News

At Rich Mountain Electric, safety is our top priority, every minute of every day. We care about your family’s safety at home, too. Each May we celebrate National Electrical Safety Month, but safety is something that should be practiced every day. Please remember these simple, practical steps to ensure your home is safe year-round:

• Overloaded outlets can cause fire hazards. Use smart power strips or hire a licensed electrician to install additional outlets.
• Never use electric devices or appliances near water or other liquids. This can cause electric shock, resulting in potential life-threatening injuries.
• Test smoke alarm batteries each month, and replace as needed.
• Don’t place flammable cloth items, like dish towels or potholders, near the stove while cooking.
• Inspect extension cords for damage before each use. Check for cracked sockets, bare wires and loose connections. Never use indoor extension cords outdoors.
• Keep electrical cords hidden from pets. Never let pets chew on electrical cords, which could cause electrical shock or fire hazards.
• Make sure your electrical outlets are up to code. If you must replace any old outlets, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and tamper resistant receptacles (TRRs) increase the safety of your home.
• If you have young children in your home, use safety covers on unused outlets. • Clean out your dryer duct to improve efficiency and prevent fire hazards.
• If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), check with your local cooperative to ensure your home can handle your charging needs.
• Check your electric panel to make sure breakers and fuses are properly labeled and rated for the circuits they are protecting. When replacing a fuse, use the same size.
• Do not replace light bulbs with higher wattage than recommended.