HOME MAINTENANCE: 10 Home Repairs That Can Lead To Electrocution

On May 4, 2011, in electricity, by admin

Doing home repairs can save you money when they are done correctly and safely. Fixing a hole in a wall or the roof can be very important, but they don’t carry the same risk as dealing with electricity, and the consequences when done wrong. Electrical current can lead to serious injury if you don’t follow practical ways of respecting the danger involved. Being aware of the risks, and what you need to do to avoid them, is the key to doing electrical repairs safely. The following are ten suggestions for ways that can prevent electrocution when attempting certain home repairs.

1. Water and Electricity don’t mix. When repairing wiring or outlets, or even an electrical appliance, prevent any contact with water while it is connected to electrical current. If there is electricity running through the wires, it can result in an electrical shock or worse.
2. Don’t check outlets with metal tools. Never stick a screw driver or any metal objects into a broken outlet to try and remove some fragment. If you are holding metal and the electricity is on, you are risking severe electrical injury.
3. Fixing A Toaster. It might seem like an easy solution when something is stuck in your toaster to remove it with a fork or knife. This can be a dangerous task, if you don’t take the time to unplug the toaster from the outlet first. If you make the wrong connection with the wires, then you can end up getting electrocuted.
4. Television Repairs. Removing the back on your television and probing around the insides, especially when it is turned on can lead to a lethal consequence. Although this isn’t as common a problem as it once was, that is one more type of home repair to avoid, unless you are trained in this area.
5. Computer Repair. This is a very common repair situation for most of us.  There are times when you may feel you can do some minor repair without taking your computer to a technician. The biggest risk comes when we fail to make sure it is unplugged before opening the cover. It doesn’t take much for us to get voltage if the computer is connected to electrical current.
6. Electrical Outlets. Failing to make sure the power is off to a given circuit when trying to repair an outlet can lead to potential electrocution. Touching wires without checking them first is another potentially dangerous action.
7. Replacing Light Bulbs. This is so simple we just never give it much thought. But if you are not careful when handling a socket without a light bulb you can easily make contact with electricity if the lamp is plugged in or the power to the light fixture isn’t turned off.
8. Replacing Circuit Breakers. Trying to repair a fuse box or circuit breaker may seem easy enough to do, but it can be a real life threatening problem if you don’t make sure the main power is off first.
9. Power Tools. Trying to repair an electric drill or power saw while it is plugged in can be very risky. If you manage to connect with some current through a bare wire, you can be endangering your well being.
10. Replacing Ceiling Vans. Any time you must connect the wires of a fan to home electrical wires, you can face a risk of electrocution. Always make sure the power is off. Not realizing which wire has current in it can lead to serious injury.

There are books you can use to help with electrical repairs. You should never attempt these kinds of repairs if are not fully aware of the safety rules involved. It is better to get the assistance of a professional, than to risk electrocution.