Tips For Kitchen Electrical Safety

The kitchen is often regarded as one of the busiest places in the home. This is because the kitchen stores drinkable water prepares food, and keeps small and large kitchen appliances such as the toaster, microwave, refrigerator, etc.

However, the kitchen being the busiest place in the house means it can be a prime location for all kinds of accidents, such as electrical hazards. Therefore, it is important now more than ever that you are aware of all accidents that can happen in your kitchen. And most importantly, how you can prevent those accidents from ever happening.

Among all the accidents that can happen in the kitchen, the most common – and perhaps the deadliest is an electrical accident. According to Google, electrical malfunctions in the kitchen remains one of the leading cause of death and injury in the home. Also, electrical accidents in the kitchen are regarded as one of the common causes of fires in homes.

Therefore, to protect yourself and your entire family from all kinds of electrical accidents in the kitchen, we have diligently compiled some helpful tips for kitchen electrical safety.

So, read on to find out.

Unplug Appliances When Not in Use

When you are not using an appliance in the kitchen, endeavor to turn it off. Aside from the fact that it would reduce the risk of experiencing electrical accidents, you will be saving money on your energy bill. When not in use, Kitchen appliances such as the oven, coffee maker, electric kettles, blenders, burners, etc., should be tuned off. In addition to this, try to install CFCI outlets instead of the regular ones in your kitchen and the entire home. This is because appliances plugged inside a non-GFCI outlet could electrocute you if exposed to water.

Plug In One Appliance Per Outlet

One common mistake many people often make is unconsciously overloading their circuit. How can you overload your outlet? You can do that by plugging in more than one appliance in a single outlet. When you do this, this often overloads the circuit breaker or the outlet, thus leading to electrical accidents or destruction of the circuit breaker/outlet.

If you notice that you don’t have enough outlets in your home, you don’t have to risk it. Instead, contact a trusted electrician to come and install more outlets at your place.

Ensure That You Don’t Leave Electrical Appliances Unattended To.

As a homeowner, if you have kids, this is an important tip that you need to note down. Once you have an appliance running, the best thing you can do is keep your children out of the kitchen. I mean, we all know how careless little children are. They can decide to play with running appliances, sharp objects, etc., which could injure them or someone else.

Therefore, it is important that if you are using an electrical appliance in the kitchen, you keep your kids away from the kitchen.

Always Check The Working Condition Of Your Plugs and Sockets

Another tip for kitchen electrical safety is to periodically check the condition of the plugs in the kitchen and the sockets. This is because defective wires and cables can electrocute someone if you or anyone touches them with their bare hand. It gets even worse if the burnt or frayed wire is placed underwater. It could cause electrical shock, which may, in turn, lead to death or severe injuries.

If you suspect that you have a defective wire, don’t wait till it causes an accident before you call a trusted electrician to come and check where the problems are. And then have it fixed immediately.

Refrain From Using Oversized Bulbs in The Kitchen

Here is another thing you may not know. Putting oversized bulbs in your kitchen can also cause electrical accidents!

You wondering why. Well, when you place a large bulb in your kitchen, it will not only draw a large amount of energy, but it could also cause the light bulb and the wiring to overheat and burn. And when this happens, the burning wires can spread the fire to other sensitive places, causing a full-blown electrical accident.

Here, in essence, your kitchen needs lighting. It necessarily doesn’t have to be a huge one.

In The Case of a Fire Emergency, do Not Attempt to Put Out The Fire With Water

If, unfortunately, you have an electrical fire in your kitchen. Under no circumstances should you pour ordinary water into the fire. You should unplug the appliance that causes the fire first. Then use a blanket or thick fabric to smother the flames. And if all these prove abortive, use your fire extinguisher to put the fire out.

Note, while doing this, do not panic! Because if you do, you may end up ruining everything.

Conclusion

Do you have any questions regarding kitchen electrical safety tips? If you do, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with professionals at CNA Electric!

Also, if you need a trusted electrician to come and perform all kinds of electrical services at your home, such as accessing your home electrical system, and fixing new and modernized electrical appliances, then don’t hesitate to contact us!