Electronics such as car DVD players and car subwoofers have become a part of our everyday life, from entertaining, cooking breakfast with kitchen appliances, and using computers at the workplace. Even as these devices continue to make our lives easier and enjoyable, they may be a source of accidents if not used properly. Because they consume electricity, the most likely safety issues are electrical shocks or fires. Therefore, for the safety of your children and yourself, we offer some safety tips on how to use electronics at home to prevent injuries.
Avoid Overloading Outlets
Every home electronic consumes a different amount of power, often presented as volts or watts. It, therefore, is not right to plug in a device without checking its compatibility with your electrical outlets. Moreover, it would be a “crime” to use a device without considering other devices already plugged in at the same outlet. Many people make this mistake while using power extensions with multiple outlets, causing an overload.
To maximize your safety and that of your electric outlets, here are some valuable tips that can help. First, you should avoid using electrical devices in incompatible power outlets. The risk of short-circuiting your electrical system and thus causing fires is high this way. You should also avoid overloading extension cords with plugs to avert sparking and consequently fires. Indeed, extensions are not standard power cables and aren’t as safe as the wiring behind your walls. If you need more power outlets, let your electrician connect more wall sockets.
Secure Cabling and Plugging
Many homes and offices have unorganized electric outlets with jumbled cables that can rub on each other and spark while in use. Some people also buy low-quality of counterfeit electric outlets that not only underperform, but also increase the risk of electric fires, et cetera. If you have spent a lot of money on electronics and want to keep them working well for years, solve this problem now. From our discussions, we now know that unorganized plugs and cords running everywhere in your home is one of the threats to the safe utilization of your electronics. Such cables can be trip hazards for residents of your homes, thus crushing electronics. The risk of sparking is also relatively high when cables touch, thus increasing the risk of electric fires. It, therefore, is paramount that electric cables don’t cross the floor but are neatly tucked against the walls.
If you have young kids at home, use outlet covers to prevent them from sticking objects and their tiny fingers into sockets. Metals are conductive and thus increase the risk of electric shocks and burns. Finally, whenever you are unplugging an electric device from your power outlet, pull the plug of the device and not its cable. This lowers the risk of cutting and/or breaking the power cord, thereby damaging electronic devices.
Secure Storage and Installation
Most of us handle electric items such as GoPro accessories and studio headphones poorly, thereby damaging them. We fail to follow the manufacturer’s instructions most of the time, worsening the experience even further. To prolong the life of yours, follow strict manufacturer’s guidelines while installing and using your home electronics. Moreover, if you have some electronics that you do not use often, you should store them in a dry and cool place and away from running water. When exposed to water, electronics can spark and shock used when plugged to power. Large appliances like washing and drying machines should be in a neat laundry room with adult access only. Appliances such as televisions and fridges that you might not have to move for years should be installed inches from the wall to allow air circulation and, thus prevent overheating.
Routine Check and Maintenance
Regular maintenance of electronics as per the manufacturers’ guidelines is very important. This exercise troubleshoots faults before they cause accidents. Also, have your circuit breakers examined by your qualified electrician to find out if they are still capable of cutting off power during upsurges and shocks.
You can find electric troubleshooting details in this article:
While manufacturers assure us that their electronics meet the recommended safety standards, it’s upon you to ensure that you utilize them safely. Most money-back guarantees do not cover accidents due to your fault or your house wiring defects. In addition, manufacturers also provide a safety manual detailing how to use the devices and what to avoid. Follow these guidelines to the latter. Manage your cabling to ensure the safety of your home and your electrical devices. Do not overload electrical outlets and do routine maintenance and checks to keep electronics working optimally for a long time.