Our appliances work hard to make our lives significantly more manageable. It’s a huge inconvenience when one of them breaks or stops working, and it can cost not only time but also a good amount of money. You can help decrease the chances of an issue arising by making sure that you are using safe and conscientious electrical practices with your appliances. A good starting point is to avoid the following electrical mistakes:

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  1. Overloading your power strips. Power strips can only handle a certain amount of electricity running through them at a time. Most are intended to plug into 120V outlets and are rated for 12 amps. Though this limit is not likely to be an issue if you plug in phone chargers, it can quickly be exceeded when you add appliances into the mix. When figuring out what appliances to plug into a power strip, be sure to check and determine how many amps the appliance uses. Even small appliances like a food processor or blender can exceed the limit, especially when other items are plugged in as well. Overloading an outlet can melt the plastic, cause electrical short circuits that damage the appliances, or even start an electrical fire – one of the worst results of electrical mistakes.
  2. Leaving small appliances plugged in when they’re not in use. You should always unplug items when you aren’t using them. Keeping them plugged in puts them at risk should there be a power surge, and it draws electricity unnecessarily from the rest of the circuit. In the kitchen and bathroom especially, you want to limit the possibility of water interacting with electrical components; having plugged-in appliances all the time increases the chance of an accident.
  3. Use your appliances with wet hands. Along with that same note, it’s unwise to touch or operate appliances when your hands are wet or if you are otherwise in contact with water, like having wet hair or standing in a filled tub. Even just flipping a light switch with wet hands can be dangerous. You should always avoid interacting with your electrical appliances when near water.
  4. Not having GFCIs. According to the National Electrical Code, outlets that have the potential to come into contact with water (like those in the bathroom or kitchen) must have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. Without a GFCI, water can easily ruin the outlet and any appliances attached to it by causing a surge or fire.
  5. Stretching the cords. Having the cord of an appliance fully stretched to reach an outlet is not safe. Someone could trip and hurt themselves or damage the cord. If it gets pulled slightly out of the outlet, it creates the potential for electricity to arc and causes a spark or fire. You should either move your appliance closer to the outlet or use an extension cord. However, high-energy appliances like microwaves, space heaters, and AC units should never be plugged into an extension cord, as their high power demand easily causes the cord to overheat and melt or catch fire.

Common electrical mistakes can not only cost you money, but they can be dangerous. Electrical fires are a leading cause of house fires in the United States, and that puts your home and family in peril. If you have any type of electrical project that needs attention in your home, call a licensed and professional electrician. Promise Electric is a commercial and residential electrical service, serving the Sarasota area. Our team of master electricians is here to help with all your electrical needs.