The kitchen is often regarded as the heart of the home due to the amount of time owners, guests, and family members spend in the space. While kitchens are often a popular gathering place, they can become extremely busy and potentially hazardous in terms of electrical safety if proper precautions are not taken. As a leading provider of complete residential electrical services, the team at Blue Crest Electric knows how important electrical safety is for high-traffic areas like kitchens. That is why we have compiled a list of kitchen electrical safety tips to help you minimize the risk of hazards and keep the heart of your home safe.
3 Tips to Minimize the Risk of Kitchen Electrical Hazards
Kitchens can quickly become messy and crowded due to the amount of traffic and activity that occurs in them throughout the day. To keep your kitchen safe while reducing the risk of electrical hazards, consider the following tips:
1. Maintain a Dry and Clean Kitchen
Preparing ingredients, cooking meals, and cleaning dishes can result in excess food waste and moisture on countertops and near outlets. All food waste and moisture should be kept away from outlets as they can cause an electrical shock or damage to appliances if they enter an outlet. To minimize the chances of this occurring, consider inserting a cover into any outlet that is rarely or never used. These covers will protect each outlet from accidental splashes, spills, or food waste, keeping them in pristine condition while minimizing the risk of shock or damage to connected appliances.
2. Keep Cables Away from Heat
When cooking meals, space can quickly disappear in your kitchen. When this happens, you may end up using an appliance close to your stovetop and exposing the power cord to extreme heat. If power cords are damaged by heat or start to melt, this can result in an electrical fire or electrocution when plugging the appliance in. All power cables must be kept away from extreme heat to ensure that the protective layer on them stays in optimal condition. It is also a good idea to ensure that there is enough room behind your freezer or refrigerator for proper air circulation. If there is not enough room, it can become exceedingly hot behind these units and cause damage to their power cords.
3. Do Not Overload Your Outlets
To ensure optimal safety, only one appliance should be plugged into each outlet. This is especially true for refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, and ovens, as they all require a large amount of power to run. Plugging another appliance into an occupied outlet can lead to a tripped breaker while potentially causing permanent damage to your appliances. If your current outlet layout or amount does not work for your needs, it may be time to hire a professional electrician to install new outlets.
To learn more about kitchen electrical safety or to inquire about our residential electrical services, get in touch with the team at Blue Crest Electric. We can be reached through our online contact form and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our services.