Electrical Safety Tips for Your Kitchen
As much as the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home, it also has the potential of being one of the most accident-prone. Electricity is used for a myriad of things in the kitchen, yet the kitchen also has an array of risk prone areas in relation to electricity. As such, it is recommended to try to practice electrical safety in the kitchen at all times. This not only prevents the risk of electrical fires, but will also decrease the frequency at which you require the services of electrical contractors due to faulty appliances. Here are some electrical safety tips that you could employ in the kitchen.
Keep electrical cables a distance away from heat prone areas
There are a multitude of appliances that are used in modern day kitchens. Ranging from toasters, microwaves, sandwich makers, kettles and more, there tends to be an abundance of electrical cables on kitchen counters. However, these same kitchen counters may be in close proximity to your stove or next to appliances that emit heat. If these cables are constantly exposed to heat, their protective coating will eventually melt. This then leaves the interior wires exposed, which could lead to an electrical fire in your kitchen. When placing kitchen appliances on your counters, ensure that their cables are safely tucked away from any heat prone areas that could put them at risk acquiring damage.
Keep your outlets protected from water damage
Water is a staple for every kitchen. However, so are electrical appliances. As such, you will find that modern home ted to have even more electrical outlets to meet the demands of modern kitchen appliances. The downside to this is that this increases the risk of water coming into contact with the outlets. To protect your outlets from water damage, there are two things that you should do. The first would be to have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are installed in your outlets. These work to stop any current from running in the outlet if it detects the presence of water. The second thing you could do is invest in outlet covers. These are put on outlets that are not in use to prevent any splashes of water from making their way into the outlet.
Keep your outlets from becoming overloaded
Most of the large appliances used in the kitchen require an individual source of power. Appliances such as microwaves, fridges and ovens require a dedicated power supply. If they are sharing a circuit using an extension cord, chances are that outlet will overload casing a power surge. Not only can this damage the outlet, but it could also end up short-circuiting your appliances. To prevent this, ensure that each appliance that requires a significant amount of power has its own individual outlet. Contact an electrical contractor for help with this step to make sure everything is installed correctly and safely.
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