Safety Tips

Did you know?

FPE and Sylvania Zinsco electrical panels may be unsafe. These panels have been shown to have significant design flaws, manufacturing defects and can pose fire hazards. For more information, visit www.ismypanelsafe.com.

Aging smoke detectors may not work. It is recommended that smoke detectors be replaced every 10 years. To protect your home and loved ones, consider installing or replacing existing smoke detectors with smoke, heat, carbon monoxide or a combination detector.

Electrical surges can enter your home and damage the components in your electronics and appliances. Installing a whole home surge suppressor will help protect against these surges and will even help lengthen the life of your light bulbs!

Here are some additional valuable electrical safety tips:

• Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices.
• Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.
• Avoid overloading outlets. Consider plugging only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
• If outlets or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by an electrician.
• When possible, avoid the use of "cube taps" and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.
• Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage.
• If power is lost during a storm, turn off or unplug electrical appliances so that there's not a power surge when the electricity comes back on.
• If there's flooding, watch out for water around electrical items, and never use appliances if they're wet.
• Never prune trees yourself that are near power lines.