The Top 8 Household Electricity Myths

Here are some of the most common household electricity myths:

Low-voltage Shocks are Not Dangerous

Often parents will childproof their electrical outlets as they know that their child could be shocked from playing with the outlet. Thinking that low voltage items, such as batteries, are not dangerous or will cause shocks is dangerous itself. The amperage of an electrical item is more to worry about as this measures the electrical current. Most times though being careful around any electrical system or appliance regardless of its voltage levels is key. 

Rubber Objects are Well Insulated Against Electricity

Thinking that wearing rubber shoes and gloves when performing at home electrical jobs will protect against electrical shock is not recommended. It does help but it will not prevent the chance of an electrical accident. Doing risky electrical work while untrained means the chance of an electrical accident increases. Also, rubber gloves and shoes are not fully made of pure rubber which means it is not as resistant as they could be. 

Power Lines are Always Insulated

Power lines are not always covered by insulation and even for the ones that are covered they should never be touched. Most cables for electrical appliances do have insulation over them, either rubber or plastic, but it is not heavily insulated. Power lines will not always be covered up so being careful around them and not touching the wires are important. 

Flowing Electricity and Static Electricity are Different

The main difference between the two is that flowing electricity constantly flows and static electricity is instantaneously equalised. When an appliance is plugged into an outlet the current will continue to be constant until the appliance is unplugged.

Only Old Wiring Will Go Bad

Thinking that only old wiring within homes is not a good idea as even newly installed wiring after being installed can still experience problems. Electrical wires of a home need to be properly maintained and also installed correctly for them to function well for longer. If they are poorly installed or maintained then they will deteriorate and break more easily. Older wiring has a higher chance of being damaged but neglecting newer cabling systems is not a good idea.

Flipping the Circuit Breaker Might Reset it

When wanting to reset the circuit breaker turning it off and on is important but being firm in the job is needed. Ensure to press the handle firmly and into the off position and then the same back into the on position when needing to reset the breaker. Instead of just flipping the breaker, having more of a grip is needed.

Circuit Breaker Tripping is Always a Bad Thing

Tripping the circuit breaker accidentally often occurs in homes but thinking that it is always bad is not true. Having the circuit breaker not trip over doing it is preferred but when it does trip it is only doing its job in shutting off electrical supply to the specific circuit. When the circuit breaker trips it does not always result in damage to the circuit but prevents electrical overloading. 

Electrical Inspections are Not Needed for Homes

Thinking that electrical safety inspections are only for commercial and industrial purposes is not correct. Electrical safety inspections are recommended for all types of places with electrical systems present including residential. Homes should have an electrical inspection once a year for an electrician to inspect all the electrical components. This is to ensure that all systems are working correctly and for any problems to be found and repaired.