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Show Currently i Speaking Moon Lake Electric Asso. Inc. HOME ELECTRICAL SAFETY TOUR This time our tour takes us into the kitchen. Even if your family cooks with gas, your chances of receiving an electrical shock in the kitchen are about the same as if you owned an electric stove. That's because the greatest electrical hazards in the kitchen stem from the smallest electrical elec-trical applicances. Most people underestimate the toaster's ability to produce a jolt or are more concerned about getting a piece of toast unstuck when they insert a knife or fork into a plugged in toaster. Any metal utensil makes an excellent conductor of electricity and the current which flows through a toaster's heating elements is enough to electrocute. The rule to remember: Always unplug your toaster before inserting anything that you don't want toasted. Keep other small appliance cords away from the sink and wet spots on the counter. Clean them with care, making sure that electrical components are never immersed in water. And move any heat-producing appliances that may come in contact with curtains or hanging towels. Do your house lights dim when your refrigerator "kicks on"? Does your toaster fail to heat properly, even when set on its highest level? Do you plug three or four kitchen appliances into a single outlet because no other outlets are nearby? Are you forced to use three-prong "adapters" in two-prong outlets? While these kitchen-related electrical problems may seem like only minor inconveniences, they actually are signs of a more serious overall problem-inadequate problem-inadequate electrical wiring within the walls of your home. The fact is, most people use six times more electricity today that they did twenty years ago, yet many have not updated their home's electrical system to safely allow for this increased usage. That's why more than one in every ten house fires are caused by faulty electrical wiring. If your home needs electrical updating, up-dating, call in a qualified electrician to do the work soon. Think of it as a wise investment which is bound to increase the value of your home and cost you less than a serious fire would. |