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Home Electrical Safety Checklist

June 21, 2022 | Blog

Summer Safety’s Moment In The Sun

We’re in National Safety month, which mean’s summer is almost officially here! The Summer Solstice is on June 21st, so let’s use the day we get more sunshine than any other to put a few things into perspective.

It’s hard to imagine something can get hotter than the sun. That big ball of gas burning 95.4 million miles away in space is a scorching 9,941°F on the surface! That’s hotter than practically everything on Earth.

Hot lava? Only 2,200°F.
A white-hot flame ? 2700°F.
A Blue one? 3000°F.

But notice how we said “practically everything”?

That’s because an Automatic Circuit Recloser (ACR) flash — also known as a common electrical fire — is 35,000°F. That’s the hottest temperature found on earth! So that means every home — even yours — has the potential to burn three and a half times hotter than the sun!

NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH CHECKLIST

We’re not trying to alarm you, but as Chicago’s old home electrical experts since 2008, we at Arnold Electrical Services want to make sure every home in the city is taking the appropriate steps to stay safe with this simple checklist:

1. SPEEDY MAINTENANCE

When a heating, cooling or plumbing issue arises, you’re forced to make repairs immediately. After all, nobody wants to be cold in the winter, hot in the summer, or deal with a leaky pipe. So how come when electrical outlets stop working, people tend to just… work around them? While it’s easy to plug that cord into a different outlet, it really is a problem that should be treated as seriously as any other breakdown.

2. YEARLY CHECKUPS

Not everybody likes going to the doctor, but it’s still something we should all do every year – and your home is no different! A best practice is to have a licensed electrical professional do a routine check once every 12 months to make sure there aren’t any underlying issues that may turn into big ones later.

3. STAY IN SHAPE

Have you seen the little button that says “TEST” on some electrical outlets? They are usually on GFCI outlets in restrooms or on a power source near water. Get into the habit of testing those at least once a year to make sure it breaks and resets the connection.

We recommend doing it at the same time as another annual task, like switching your clocks for Daylight Savings Time. You should also be sure your smoke detectors are on and operating in case of an electrical fire when you’re not around. Remember: three and a half times hotter than the sun!

4. BRING IN THE PROS!

When it comes to old homes, not only is the proper electrical maintenance important. The proper people doing the maintenance is also important! Not all electrical contractors have an expertise in older electrical systems.

So while it may be more convenient to get a general handyman or someone off an app to replace that ceiling fan or swap an outlet, it’s important to bring in a licensed electrician who knows the ins and outs of your old home’s electrical system so you can trust they won’t leave any underlying issues that will sneak up on you in the future.

Why Contact Arnold Electrical for an Electrical Safety Inspection?

At Arnold Electrical, all of our technicians and electricians are OSHA 10 certified and our field managers are OSHA 30 certified, allowing us to give all of our clients our “Safe Worker Guarantee.”

That guarantee means staying up to code is always our standard. There are lots of jobs in your home that won’t require an electrical permit, but at Arnold Electrical we guarantee to treat every project like it does. Top-quality maintenance alongside top-quality service. That’s what you can expect from Arnold!

Why Choose Arnold Electrical?

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Reliable Service
We believe in providing premium electrical services, all backed by our 5 year parts and labor warranty
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Upfront Flat Rate Pricing
Emergency calls and regular service calls are performed on a flat rate. No surprises!
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Quality Products
Safety is our mission. We only purchase the highest quality materials from trusted suppliers.

What Our Clients Say

Quick To Respond

Jeff M. and Derek H. were amazing! If ever you need any type of electrical work done in your home this is the company you can trust. Their knowledge and work shows how dedicated they are to getting the job done the right way. They really know their stuff and it shows! Not only are they quick to respond but they will get the job done the right way and it is backed by their guarantee. I am amazed! Thank you Arnold Electrical! 🙂

Lizette F.

Realtor Approved

The staff at Arnold Electric Service were on time for our appointment to assess the electrical needs of my client’s condominium and were very professional and thorough in doing so. Most appreciated was the fact that their staff electrician was absolutely honest with me about his ability to provide further services. I will most definitely refer this wonderful company to those needing their services going forward

Jane C.

Simply the Best

They are the best.

Tunya K.

Would Definitely Recommend This Company

First time using Arnold. Derek arrived early (after confirming it was ok) and was very professional. He fixed the problem and offered some recommendations. I appreciated that he wore a mask. Would definitely recommend this company.

Colleen M.

Easy To Work With

The staff is fantastic they have an attitude of “we can do that” “we can get it done”. The coordinator Mary is superb she is knowledgeable, a great listener, she is a winner, easy to work with. AES is one Chicago’s best businesses. A loyal customer

Cal W.

Courteous and Knowledgeable

The techs were on time, courteous and knowledgeable. They explained the issues they saw and recommended several pricing options. We plan on using this company again.

Stephen B.

Reliable & Professional

This company was great to work with. They arrived on time and worked tirelessly to get the job done ahead of schedule. We would highly recommend their service to anyone in need of electrical work.

Kristen N.