Solving an Electrical Problem

Although you might not realize it, your kitchen has a number of electrical dangers. From burning wires to an electrical overload, being able to recognize these dangers can help keep you and your home much safer.

Deep Clean Regularly

Make it a point to deep clean your kitchen on a regular basis. When cooking, crumbs always fall on the countertop. As you wipe the counter, these crumbs often get pushed under or behind the small appliances on your countertop. Overtime, this built-up food debris gets inside these appliances or inside an electrical outlet, increasing the risk of an electrical fire. To avoid this, move around these appliances to ensure you are removing the food particles instead of just pushing them around.  

Update Your Outlets

If you live in an older home and you haven't made any electrical renovations, at the very least you need to update to GFCI, or ground-fault circuit interrupter, outlets in your kitchen. In a nutshell, GFCI outlets help protect you from electrical shock. These outlets monitor electrical currents and immediately shut down when a loss of current is detected. It's a good idea to install them in your kitchen since there is always water around.

Be Mindful Of Cords

If you have a toaster or some other appliance near your stove, be mindful of the placement of the cord. If the cord gets too close to the heat, the rubber wire encasement could melt and expose the wires. If you are unaware of this damage, when you turn the device on, the exposed wires could easily cause a fire. The ideal solution would be to keep your appliances away from the stove. However, if you can't do this, use a tie to keep the wires in place and avoid this issue.

Monitor Electrical Usage

Sometimes people only think about electrical usage when it comes to larger appliances like refrigerators and ovens. However, even smaller appliances like toaster ovens, coffee makers and microwaves can all use a great deal of power. If your electrical circuit is almost at capacity, adding too many more appliances can send you overboard. If you haven't had your breaker inspected recently, have an electrician come out to ensure you don't need to upgrade your power capacity.

Make sure you are keeping electrical safety a priority in every area of your home. In addition to helping you make any necessary upgrades, an electrician can also assist you with recognizing any safety issues you need to address.