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Vacation Electrical Safety

Electrical safety takes no vacation

When heading out on vacation, you probably already have a long list of things to remember to do. To make sure your trip and home are safer, you might want to add a few items around electrical safety. NAME OF CO-OP has a list of safety tips for you to keep in mind.

Mix up your lighting

You might think you’re fooling burglars if you leave a light or two on for your vacation. But bulbs can get very hot or make the fixture hot when left on for extended periods, creating a potential hazard.

To keep some lights on, use a motion-sensing outdoor lighting system and programmable timers for inside lights. Today’s timers usually have settings, including a randomized setting, which creates the illusion that different rooms are in use at various times.

Unplug to be more secure

Unplugging all appliances and electronics that aren’t necessary while you’re gone can help secure your electrical system. This can help reduce the chances of an electrical fire and prevent potential disasters in case of power surges or lightning strikes. You might unplug items like coffee makers, toasters, televisions, and home entertainment systems.

Check your temporary home

You shouldn’t let your guard down because you’re away from home. Keep your eyes open for electrical hazards when staying at a hotel, condo, or short-term rental. When you check in, look for overloaded outlets, extension cords in use, outlets that get too hot, and the smell of overheated wires. Exercise caution when you find issues. If they’re too dangerous to handle yourself, let management know immediately. If they don’t fix the situation or refund your deposit, go somewhere else and report them to authorities.

Stay in the car

It can be very frightening to strike a utility pole. That’s especially true when you’re already in an unfamiliar place. Always stay in the car if you hit a utility pole. Power lines can fall and still be energized. If they fall on or near your vehicle, you can easily be electrocuted if you don’t stay in the car. Let others know to stay back as well. Stay in the vehicle until an electric utility responder lets you know it’s safe to exit. If you encounter an accident involving power lines, call 911 and warn those involved of the dangers.

Five quick tips for when you’re going away

Taking some quick actions before you leave can help ensure your home remains safe while you’re away on vacation.

  • Examine all cords for kinks, frays, or cracks, such as those on extension cords, holiday lights, or appliances.
  • Don’t keep the lights on the whole time to fool burglars. Consider getting a timer that can adjust the lights by adhering to an on/off schedule.
  • Unplug anything that doesn’t need to be kept on during vacation. By keeping most appliances unplugged, there’s less chance of coming home to a power surge or electrical fire.
  • Keep the trees near the power line running into your home and where it reaches the house trimmed. Call a professional tree trimmer if you or the branch you are trimming must get within 10 feet of a power line.
  • Don’t turn off your HVAC system. Set the thermostat to 55 F during the winter to prevent the pipes from freezing. Setting it to 85 F during the summer will prevent excessive heat from building up the home while saving significant energy.

Sources: Miami Electric Wizards; Indiana Connection