Winter is on its way! To most people in New England, that means a few things; make sure you take out your shovels, the sleds are ready to go and to stock the house with a lot of hot chocolate. Those are important, but they are a little more fun than functional. There are some electrical items that you should check in your home. By checking electrical equipment in your home before the winter comes you can avoid potential emergencies, lower energy bills and be prepared for power outages or being snowed in for an extended period of time. Here are some electrical safety tips for the upcoming winter:

• Have your Heating System Inspected– Annual Inspections should include a filter change, lubrication, cleaning, clearing vents out, check the belts and thermostats. By having your home heating system inspected by a professional, you can prevent having a higher energy bill for reasons like; your heating system is over working itself because the vent hasn’t been cleaned out.
• Caulk or Cover all Holes & Cracks– Holes & cracks in the foundation of your home, leading outside create a way for air to escape and enter. This can increase your energy bill, because while you’re heating system is pumping out hot air, which may be escaping through unsealed cracks & holes. That causes your heating system to work twice as hard to heat a room. By caulking these holes, you seal off your home from having hot air escape or cold air enter.
• Keep Portable Heaters at a Distance– Portable heaters are a great device for keeping one area of your home hotter than the rest, however these devices can be dangerous if not handled properly. Keep any flammable material (clothes, bedding, furniture, papers, etc.) at least three feet away from the portable heater. These heaters are extremely hot and can easily cause a fire if put too close to flammable material.
• Use Standby Generators Safely-Standby Generators are great to have in your home and can be a huge help if your home loses power. It is extremely important to make sure you have an installed safety switch.  This protects the workers who are fixing the power lines by not allowing a back feed of energy to power lines, which prevents a very dangerous situation.

By following these electrical safety tips for this winter you can avoid high energy bills, potential accidents and endangering the lives of others. If you have any questions about these electrical safety tips or would like information about our electrical services, please contact us at (781) 246-7700.