5 Major Electrical Safety Aspect You Should Promptly needs to Fix from Professional Electrician near you

Electricity makes us warm, brightens our home and allows us to experience entertainment while it enables us to a warm meal whenever and many more. For many years, electricity has made our lives convenient and enjoyable in so many ways, yet we should also be aware of all its risks. In this article, we will walk you through some electrical tips that homeowners should know. However, if you’re sure that you have no problem with your electricity. Although, you should already have to know who is the best local electrician near me who can reach to me as soon as possible any time during an emergency. So that any hassle could be resolved on the appropriate time before it becomes big trouble.

The National Fire Protection Association, US fire department reported that there is an estimate of 47, 820 annual average fires from 2007 to 2011 and the cause was an electrical malfunction.

Be aware of how to safely use electricity at home. On a regular day, most people likely use several appliances. Electric appliances are common in modern homes and sometimes we tend to forget the real risk and hazards link with improper use. These five tips will make you gain knowledge and awareness on how to safely use and enjoy the device and appliances while keeping you and your family secure.

1.Change or fix damaged power cords
Do not overlook exposed wiring. It poses danger if you missed fixing it. Once you notice that the protective coating on a wire is stripped open, make sure to change it or cover it with electrical tape.

2.Avoid overloading your outlet
An outlet installed in your home is designed to relay only a certain amount of electricity. When you plug too many devices all at once, it could cause a minor explosion or worst, a fire. If you need to have your devices plugged in at the same time, you may use an energy-saving power strip that can accommodate your gadgets while securing your safety.

3.Check outlets
Make sure that every cord is plugged into a correct electrical outlet. To make electrical outlets childproof, block unused outlets by changing to a solid cover plate as a recommendation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Avoid overloading outlets with multiple adaptors. Relocate or transfer cords instead.  Apply ground fault circuit interrupter outlets in potentially harmful spaces such as near wet areas like the pool, kitchen, bathroom, and unfinished basements.

4.Fix light bulbs
Light bulbs are the most common electrical component in every home. A proper light bulb safety can keep your home from having electrical risks. Use bulbs with correct wattage specification for each fixture. If needed, use a higher wattage bulb. Check if bulbs are screwed tightly. A loose bulb can cause sparks or shorts. Make sure to unplug or shut down a fixture completely before changing light bulbs.

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5.Safety outdoors
It is a must to practice electrical safety tips when outdoor since many electrical hazards can be found near home and not just indoor. Check if trees are pruned and away from power lines. Avoid flying kites, model aircraft or balloons near the power lines. Always be aware that a small contact with a power line can be fatal. Never attempt to approach a downed power line to check if it is life. It can be just as deadly even when there are no signs. Reach out to authorities as soon as possible about downed lines

FINAL WORDS
It is vital to understand what to do to prevent or stop an electrical fire to keep further damage from spreading, therefore you should call emergency services or call 911 immediately in case of electrical mishaps or fire. We know that electricity is a common necessity of every home and there is danger associated with improper use. Observe thoroughly to keep you and your family safe at all times.

Mitigating Storm Damage on Your Business Premises

Storm damage can be catastrophic when you are maintaining a business, especially if you have commercial properties. Just like most natural disasters, even with the best planning, will not stop the storm from happening. You cannot dictate Mother Nature on where it will hit. However, there are several things you can do to mitigate, limit, and protect your business against the effects of storm damage.
Taking preventive steps to protect your business from storm damage is an action that you should not leave to the last minute. Instead, you should consistently assess your risk and take the necessary moves to do your business in the best position at all times. Remind yourself: ‘I need to hire a repairman, maintenance guy or electrician near me’.

Here are some of the ways to mitigate the storm manage that you can do for your business:

Protecting the Roof
The roof is especially vulnerable when strong winds hit, and loose tiles can fly off at any time. It will leave your property exposed to the wet weather. You need to do regular inspections because it is necessary to make sure that it is in good condition at all times. During inspection look for any debris from broken tiles or slates in the ground all over your property, check for any leaning chimneys or any loose bricks from the chimney and check for loose gutter or any blockages.
As a preventive measure, you can fit heating tape around the underside of the gutter to prevent the ice from accumulating. If there is anything that needs repairs, you need to call a professional as soon as possible.

Preventing High Replacement Costs

Since you cannot prevent the storm from coming, you need to have the right insurance policies for your business. Insurance is essential for your business; without any financial protection against all the potential damages caused by the storm. Without insurance, you will be taking out massive amounts for your repairs, and in the worst case, you can even go out of business.
One of the essential insurance policies that you need for your business is called Business Interruption Insurance. It will protect the business from disturbances the will stop its operations. It covers disruptions to your business like a storm or hurricane.

Managing Energy Bills
You have to keep your business energy efficient during the storm. To do this, check if the property has proper insulation. If the cold air is coming into your property, the hot air will escape. This can create pressure on your heating system to keep your business warm.
Again, you need to do a thorough inspection of your property and check for things like rattling doors and windows and gaps in the outside walls. When you have a rattling window or door, it means cold air is seeping through the unsealed cracks. It can be remedied by using caulk to seal the cracks. The gaps in the walls are usually found in the exterior corners. You can seal these cracks with foam or caulk to prevent water and cold air from getting into your business premises.

Electrical Safety
The storm season can wreak havoc on your electricity. To make sure that your is electrically safe during a storm, you need to prepare your business. You need to install a safety switch and test it regularly, particularly before the storm. You should also know where to turn off your gas, power, and water supply during an emergency. If you have electrical equipment that you are not using, keep them in a safe place. During the actual storm, switch off and unplug all your electrical equipment. For business who have solar OV systems, shut them down following the safe isolation procedures.

McIntosh Electrical offers the best ‘electrical services near me’ for businesses in the Sydney area. They have certified Master Electricians who can provide creative and intelligent solutions for the electrical works needed in your commercial property. Call them today for a free consultation.

 

Essential Electrical Upgrades to Consider for Your New Kitchen

Remodelling and renovating your kitchen can be rewarding, and increase the value of your home, but you will also need to consider upgrading the electrical components such as new power points, switches and new circuits, along with your new cabinetry. Adding new appliances, such as ovens, dishwashers and fridges, is adding load to the existing wiring, which can often be old, damaged or simply non-compliant.

New Australian Electrical Standards AS/NZ3000(2018) Standards also require ovens and cooktops to have their own circuits and safety switches on each individual circuit. Older homes often have outdated wiring systems that may no longer able to support modern appliances. This all needs to be taken into consideration prior to renovating, and pre-planning with a qualified and licensed electrician is key to getting it right and staying on budget.

The rule of thumb is if the appliance operates with a motor, it has to have its own circuit.
If you have renovation plans, you might be asking yourself, “where can I find an electrician near me?” to incorporate electrical upgrades to your project. Here are some of the enhancements that you may need to include.

Your Electrical Circuits 

The kitchen should have at least seven circuits or more if there are more appliances to be added. There is the 15-amp primary lighting circuit, five circuits dedicated to your specific appliances and two 20-amp circuits for small appliances.

The primary lighting circuit is what powers the task lighting, ceiling fixtures, and recessed lighting. The lighting circuit depends on the total wattage of the combined light that will be connected to the circuit. However, it should be sufficient enough to control the lighting inside the kitchen.

The refrigerator has gotten more extensive and more sophisticated; at least 20-amp and the are0-volt circuit is required to power this appliance plus you must make sure there is no other electrical load.
Electric range circuit should be dedicated to the cooking area of the new kitchen. It also needs an exclusive outlet to avoid overloading.

Microwave is also another kitchen appliance that demands more power, and an outlet solely dedicated to it should be included in your upgrade plans.
The food disposer keeps the kitchen clean and is a relatively new device. It also needs its own circuit and outlet.

Your Lighting System

A newly renovated kitchen will not have much impact if space has poor lighting. If you have increased the size of your kitchen, you need to add more lights. Accent lighting can highlight and illuminate the frequently used areas in the kitchen. Placing them over the stove, island benches, and over the kitchen table can bring openness and warmth to your kitchen.

Most accent lights these days are energy efficient LED’s, such as LED strip-lighting and LED Down Lights. These LED’s use one-fifth of the power of halogen lights are long-lasting, come in a fantastic range of colours and styles, but are still affordable.

Your Light Dimmers

In any room, lighting sets the tone and mood. While it is required for your kitchen to be adequately lit, you also have the option to change them into something out of the ordinary. The change will be a rewarding one. If you want to set a romantic mood in the kitchen, you can dim the lights. If space is adjacent to the living area, you can make a distinction between the areas by installing light dimmers. These dimmers can be paired with many bulb types like LED or CFL. You just need to install a dimmable bulb with a dimmable light switch.

Your Additional Data Ports

Did you know that USB and data ports can be incorporated into power points or individually around the kitchen area? Chances are, the device you are using to read this article now uses a USB connection to charge. The USB cable is now as standard as conventional electrical plugs, and the future for kitchen appliances are geared towards USB charging. Although your home value will not increase by adding USB outlets in the kitchen, you still need them to plug your phone, iPad, and other devices and will thereby become useful in the future.

Why Hire a Licensed Electrician to do the Job?

If you are a homeowner who needs electrical upgrades for your kitchen, don’t just think ‘I’ll hire anybody who offers electrician services near me’. Go for the one who has experience in the electrical field. First, electricity is complicated and dangerous. Only licensed electricians have undergone extensive training and are updated with the latest in electrical codes.

For upgrades of service panels that provide electricity to your kitchen, you need to have a licensed electrician who understands the requirements. Upgrading the electrical service panels are required to supply your kitchen with adequate electricity.

Only a licensed electrician can install additional outlets in your home or convert your existing outlets to GFCIs or ground fault circuit interrupters. They know that electrical code requires that at least one of the outlets in the kitchen is a GFCI outlet. These outlets are designed to shut off the power when water comes in contact with electricity, or there is an imbalance in the electricity load.

Another reason why you should hire a licensed electrician to do the job is when it comes to replacing light fixtures; they understand the amperage of the circuit and the wattage of the lighting fixture. There are specific measures that only licensed electricians to know when it comes to replacing the light fixture.

Above all, licensed electricians are up to date in complying to the electricity code. Both national and local authorities have set forth these guidelines that detail the standards in electrical safety. If your home is not compliant, it is not only dangerous but as a homeowner, you will be fined.

To answer the question of ‘who is an electrician near me who can help in implementing the electrical upgrades in my kitchen?’, ask the licensed electricians at McIntosh Electrical. They can help you with light and dimmer installation, additional circuit and outlets, USB outlets, and many other electrical services.

Mcintosh Electrical

Their Master Electricians are always ready and at your service. They offer commercial, residential, and industrial electrical services. They also provide 24-hour, seven days a week, and 365 days a year service for all your electrical needs. Contact them today, and one of the friendly members of the team will help you.