Ask the expert

— I like tackling projects around my house myself, but dealing with electricity worries me and causes me to pause. What steps can I take to be as safe as possible when dealing with electricity?

“I am glad to hear that dealing with electricity in your home gives you an occasion to pause and think about what you are contemplating electrically,” says Tim Hennelly, owner of Casa Buena House Inspections of Little Rock.

“I do not advocate any homeowner doing anything more than flipping a wall switch, plugging into an outlet, resetting a ground/arc fault circuit interrupt [GFCI or AFCI] button, resetting a breaker, screwing in a new fuse or changing a light bulb,” Hennelly says. “And on that light bulb, make sure you turn the switch off before you change the bulb.”

Anything electrical beyond what is mentioned above should be undertaken only by a licensed electrician, Hennelly says.

“I know a lot of do-it-yourselfers will scoff at this because, by golly, they have installed ceiling fans before, changed out light fixtures and even run new wiring after watching a YouTube video.”

The National Fire Protection Association says home electrical problems cause more than 51,000 fires a year, resulting in more than 490 deaths, 1,400 injuries and $1.3 billion in property damage. Statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission show that nearly 400 people are electrocuted in the United States each year and that electrical receptacles are involved in 5,300 fires, resulting in 40 deaths and more than 100 injuries annually.

Electrical distribution systems are the third leading cause of home fires. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that a majority of residential fires are caused by incorrectly installed wiring, overloaded circuits and extension cords.

“I have absolutely no affiliation with any electrical contractor,but I do have common sense,” Hennelly says. “Even though I know more about basic electricity than the average citizen, when it comes to my family and home, I will opt for writing a check to an electrician rather than risk being counted among the statistics.”

There are some things homeowners should do, such as these suggestions from the Electrical Safety Foundation:

Install smoke detectors on every level of the home, inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area.

Ask a qualified electrician if your home would benefit from AFCI protection, especially for older houses or for electrical systems upgrades. These advanced new safety devices recognize dangerous conditions that are not detected by standard breakers. Ask about GFCI protection devices.

Test smoke detectors and AFCI/GFCIs monthly to ensure they are working properly.

Establish an evacuation plan and practice with your family.

Use light bulbs that match recommended wattage on the light fixtures.

In homes with young children, install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent electrical shocks and burns.

Conduct a basic assessment of your home electrical system, electrical cords, extension cords, power plugs and outlets.

Look for telltale signs of electrical problems such as dim and flickering lights, unusual sizzling and buzzing sounds from your electrical system, insulation and circuit breakers that trip repeatedly. Contact a qualified electrician immediately.

Use extension cords only temporarily and never with space heaters or air conditioners.

Avoid overloading outlets. Consider having a qualified electrician install additional circuits or outlets.

If you have concerns about an older wiring system, consider having your home electrical system inspected by a qualified electrician to ensure that all electrical work in the home meets appropriate safety provisions.

Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Caillouet, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail: [email protected]

HomeStyle, Pages 33 on 02/09/2013

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