Making Homes Safe

Use the following information to help make your home more electrically safe. Not following these recommendations could lead to

An electrical shock
Overheating or
A fire
At Groton Electric Light, we believe that nothing is more important than your safety.

Cords

Make sure cords are out of traffic areas and that furniture is not resting on them. In addition make sure cords are

In good condition
Not frayed or cracked and
Never nailed or stapled

Plugs

Plugs should

Fit securely
Never be forced into an outlet if they don’t fit and
Be the proper type
Never cut off the ground pin (the third prong) from a plug. Use a two-prong adapter instead.

Outlets

Check outlets for

Loose-fitting plugs
Broken wall plates and
Overloaded situations
Make sure there are safety covers on all unused outlets that are accessible to children.

Light bulbs

Check bulbs to be sure they are

Screwed in securely and
The correct wattage for the fixture.
Replace bulbs that have higher wattage than recommended.

Circuit breakers / fuses

Circuit breakers and fuses should always be the correct size for the circuit. Never replace a fuse with anything but the correct size fuse. If you don’t know the correct size fuse, have an electrician identify and label the sizes to be used.

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)

GFCIs (or GFIs) should be used in any area where water and electricity may come into contact. Test GFCIs regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.