Safety Tips

Home Improvement and Safety Tips

• Childproof your home by installing plastic protective caps in outlets.
• When bathing your child, make sure ALL nearby appliances are unplugged.
• Replace all frayed or cracked electric cords.
• Keep cords out of little children's reach.
• Keep flammable items away from light bulbs, heaters, or toasters.
• Turn off appliances before you leave home.
• Install smoke detectors, keep a fire extinguisher on hand and have a family fire escape plan.
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are designed to shut off power to prevent serious injury. Use them in bathrooms, garages, near kitchen sinks, outdoors, and other wet areas.
• An overloaded outlet is a fire hazard. If your outlets are overloaded, consider having a qualified electrical contractor install additional outlets or circuits.
• Extension cords are for temporary use. Never put them under rugs. They can become frayed or cracked without you being able to see the damage.

Energy Savers

• Clean your light fixtures and bulbs regularly. Dust, grease, and dirt can reduce light output by as much as 30 percent.
• Replace old-fashioned incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use about 25 percent of the energy to emit the same amount of light. They come in a variety of sizes for a variety of uses inside and outside your home.
• Install timers, sensors, photocells, or dimmer switches. These devices help you control how much energy you use.