Build Safety into Your Renovation Plans
Whether you're doing major repairs or just replacing fixtures, be sure to build safety into your plans.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)
A common renovation project, especially in older homes, is the bathroom. If you're planning bathroom repairs, this is the perfect opportunity to replace existing electrical outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). GFCIs check the flow of electric current to and from appliances. If something is wrong, the GFCI will quickly cut the power to prevent serious shock and injury.
Use GFCIs in areas where there's a risk of water coming into contact with electricity. As well as in bathrooms, they should be installed in place of standard outdoor outlets used to operate electric lawn mowers and other electric gardening equipment.
Switches and outlets
If your renovation plans call for removing plate covers from light switches and outlets, be sure to turn off the power to these areas to eliminate the danger of a screwdriver or other tools coming into contact with live wires.
This is also a good time to check out faulty outlets. If plugs fit loosely or fall out of outlets easily, wires can overheat and create a fire hazard. Have an electrician repair faulty wall outlets.
Lights
Light bulbs and fixtures can also pose a hazard.
An oversized bulb, or one of too high a wattage for the fixture, can cause a fire if it overheats the fixture. Replace the bulb with the correct wattage bulb. Look on the box or on the socket to see if the wattage is listed. CFLs have 1/4 of the wattage of an incandescent, so there is little to no risk of overloading the fixture.
Check all light bulbs to ensure they are not broken or cracked. Exposed electrical conductive parts can cause a shock. When replacing a broken bulb, unplug the fixture or turn off the power. If you don't have a new bulb, use one that is burned out. Avoid leaving the socket empty.
Another potential hazard is material that is touching or is too close to a hot light bulb. If fabric or material on the fixture covering or shade is scorched or burned, replace the covering or shade with one of a larger size.
