Back to School: Are your outlets ready?
The kids are going back to school and as parents, we want to help our kids be as successful as possible. One way we can help them that you may not have thought of is by making sure the outlets in the house are safe and functional. Generally, the outlets in our homes work tirelessly to bring us power and we hardly think of them at all—until there’s a problem. When the blow dryer or the clothes dryer stops working or your power cords spark and pop when they’re being unplugged or plugged in, or when there aren’t enough outlets for all the electronics, life gets pretty difficult pretty quickly
Did you know that the solution to many of these problems is actually pretty easy? Easy enough that you can do it yourself? Replacing an outlet requires only a few basic tools and is explained in detail in the video above. So, to determine if the trouble with your outlet can be fixed with a simple upgrade or replacement, keep reading to hear about misbehaving outlets and what can be done to fix them. Whether the outlet is jiggly, wiggly, or otherwise misbehaving, it might be time to put your outlet in a permanent time-out.
Loose Outlet
Some people solve the problem of a loose outlet by bending the prongs of their plugs out so they will stay in. This is dangerous! If you're plugging cords into outlets and they’re falling out on their own, it means the pins in your outlet that are supposed to hold the plug are loose. And loose pins mean that there is space between the prongs of the plug and the actual pins. This space could cause arcing and heat, which is a fire hazard. These outlets should be replaced! Considering a standard outlet isn’t very expensive, it's well worth it to take care of the problem and update your jiggly, wiggly outlet.
Limited Functionality
When it comes to charging all the devices in the home, a great upgrade idea is a USB outlet. These outlets are perfect for areas where devices are frequently charged during the day, or where devices are docked at night. Upgrading a standard outlet to a USB outlet is also relatively easy and something the motivated DIY-er can do herself. Not to mention it’s also something every kid in the house will appreciate!
Overloaded Outlets
Outlet can’t take what you have to give it? Are your breakers tripping because you're overloading your outlets? With all the devices and electronics the standard household relies on every day, our outlets need to have the functionality to match. Because extension cords should not be used in any permanent application and because overloading outlets with too many cords is a fire hazard, updating your outlets is a great back-to-school idea to keep everyone in your house fully charged and fully functional. However, sometimes these upgrades require more electrical work than just a new outlet. You may need to upgrade your fuses or your panel as well, which requires the help of a licensed electrician.
Aug 9th 2017
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