Winter Storm Ahead – Advice For Electrical Safety

Passing along a note I received from Ting. If you’re not familiar with Ting it helps protect your home from electrical fires by detecting dangerous electrical arcing through continuous analysis of over 30 million electrical signals per second. Please note… I’ve got no affiliation with them, other than I’m a customer.

With the winter storm expected this weekend, now’s a good time to take a few simple steps to prepare your home for electrical safety. During freezing conditions, homes face added risk from heating equipment and frozen pipes.

Before the storm

• If you have portable devices or backup batteries, make sure they’re charged.

• Secure or unplug sensitive electronics if you expect power fluctuations.

If the power goes out

• Use flashlights instead of candles to reduce fire risk.

• Never use a gas stove, oven, or grill to heat your home. These can create dangerous fire and carbon monoxide hazards.

• Keep generators outdoors and far from windows or doors.

Extra risks to keep in mind during cold weather

• Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet, not extension cords or power strips. Keep them away from anything that can burn, and turn them off when you leave the room or sleep.

• You will receive an alert if Ting detects that your home is at risk of frozen pipes. This blog post includes step-by-step guidance to help prevent water damage during cold-weather power outages.

• Trust your senses. Flickering lights, frequently tripping breakers, or electrical odors can indicate an electrical hazard. If you have questions, please contact us.