7 simple electrical safety tips

When you are moving into a new home, you will not only want to hire the best movers in Vancouver to ensure the safety of your belongings, but you will also want your new house to be in pristine condition. It is also best to be sure of the electrical safety of your home before you hire your Vancouver movers, as this will avoid troubles down the road. If you are buying a house, you will already have had a home inspection, and while a good home inspection will note all the electrical details, it never hurts to check. And if you are renting, you definitely want to inspect the safety of the house. Of course, it is always recommended to consult a professional electrician, but here are a few electrical safety tips that you can carry out yourself, as an initial check.

1. Check plugs that are within 5 feet of a sink or outdoors

You know those outlets in bathrooms that have two little buttons on them to test and reset? Well, those are called Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI for short) and they don’t just belong in the bathroom. GFCI plugs should actually be used anywhere within 5 feet of a sink, as well as on every plug outdoors. These prevent you from getting shocked or electrocuted when the cord of your electric kettle is frayed or when you touch the tap while using a hairdryer. This is because they interrupt a circuit where electricity could go through you into the ground. Old houses in particular don’t always have these in kitchens, so it is definitely something to keep an eye out for when moving in Vancouver!

2. Make sure you have 3 prong plugs in your new home

Before your Vancouver move, walk through your new place and check out all the outlets in the walls. They should all have 3 prong plugs, as this reduces the shock and electrocution hazard. Most appliances now have three prong plugs, so you will want to make sure you are set up for when Vancouver movers bring in all your kitchen supplies.

3. Look for loose light bulb sockets before moving in Vancouver

This is another simple, very important thing to check before you move in. Check any lighting fixtures to make sure the socket doesn’t turn with the light bulb as you screw it in. This could be a fire hazard because if the socket turns, the wires could short and start a fire. This also applies to any lamps or mobile lights, so even after your Vancouver move be sure to check all the lights you brought with you!

4. Watch for wiring that has been added by previous owners

Before movers in Vancouver bring in all your furniture, check to make sure there are no wires running along the surface of a ceiling or wall. Any wiring should be concealed inside the wall, not outside. This is a red flag that it was a DIY job and should be checked by a professional.

5. Check for soot around a light switch or wall plug

When moving in Vancouver, check all the lights switches and electrical outlets of your new home for black markings or soot. This could be an indication that there is a fault in the plug and should be checked out. All plugs should be checked to make sure they are in proper working order. You could even check them yourself with a receptacle tester from your local hardware store.

6. Test smoke detectors before movers from Vancouver arrive

One of the most important things to pay attention to for your own safety is the status of the smoke detectors in your new home. It is possible that the previous occupants of the home took out some batteries from smoke detectors, or did not pay attention to the expiration date. Therefore, a key Vancouver moving tip is to check to make sure there is a working smoke detector on every level of the house, and preferably even in every bedroom. They need to be changed every ten years, so check the date of manufacture on each one. You should also have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your house, so while you are checking smoke alarms, look into this as well.

7. Whenever you move in Vancouver, get to know your new electrical panel

When you move into a new house, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the location of the electrical panel and how it operates. You should also make sure all of the breaker switches are operating. This is easy to test yourself by turning the breaker switches off and on one at a time and checking the area that switch corresponds to. Again, any switch that may have black around it should be checked by a professional.

There are definitely several aspects of your move that you will want done by professionals, like hiring the best movers in Vancouver to take care of your belongings. For your moving needs, give us a call at 604-922-2212 or request a quote online through our website! 

However, these electrical safety tips are things you can and should do by yourself to make the process easier. These simple tips can make all the difference in ensuring the safety of your new home, and are things that you will want to pay attention to even after you move in. And remember, don’t hesitate to contact a professional electrician if there is anything you are unsure of.