any interior wet rooms. They work to actively stop the transfer of power to the circuit in the event that water is detected at the outlet. This means that if you’re plugging in a wet cord, the outlet should stop the power from the outlet in milliseconds to prevent you from getting shocked. With rain and other outside elements, it only makes sense to install GFCI outlets outdoors.
5. Watch Out for Overhead Power Lines
Summertime creates the perfect weather for completing all your outdoor maintenance tasks. From cleaning your gutters to power washing your home’s exterior, there’s likely a lot on your to-do list this summer. One thing that you’ll want to keep in mind is where your overhead power lines are. It’s easy to focus on moving your ladder around to clean your gutters and forget that there are power lines overhead. Consider investing in a fiberglass ladder with nonconductive side rails to prevent electrical shock if it happens to touch a power line.
6. Call Before You Dig
If any of your summertime projects involve digging into your yard, then you need to take extra precautions. It’s not uncommon for electrical lines to be run underground in some locations. Always call 811 before you dig to confirm that there’s nothing underneath the area that you want to work in.
7. Unplug Unused Appliances
You may want to use some appliances outdoors. If you do, make sure that these appliances are plugged in only when you’re actually outside using them. As soon as you’re done, unplug the appliance and keep the cord in a safe location until you want to use the appliance again.
8. Unplug Items Only When You’re Completely Dry
Water and electricity simply don’t mix. You never want to plug in items when you’re wet, as it could lead to electrical shock. If an appliance falls into a puddle or wet area, be sure that you are completely dry and not standing in water before you attempt to unplug it.
9. Be Careful With Fireworks and Kites
Overhead power lines can be a real hazard, as there is no protective barrier on the lines to keep you safe. For this reason, it’s best to avoid flying kites or setting off fireworks near any overhead electrical wires. Give these areas a wide berth to prevent any sort of electrical accident.
10. Allow 6-foot Clearance for Plugs
Since electricity and water can create an electrical hazard, it’s best to keep all electrical cords and appliances away from wet areas. Keep all cords and appliances at least 6 feet away from wet items. These items can include pools, saunas, spas, sprinklers, or even hot tubs.
11. Consider Installing New Outlets
It isn’t uncommon for the outside of a house to have only one or two outlets. Unfortunately, with the increasing use of appliances for outdoor comfort and enjoyment, you may simply not have enough outlets for everything that you want to run. While power strips and extension cords are always options, you don’t want to risk overloading your circuits.
Instead, call a licensed electrician to install another outside outlet or two. It’s best to have enough exterior outlets to meet your needs instead of relying on extension cords and power strips. If you plan on having a pool or hot tub installed, ask your electrician to install a dedicated outlet specifically for that item.
12. Have an Electrical Fire Extinguisher on Hand
In the event that an electrical fire breaks out outside your home, you want to be able to respond quickly. While your first instinct may be to grab a gardening hose, that’s not going to work. Water doesn’t put out electrical fires. Rather, you need a fire extinguisher that is rated for electrical fires. Type C fire extinguishers are best for wiring, fuse boxes, electrical equipment, and other related electrical products. Consider keeping an electrical fire extinguisher inside your house in a location that all your household members know.
13. Know Where Your Outside Breakers Are
Another safety tip to keep in mind is that you should always know where the circuit breakers are for your outside outlets. If something happens to one of those outlets, such as an appliance coming into contact with water, you’ll want to be able to switch the circuit breaker off. Make sure that all your outside breakers are labeled and that all the adults in your household know where they are.
14. Avoid Relying Too Much on String Lights
When you need extra lighting for those overnight hours, it can be easy to just string up some outside lights. While they can be fine in a pinch, it’s not great to rely on string lights alone if you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. String lights can be easily damaged by severe storms. Instead, opt for having a professional electrician come to your home and install permanent outdoor lighting fixtures.
Dependable Electrical Service in Kaufman
Accurate Home Services offers reliable electrical service for the Kaufman, TX community and surrounding areas. Our experts can also assist with all your heating, cooling, ductless, indoor air quality, and heat pump needs.
Give our team at Accurate Home Services a call today to schedule your next service appointment.
