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Moving into a new house is an exciting experience. From unpacking boxes to decorating, there’s a lot to do. During this busy time, don’t overlook a vital aspect of your new home: its electrical system.

Knowing your breaker box means understanding its parts, like the main breaker for the whole house, individual switches for circuit breakers and their functions.

• Familiarize yourself with your electrical panel and label each breaker and panel by appliance or room.
• Test how to reset a tripped breaker. Watch a how-to video online.
• Find the main shut-off switch in case of an emergency.

Call a professional if you notice these signs of an electrical problem:

• Frequently blown fuses, tripped circuit breakers and unexplained power outages.
• A tingling feeling when touching an appliance.
• Discolored or warm outlets or switch plates.
• A burning or rubbery smell or a buzzing or sizzling sound.
• Flickering or dimming lights.
• Sparks from an outlet.

As you settle in, keep electrical safety on your new-home checklist. Pair these habits with energy-smart steps like turning off lights and unplugging unused devices, and you’ll reduce risk while lowering your electric bill.

The little choices you make every day add up to a safer, more efficient household.

For more safety tips, visit safeelectricity.org.