Whether it’s from severe weather or a careless neighbor, downed power lines can present serious electricity hazards. Stay at least 40 feet away from any downed line, and keep conductive materials like trees, puddles, vehicles, metal fences, and children away from the area.

Other red flags that indicate electrical emergencies include a buzzing noise in the circuit breaker box and discoloration around outlets. Look for a qualified emergency electrician who offers upfront pricing estimates and guarantees their work.

Blown Fuse

If you own an older home, you may have a fuse panel instead of a circuit breaker. If not, contact Daniel Gardner Electrical Contractors. Fuses are round and screw into sockets, while breakers have a series of switches or levers. Whether your fuse box is still in use or you have converted to a modern electrical system, it’s important to know what to do when one of the fuses blows.

Blown fuses are usually the result of overloading the circuit with more power than it can handle. This often happens when too many lights or appliances are on at the same time, especially ones that heat up (like toasters and hairdryers) or have motors (such as vacuum cleaners).

Other reasons for a blown fuse include damaged wires that make contact with each other, creating a short circuit. This occurs when a hot wire touches a neutral or ground wire, which results in a massive rush of current that the fuse cannot handle.

Blown fuses are easy to replace, but you must be careful when doing this. A melted or cloudy fuse can be very dangerous, and it’s best to leave this work to a professional electrician. First, cut off the power to the affected area by pulling out the handle of the main fuse block (it might be hot). Then unplug all lights and appliances in that part of the house.

Locate the fuse box, which should be in your basement, utility room or garage. It’s helpful to have a diagram of the layout and labeling of your fuse box so you can locate the affected switch or fuses quickly. Using a flashlight, check each fuse to see if it’s blown. Typically, working fuses have a clear casing, while blown fuses will look cloudy or blackened.

Once you find the blown fuse, unscrew it and replace it with an identical one of the same amperage rating. Do not attempt to replace a fuse with a higher amperage, as this can lead to overheating and potential fire hazards. It’s a good idea to purchase an assortment of replacement fuses in different amperages to ensure you’ll have the correct ones on hand when your next fuse blows.

Fault Circuit Interrupter (FCI) Installation

Electrical shock can be dangerous and even life threatening, especially in cases where water or electricity come into contact. A GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter is a safety device that detects leaks of current and shuts off the power to help prevent such incidents.

These devices have been around for decades and play a major role in reducing electrocutions. Often found in the kitchen and bathrooms or in the garage where power tools are used a GFCI can prevent electrical shock by detecting problems with the flow of electricity through the circuit.

Electricity always wants to find a path to the ground and will take that route even if it means going through a person or other conductive object. If a person touches an outlet or power cord with one hand while holding a sink, for example, the current will travel through their body and they can suffer severe injuries or even death. GFCIs are designed to protect against this type of scenario by monitoring the amount of current that is going through the outlet and comparing it to the amount that is returning, if there is a significant difference between the two it will shut off the supply of electricity within as little as 1/40 of a second.

An electrical outlet is made up of three different connections, the circled hole or “ground” connection is a wire that leads to a metal plate on which the receptacle is mounted which provides a safe and reliable path for current to return to the electrical panel, the left slot or “neutral” is where electricity flows into the receptacle and powers whatever device is plugged into it and the right slot is the “hot” connection where electricity comes from the device or appliance itself. A GFCI constantly monitors the current and if it senses that there is an imbalance between the two, it will trip and cut off the power.

While most homes have GFCI protection, it is important to remember that they can fail. A recent study found that between 8 and 14% of GFCIs tested failed to work properly. Common causes of failure include internal mechanical damage or corrosion and it is recommended that homeowners test all GFCI outlets in their home once per year as part of a comprehensive electrical maintenance program.

Electrical Shock Prevention

Electrical shock can be caused by a variety of events. It usually happens when you touch a source of electricity, such as a frayed cord or downed power line. The severity of the shock depends on the voltage, current strength, and duration of exposure. To prevent electrical shock, you should learn how electricity works and follow safety tips.

If you encounter a person who is showing signs of an electrical shock, first check their pulse and breathing. If they are not breathing or their pulse is low, call 911 immediately. Then, separate them from the source of electricity and use a non-conductive object like a wooden broom handle to keep them from being shocked again.

You should also make sure to never touch a downed power line, even if it looks dead. Staying away from it will help reduce the risk of injury and property damage during storms. Additionally, if you need to work outdoors during a storm, be sure to report downed lines to the power company right away.

Regularly inspecting appliances, cords, and outlets will help you spot potential issues before they become emergencies. Be on the lookout for burnt-out wires, exposed insulation, melted plugs, and discolored outlets. It is also a good idea to regularly replace or repair old electrical cords.

In addition to maintaining your electrical system, it is important to educate your family about electrical safety. This includes ensuring that children don’t put things in outlets, and that extension cords aren’t used as toys. Installing tamper-resistant receptacles will also help. These outlet covers have special shutters that cover the plug slots, preventing small fingers from getting in there and potentially being shocked.

Educating your family about electrical safety is the best way to reduce the chances of an emergency. You should also ensure that your entire household is aware of the importance of calling an electrician to resolve any serious issues with your electrical system. This can help you avoid costly, stressful, and dangerous electric shock emergencies. Contact Lippolis Electric to get all of your residential electrical needs taken care of in a timely and efficient manner.

Electrical Safety Tips

Electricity can be extremely dangerous, especially when it isn’t properly maintained and used. Regular inspections of the home’s wiring and breaker box, proper use of electrical appliances, and upgrading old appliances with newer models can help prevent emergencies from occurring. Additionally, equipping a home with a fire extinguisher that is rated for electrical fires and teaching household members how to handle electrical emergencies can also help prevent accidents from becoming disasters.

Knowing which issues constitute an emergency and how to respond can save property damage, personal injury, and even lives. Homeowners should know what to look for, including buzzing noises, frequent circuit breakers, arcing, or burning odors, and when it is time to call emergency services.

When in doubt, always follow safety precautions and never touch downed power lines. Keep a list of local emergency electricians, as well as the number for 911 and a fire department near your home, and make sure that all household members have the contact information handy.

Electrical fires are a common household problem and account for a significant amount of residential property damage, serious injuries, and deaths. They are usually caused by faulty outlets, extension cords, and unsafe appliances, and can be very dangerous. To prevent them, regularly inspect all of your electrical equipment and appliances and never plug an appliance into an outlet that is wet or has a damaged cord. When using extension cords, be careful not to overload them and always plug them into an outlet that is rated for the highest amperage possible.

Be sure to turn off all appliances and lights before going to sleep or leaving the house, especially during a storm. Thunderstorms can cause lightning, which can lead to downed power lines and severe electrical shocks. If you can, avoid touching any electrical equipment or objects during a thunderstorm, and stay at least 20 feet away from downed power lines. If you must go outdoors, shuffle your feet to move away from the ground and not jump or run, as this can cause serious injury or death. Also, if you are in a vehicle that is involved in an accident with a downed power line, do not exit the car until the fire has been put out and the power lines have been safely disconnected.