Electrical Safety for Fall

Each Change of Season, we here at Bolt Electric try to make certain that everyone is on top of electrical safety.

You can never be too careful! Especially when moving from one season to the next.

The summer months in San Antonio and South Texas can be brutal with the soaring summer temperatures alone, so moving into the Fall we’d like to take a tour of the rooms in our homes to see what we should be looking for in regards to Electrical Safety for the coming season.

Most often here in South Texas, the Fall weather feels remotely like summer for the most part, until that first cold snap! 2024 has been graced with a rainy season, which also brings in some challenges when it comes to our electrical systems.

 Thunderstorms may ease the temperatures, but electrical outages can bring in different types of electrical issues too.

Let’s go room by room to see what items we should be checking on; moving into Fall Electrical Safety.

Bathrooms:

As of the 2023 year; the National Electric Code (NEC) states that all wet areas of any dwelling unit; must be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI rated outlets). Our Bathrooms are of course water areas, so we should make certain any outlets should be up to electrical code, and all GFCI outlets should be tested regularly to make certain they are functioning properly. If you have an outlet in any water related areas of the residence, it is required by the National Electrical Code that these be made into GFCI Outlets.

Another safety idea is to unplug any appliances that are not in use. Items such as a hairdryers or curling irons, as well as making certain the cords are in good working condition before plugging them in for usage. You should make certain you are not near the sink, shower, or bathtub; when using these plug in items as well.

If there are any children in the residence, a great tip is to install the electrical outlet safety caps to keep any tiny digits or metal prongs from being accidentally placed into an outlet and causing injury or fire, or both!

Bedrooms:

All bedrooms should have some type of smoke or carbon monoxide detectors assigned to/ near each room area. These detectors should be tested monthly to make certain they are functioning properly, and the batteries in them should be changed out about every 6 months to keep them from failure to operate or begin chirping due to low battery. No one likes to be awakened by that little “chirp” in the middle of the night!  

You should also perform a quick check on all light fixtures, lamps...etc., to make certain you have the correct bulb wattage for that particular fixture. Often times, folks will place a 100 watt bulb in a fixture that is made for up to 75 watts, thinking the brighter the better; however this can overload the fixture and can also be the cause of a fire.

You should never rely on an extension cord as a permanent plug in, and you should keep cords of any kind; above throw rugs and out from under any furniture, as fraying or nicked wires can be the cause of fires.

If you’re cooling any room with a portable or window air conditioning unit, it should be placed on its own dedicated circuit to avoid overloading any shared circuits and causing a breaker trip.

Living Areas:

As with Bedrooms, any Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Detectors should be tested for functionality, and batteries changed out about every 6 months or so as well.

Since we utilize our living areas more than most other rooms in our residences, we should want to check on any and all outlets and switches to make certain they are functioning properly, as well as checking for cracks, broken cover plates, or char marks that might indicate an electrical issue is present.

Check on any power strip/ surge protectors you're using to make sure they are functioning properly, and to make certain they are not being overloaded with too many plug ins that could potentially cause an issue; such as overloading a circuit. You should always unplug any charging devices when not in use, and any unused outlets should also be safety capped as well, to keep those kiddos safe from electrical shocks.

Another good suggestion is to make certain that your Living Room appliances, lamps, computers…etc., all have adequate air circulation around them to keep them from overheating and ruining the small components inside.  

Kitchens:

Our Kitchens are also a room that is considered a wet area in the residence, and will require all outlets in the Kitchen to be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter; or GFCI outlets. These outlets, like the above mentioned outlets; should all be tested monthly for functionality as well.

You should always keep electrical appliances stored away from the wet areas of the kitchen, ie nearest to your water source. It’s also a great idea to make sure any appliance cords are not left hanging off tables, counters…etc.; to keep any animals or small children in the home from pulling them down accidentally, and we should also inspect all appliance cords for any damage while we’re at it. Bad cords can often lead to circuit breakers tripping in your electrical panel.

About every 6 months or so, we should make sure the areas behind our major appliances; such as refrigerators, ranges, microwaves…etc.; are clean of any dust or debris; and that the outlets they are plugged into have room behind them to be accessed if necessary; as well as to give your appliance room to breathe!

Laundry Room/ Garage:

As with any other wet areas of the residence, these areas too will require Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, or GFCI Outlets for plug ins. These outlets should also be tested monthly for functionality. Most dryers have a special type of outlet, that requires it’s own dedicated circuit; and differs from the GFCI type of outlet.

Perform a quick inspection for your Washing Machine and Clothes Dryer and clear any debris around the appliances. It is important that these appliances and outlets have adequate breathing room around them as well. Make certain you can always reach the outlet they're plugged into; in the event you have to unplug the appliance at any time, and clearing out the lint trap on these machines is paramount to making certain your appliances run the way they should!

Larger appliances, such as freezers or A/C units; should be on their own dedicated circuit (usually a 20 amp circuit) to avoid overloading a shared circuit and causing the circuit to trip the Breaker.

Any and all Stored Boxes in these areas of the home; should be stored away from any outlets, switches, or electrical panels; to maintain safety and airflow as well as having easy access; in the event you need to get to them or in the event they require electrical repair.

Power tools or battery charging devices should be unplugged when not in use, and before using; should always be checked for any damage to their cords or cord ends; before plugging them in. Also; any stored extension cords or any holiday lights or electrical Fall Decor should be checked before using as well. In the event there is frayed wiring or wire nicks on them that could potentially cause injury or a fire; while in use.

Exterior of Residence:

As with all of our above mentioned wet areas of the home, our exterior/ outdoor outlets should also be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Outlets, and should also have a weather proof type of covering on them to ensure moisture stays out. These outlets should also be tested monthly for functionality.

Another great tip is to keep Leaves and other outside debris (grass, weeds, ants…etc.) away from your exterior power sources, A/C units, pool equipment, spa equipment, lighting..etc. This ensures they have adequate space, and that they can be accessed; when necessary.

When using any extension cords, you will want to make certain they are rated for outdoor usage; as well as in good shape to power up any holiday lighting, décor.

We here at Bolt Electric in San Antonio hope this information eases you into your Fall electrical safety routine. If you’re needing electrical maintenance and repair in San Antonio, Bolt Electric is here to help! It’s our specialty.

If you’re needing to have GFCI Outlets installed to bring your residence up to electrical code, we’re only a call away!  

We are currently offering a Special on Whole Home Surge Protector installation.

If you’re interested in having Whole Home Surge Protection Installed in your residence; click on the link below for more information:

 https://www.boltelectricsa.com/

Give our friendly staff a call to get on our schedule!

BOLT ELECTRIC, LLC

18847 REDLAND ROAD, SUITE 105

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78259

(210) 545-2658