Solving an Electrical Problem

If you are planning on doing some electrical work around your house on your own, it is vitally important that you know how to safety work with and handle electrical tasks. Working with electricity is a serious task, which can result in electric shock if you are not careful. Although most electric shock encounters are not fatal, they can be, which is why safety is of the utmost importance when working on electrical projects in your home. Here are a few tips that will help you stay safe as you complete DIY electrical projects.

#1 Always Turn Off The Power

If you are doing electrical work, it is vitally important that you always turn off the power before you begin your project. This is the best way to ensure that you don't get shocked. 

To turn off the power, you are going to need to find the breaker box in your home. Then, you are going to need to find the breaker that corresponds to the area of your house that you are working on. For example, if you are changing out an outlet in your family room, you are going to want to flip that breaker into the off position. 

#2 Test That The Electricity Is Off

Do not assume that you turned off the right breaker or that power has been cut to the area where you are working. You should always test the outlet or item that you are working on to ensure that there is no electrical current flowing. 

You can purchase a tool that you can stick inside of an electrical outlet, and it will tell you right away if electricity is still flowing to that outlet. These tools are really simple and generally will just light up if there is still an electrical presence.

You can also purchase a voltmeter. This is a tool that allows you to measure the amount of voltage or electrical current running through anything you are working on. For example, if you want to change an outlet, you can hook up the receptacles on the voltmeter to the outlet to see if there is still a charge. 

#3 Keep Things Dry

Water and electricity do not mix. You should not drink water or have any liquids near by when you are doing electrical work. 

Before you start electrical work, you should always check the scene and make sure that the area is dry. If you are working near a water source, you may want to turn off the water just to ensure that the water will not mix with your electrical project, just to be safe.

#4 Keep A Fire Extinguisher On Hand

Finally, when doing electrical work on your own, you should always have a fire extinguisher on hand. If an electrical fire starts, do not put water on it. Water is able to conduct electricity and will most likely just make the fire larger. If an electrical fire occurs and you don't have a fire extinguisher, call 911 and let them know you need assistance dealing with an electrical fire. 

If you're worried about doing electrical work on your own, consider contracting an electrician for assistance. Click for more info on electrical services.