Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 21, 1990 TAG: 9005190141
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JANE E. BRODY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And it isn't safe. As modern lives rely increasingly on plug-in gadgets, even people aware of the risks can find themselves hopelessly overextended.
Recently I read these grim statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which designated May as Electrical Safety Awareness Month:
Electrically-caused home fires now number 166,000 each year.
These fires result in 900 deaths, 6,200 injuries and $935 million in property losses annually.
Last year, 9,100 people needed hospital treatment for electrical burns and shock injuries.
Overloaded connections aren't unusual in modern homes. A variety of problems can exist throughout the house. Here are some tips from the safety commission and other experts for preventing commonplace electrical accidents:
Check the condition of all household wiring as well as lamp and appliance cords. Insulation deteriorates with age and use; exposed wires can create sparks and start fires.
Repair or replace any cords that are pinched, cracked or frayed. To prevent cords from overheating, do not place them under rugs or rest furniture on them.
Know the rating of extension cords and do not exceed it. When an extension cord is used for an appliance with a high wattage, like a microwave oven, personal computer or power tool, use a heavy-duty cord and grounding plug.
Make sure extension cords are out of traffic areas and that they are not wrapped around themselves or any other object. They should not be nailed or stapled to the wall or baseboard. Eliminate the need for their long-term by installing permanent wiring.
Avoid plugging two or more appliances into the same circuit if their combined wattage exceeds 1,500.
Note signs of electrical trouble, like lights that flicker or switch plates that are warm to the touch, and have repairs done right away by a licensed electrician.
Never use a bulb that has a wattage higher than is recommended for the fixture. It can cause the fixture to overheat and start a fire. If the recommended wattage is not shown on the fixture, do not use a bulb higher than 60 watts.
Do not use fuses or circuit breakers with a higher amperage than the circuit was meant to handle. A 15-amp circuit should have a 15-amp fuse or breaker. Since most fuse boxes are not labeled as to what size fuse to use, stick to 15 amps unless an electrician has told you otherwise.
The purpose of a fuse or circuit breaker is to cut off the flow of electricity if the circuit is overloaded. If a higher amperage fuse or breaker is substituted, it could cause the circuit to overheat.
If you blow a fuse or trip a circuit breaker, you are demanding too much from that circuit. Have the circuit rewired or connect the appliance to another circuit.
Do not use any appliance, light switch or outlet that gives you even the slightest shock. Replace it, repair it or throw it away.
Never stand on a wet or damp floor or shower or sit in a tub of water when using an electrical appliance. This includes radios and hair dryers. If a plugged-in appliance should fall into water, unplug it before you try to retrieve it, even if it is turned off.
Be sure to connect grounding wires that come with many products. Even better, install outlets for three-pronged plugs for use with heavy-duty equipment.
Do not leave washing machines, clothes dryers or dishwashers operating when no one is home. The equipment can malfunction and start a fire.
If your home was built between 1965 and 1972 or if new circuits were added or additions constructed in that period, an old version of aluminum wiring may have been used that can overheat and cause fires even when nothing is plugged into the outlet.
Signs of trouble include: cover plates on switches and outlets are warm to the touch; smoke or sparks come out of switches or outlets; strange odors (like the smell of burning plastic) are noticed near switches or outlets; the lights flicker periodically, and outlets, lights or entire circuits fail to work.
If any circuit or outlet shows one of these trouble signs, cut the power immediately by tripping the circuit breaker or removing the fuse and call an electrician to inspect and repair the wiring.
For a free copies of "Home Electric Safety Audit Room by Room Checklist" and the "CSPC Guide to Electrical Safety," call any regional office of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or write to Publications Requests, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.
by CNB