How To Keep Your Family Safe At Home

How To Keep Your Family Safe At Home

In today's society we are spending more time at home than ever before, this means it has never been more important to help make sure your home is safe for you and your family. Unfortunately, there are a lot of day-to-day safety risks that we all often overlook because of our busy lifestyles.

When it comes to keeping everyone safe, prevention is always better than cure. So JNL Sparks Electrical have compiled a list of proactive tips to keep you, your family and your home safe.

1. The Correct Use of a Power Outlet

Each of your power outlets is designed to supply a certain amount of energy. They can pose a safety risk if they become overloaded by plugging several devices into one socket via multiple adaptors. Additionally, if you find that an outlet is warm or consistently flipping the circuit breaker, it can indicate a problem which may lead to a shock or fire hazard. It’s best to get this attended to immediately.

2. Smart Use of Extension Cords

Extension cords are designed to be used temporarily and not permanently. So, if you’re using one in a room to get power to an area, it’s best to call an electrician to have an outlet safely installed where you need it.

If you’re having an outdoor party and require power, make sure to buy extension cords that are marked for outdoor use – these tend to be waterproof and thicker to protect the internal wires from the elements.

3. Install a Safety Switch

To help further protect your family, our Electrical experts recommend having a Residual Current Device (RCD) or Safety Switch installed in your household. These devices monitor your power supply and quickly shut off if any safety issues are detected. So, if anything was to happen, like a light bulb blowing, using an appliance with an electrical fault, a socket burning or water getting into an electrical connection, the RCD or Safety Switch would be the first line of defence to help protect your household from electric shocks or sparks which can cause a fire.

4. Electricity and Water Don't Mix

This may go without saying, but it’s easy to get complacent. There is water everywhere in our homes, from taps and kitchens, to the laundry and bathrooms. Do not use electronics and plugs when there is a water spill.

5. Child Proofing Your Home

If you have children, you know that they’re always curious. As power sockets are usually located lower down, they are accessible to little fingers. To prevent any safety concerns, consider buying some tamper-resistant receptacles that cover the holes when they’re not in use.

6. Replace Older Appliances and Lights

Lighting and appliances, such as hair dryers, downlights and heaters age over time and with it, comes wear and tear on cords and plugs. This can expose wiring and put you at risk, so it’s best to replace them rather than persist. You may also find that newer models and new lighting is far more power efficient too.

7. Don't Ignore Flickering Lights

Do you notice your lights flickering from time to time? In most cases, an occasional flicker can be written off as “just one of those things”. Flickering lights can indicate an underlying connection problem. Whatever the cause, it’s important to get the problem diagnosed and resolved. Unfortunately, flickering lights are unlikely to resolve themselves – without intervention from a skilled, professional electrician, the lights may end up failing, or even causing an electrical fire. It’s easy to overlook a flickering light, but if you find it happens consistently, it’s best to speak to one of our professional electricians.

8. Maintain your Air Conditioner

The health of your home can be greatly impacted by the maintenance of your air conditioner. Having the filter cleaned will not only lengthen the life of your investment and ensure it runs optimally, but it will also affect the atmosphere that your family breathes in.

9. Check Smoke Alarms

It is very important to have functioning smoke alarms installed in your house. JNL Sparks Electrical experts recommend smoke alarms be installed in all bedrooms and living spaces, give yourself some peace of mind while your family is sleeping. We also recommend making sure you test your alarms at least once a month to confirm that they are fully operational.

As per legislation and from the 1st of January 2017, all homes leased and sold need photoelectric smoke alarms that are interconnected in every bedroom, every storey and in hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling. Any smoke alarm in your home must meet the requirements of Australian Standards and should be installed by a licensed electrician in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

At JNL Sparks, all of our professional electricians are licensed and fully qualified, meaning they are ready to help you with all of your smoke alarm needs, from questions to installation and replacement.

All installations come with compliance certificates.

10. Talk to JNL Sparks Electrical

If you are unsure about electrical safety in your home, or you have any concerns, speak to a licensed JNL Sparks Electrician today. No matter what your electrical inquiry is, our local and experienced technicians can answer all your questions and provide electrical services if required.

Remember: you and your family’s safety are the number one priority. Paying close attention to these tips and being proactive will mean you have more peace of mind every day.