Key takeaways:
Electricity demand increases across Atlanta households in January.
An electrical safety inspection gives you peace of mind that your home can handle Atlanta’s winter conditions.
Kalahari Electrical Services does a 12-point inspection to guarantee your electrical system is safe and functional.
January can be a risky month, especially in Atlanta. With overnight lows dropping below freezing, everyone’s using their heating devices more than normal. This extra demand means your electrical systems need an inspection to make sure they’re fit for winter.
Unnoticed issues with your power supply can cause some serious damage to your home and family, so it’s important to know whether it can handle an Atlanta winter. Kalahari Electrical Services aims to prevent safety concerns, so here is your January electrical safety checklist.
1. Check Your Electrical Panel
Your panel or breaker box is your electrical system’s heartbeat. If it’s not in good shape, you won’t be able to power anything safely.
If your electrical panel shows any of these red flags, you should call Kalahari Electrical Services for a panel change:
Your breakers always trip. A breaker that constantly trips often means it’s trying to distribute more electricity than it can handle.
Visible damage. If your panel has rust, burn marks, cracks, or other signs of wear, it may be time for a replacement.
Loose connections. Loose circuit breakers can cause sparks and overheating, which should be repaired asap.
2. Inspect Your Outlets
This is one of the most often overlooked tasks on an electrical safety checklist, but your outlets can give you an idea of the state of your entire electrical system.
Keep an eye out for any outlets that:
Feel warm to the touch. Your outlets should feel cool. If they’re not, it could indicate a panel overload or faulty wiring.
Have discoloration. Spots that look dark yellow, brown, or burnt mean the switch is overheating and causing the plastic to burn.
Make buzzing noises. When the wiring is loose, the electricity flow can make them vibrate, producing a buzzing or humming noise.
Are falling out of the wall. Loose outlets can expose live wires, which is a major electrocution risk.
3. Test Your Smoke and CO Detector
Test your smoke and CO detector by pressing and holding the test/hush button for about four seconds. If the alarm goes off, you’re good to go. If the alarm doesn’t sound, you may need to replace the battery or the device itself.
Replace your smoke and CO detector batteries at least every six months to a year, or immediately after the devices indicate that the batteries are low.
4. Check Your Backup Power
Testing your generator is a crucial part of your electrical safety checklist. Here’s the best way to do it:
Turn the power off at the main breaker to simulate a power outage.
Wait a few seconds and confirm that the generator kicks in as it should.
Check that all of the appliances you’d normally use during an outage are on.
Listen for any odd noises and check for any error messages.
Turn the main breaker back on once completed.
5. Avoid Overloading Circuits
Winter often places added strain on residential electrical systems by causing homeowners to use their HVAC systems, space heaters, and electric blankets almost all day, every day.
To reduce the risk of overloading your circuits, make sure not to plug too many devices into one outlet, and distribute high-wattage devices across several outlets (20A outlets are best for heavy-load devices like space heaters).
6. Test Your GFCI and AFCI Outlets
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) protect your home from fire hazards, and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) protect against shock hazards. Here’s how to check them:
Use the built-in “test” and “reset” buttons, and confirm that they respond as expected.
If your outlets fail to trip or reset, it might indicate internal wiring issues or a failure that requires professional attention.
7. Inspect Your Electrical Enclosures
Check your electrical enclosures (like panel covers and junction boxes) and make sure they aren’t loose, cracked, or exposing the electrical components. Atlanta’s freezing temperatures can damage your outdoor fixtures, so make sure they’re still weatherproof.
Let Kalahari Electrical Services Check Everything For You
Running a safety checklist is necessary for every homeowner, but it can be time-consuming and tedious. A licensed and responsive electrician from Kalahari Electrical Services can do it all for you.
We run a thorough 12-point inspection process that leaves nothing to chance, so you can cozy up in front of your space heater knowing your home’s electrical system is running smoothly.
When only the BEST will do, call 678-665-2309 to schedule an appointment today.
FAQ
If they’re corroded, trip often, or have loose circuits, it’s time for an upgrade.
They’re good for essential devices like lights and a few appliances, but they won’t be able to power your entire home during an outage.
Yes, temporarily. Heavy-duty extension cords can handle short-term use, but using them consistently long-term can cause overheating.
