Property maintenance: Electrical systems maintenance tips

You may have heard this joke before but it always makes us chuckle:

Q: What do you call an electrician who tries to be a carpenter?

A: A lousy carpenter

Q: What do you call a carpenter who tries to be an electrician?

A: A dead carpenter…

On a serious note, even though we cover a variety of property maintenance services at Express Property Services, we always make sure that we use certified professionals to cover each area.  However, we are aware that our time on site costs you money so here are a few areas you can add to your checklist to keep your electrical systems working better;

• Plugs: Make sure your plugs fit your outlets. Never remove the ground pin (the third prong) to make a three-prong fit a two-conductor outlet; this could lead to an electrical shock. NEVER FORCE A PLUG INTO AN OUTLET IF IT DOESN’T FIT. Plugs should fit securely into outlets. Avoid overloading outlets with too many appliances.
• Light Bulbs: Check the wattage of all bulbs in light fixtures to make sure they are the correct wattage for the size of the fixture. Replace bulbs that have higher wattage than recommended; if you don’t know the correct wattage, check with the manufacturer of the fixture. Make sure bulbs are screwed in securely; loose bulbs may overheat.
• Outlets: Check for outlets that have loose-fitting plugs, which can overheat and lead to fire. Replace any missing or broken wall plates. Make sure there are safety covers on all unused outlets that are accessible to children.
• Cords: Make sure cords are in good condition—not frayed or cracked. Make sure they are placed out of traffic areas. Cords should never be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard or to another object. Do not place cords under carpets or rugs or rest any furniture on them.
• Extension Cords: Check to see that cords are not overloaded. Additionally, extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis; they are not intended as permanent household wiring.
• Appliances: If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker or if it has given you a shock, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced.
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs): GFCIs can help prevent electrocution. They should be used in any area where water and electricity may come into contact. When a GFCI senses current leakage in an electrical circuit, it assumes a ground fault has occurred. It then interrupts power fast enough to help prevent serious injury from electrical shock. Test GFCIs according to the manufacturer’s instructions monthly and after major electrical storms to make sure they are working properly.
• Circuit Breakers/Fuses: Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their circuit. If you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used. Always replace a fuse with the correctly specified size fuse.
• PAT Testing: Although the law does not specifically state how often PAT Testing should be performed, it is reasonable to at least do an observational check yearly. This will include checking and testing for frayed wires, the casing around the appliance appearing to be damaged or coming undone, as well as plugs that appear to be cracked or damaged. From there, the PAT Testing professional will be able to recommend the next course of action, repair the appliance if possible, or provide guidance on the next steps for the ensuring all appliances are safe.

We hope this has given you some ideas in terms of your property maintenance checklist. If you would our assistant in a maintenance survey and plan do get in touch.

Categorised in: Electrical Maintenance, Property maintenance

This post was written by Express Property Services