There are several long-standing myths about electricity in the home. Some are mistaken tips on energy conservation, while others can be a threat to your safety if you don’t know the truth. Read on as we correct some popular home electricity myths.
- Devices don’t use power when turned off. It seems logical that once you turn off your TV or a floor lamp, they would stop drawing power. In reality, devices are constantly drawing energy as long as they remain plugged in. According to recent research, as much as 75% of the energy used by electrical appliances is drawn when the devices are turned off. To save money and prevent a waste of electricity, unplug your devices when not using them or connect them to a power strip and use it to turn them off.
- Turning devices or lights on and off frequently waste power. Many people believe that constantly turning a computer or the lights in a room off and on will waste more power than leaving them on. This is altogether untrue. A laptop’s lifespan is not shortened by frequently starting up; on the contrary, leaving it running day and night will likely slow down its function and prove to be a waste of electricity. The same goes for lights–it does not use excess energy to turn them on, but bulbs draw a significant amount of electricity if left on constantly.
- CFL bulbs should never be used and aren’t energy efficient. The general population has condemned CFL bulbs as dangerous and inefficient. While they do contain a small amount of mercury inside, there is no risk of exposure when handled appropriately. CFL bulbs use only a quarter of the electricity consumed by traditional incandescent bulbs, saving you money and electricity. CFL bulbs are also much cheaper than LEDs, making them appealing for families on a budget looking for a greener option than incandescents.
- All power lines are insulated. It’s not surprising that many people believe most lines to be insulated–after all, we see birds and squirrels running along them all the time without consequence. However, most power lines are not insulated. These animals aren’t harmed by touching them because they are not simultaneously touching the ground. Once a connection to the ground is made, it will deliver a dangerous shock. Similarly, you should never approach a downed wire even if it doesn’t appear to be sparking; it is very likely still live.
- An electrical line in your home can’t kill you because its voltage isn’t high enough. Volts actually are not what kills you in an electric shock. The voltage measures the pressure with which the electricity is sent through the system, not the actual amount of electricity present. It is the number of amperes–the measure of the amount of electricity in a system–that determines whether an electric shock will harm you. For example, standard home outlets producing 120V can kill you because they are delivering 10-20 amps of power (the lethal amperage for a human is about 0.06 A); a static shock from a car door or fuzzy carpet produces at a minimum of 3,000V, but only causes a mild zap because the amperage is practically zero.
- Rubber clothing items insulate you from electrical currents. Rubber is only an effective insulator when it is pure, 100% rubber. Items like rubber gloves or rubber-soled boots contain rubber and have many other components that decrease the insulation and render it ineffective against a surge of electricity.
If you have any warning signs of electrical issues in the home – such as warm outlet covers, flickering lights, or sparking wires – call the master electricians at Promise Electric immediately. We know all there is to know about electricity, both residential or commercial. Don’t put your home or family at risk – call today.
