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If you notice voltage problems at your home, switch off
your power at the main breaker on your service panel and immediately call
Farmers’ Electric. We will get there as quickly as we can and check our side and
make repairs if necessary.
1-800-445-8541
Test GFCI Every Month
The Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry
room, garage, and outside can save your life by cutting off the power if you
drop an appliance in the water. Make sure they’re working – even if you’ve never
had a mishap that triggered one of them. Test each GFCI after it’s installed and
then once a month all year long. Here's how:
- Plug a nightlight or lamp into the outlet it covers. Turn the light on.
- Press the “test” button on the GFCI. The “reset” button should pop out,
and the light should switch off.
- If the “reset” button pops out, but the light does not go off, the GFCI
is not wired correctly. Call an electrician to correct the problem.
- If the “reset” button does not pop out, the GFCI is defective. You’ll
need to replace it.
- If the lamp goes out, your GFCI is working properly. Press the “reset”
button to restore power to the outlet.
Kitchen/Bathroom
Outlets around sinks should have ground-fault circuit interrupters or outlets
that shut off when a current is flowing through a person. Consumers can buy
interrupter adapters that plug into existing outlets in most hardware stores for
$20-$30. Electricians must install permanent interrupters. Clean behind and
underneath the refrigerator periodically to prevent dust and dirt buildup on
coils and cords. Never touch an electrical device if you’re in contact with
water.
Bedrooms
An electric blanket that is “tucked in” or covered with another blanket may
overheat and catch fire. Make sure light-bulb wattages match the specifications
on lighting fixtures throughout the house. Keep items that are stored in closets
a safe distance from light bulbs. Certain materials near a hot bulb may catch
fire.
Living/Family Room
Install safety covers on outlets (in entire house). Keep cords out of
walkways. Don’t cover cords with carpeting or rugs. The cords could overheat.
Laundry/Utility Room
Periodically vacuum your dryer’s lint trap and exhaust hose. Lint buildup is
a fire hazard. Make certain washer and dryer cords aren’t pinched. Keep a 3-foot
area around gas appliances, including water heaters, and furnaces clear of any
clutter.
Garage/Workshop
Use an adapter to plug three-prong plugs into a two-hole receptacle. Replace
those without a three-prong plug or whose cords aren’t double insulated. Never
use a power tool if the grounding pin has been removed.
Should You Upgrade Your Home's
Wiring?
How do know if your home’s electrical system is properly wired or in need of
repairs or upgrades? Here are four key indicators:
- When you turn on an appliance, such as a dishwasher, clothes washer or
dryer, the lights in your home dim.
- You frequently have problems with fuses blowing or circuit breakers
tripping off. Appliances that heat up, such as toasters and irons, don’t get
as hot as they should or take a longer time to heat up.
- Your television picture shrinks when other lights or appliances come on.
- If any of these problems plague your home, call a licensed electrician
quickly. Old, inadequate wiring, overloaded circuits, and other problems are
dangerous.
Our reliance on electricity makes it important to ensure that our homes’
electrical systems are appropriate to our needs. So play it safe, and remember –
rewiring a home, adding circuits, or upgrading electrical systems is a job for a
qualified, professional electrician.
Tips For Using Your Microwave Oven
- In recent years microwaves have become among one of the most popular
kitchen appliances. Be wary of the dangers associated with using them.
- To prevent facial burns or exposure to radiation from a defective
appliance, microwaves should be kept high above the reach and eye level of
children.
- Use only containers and tableware stamped “microwave safe”.” Cooking
trays made of metal or aluminum should never be used to heat meals. Never
put aluminum foil in a microwave since it can ignite.
- If food you’re preparing catches on fire, unplug the cord immediately
but do not open the door. This will only feed oxygen to the fire. Wait for
the fire to extinguish then remove the contents from the oven.
- Always use caution when removing items from your microwave. While your
microwave stays cool, what’s being cooked inside becomes very hot.
Help Us Keep Your Little Ones Safe ...
Small children - especially crawlers and toddlers who love to explore their surroundings - can't seem to resist picking up objects off the floor and sticking them into electrical outlets. They're just too young to understand the danger. So it's up to you to watch out for them. Keep small objects off the floor as much as possible. Pennies, hairpins, and other tiny things, especially those made of metal, represent a real risk to your child. Just as important, shield all your outlets with child safety covers. For frequently used outlets, buy the type of cover that slides out to allow a cord to be plugged in. Finally, never leave light bulb sockets empty! It's a good practice to leave a burned-out bulb in place until you can replace it. That empty socket, especially if it's in view of a toddler, can be very tempting. At Farmers Electric Cooperative, safety is a number-one priority - on the job as well as at home. For more advice on keeping your family safe, give us a call at any of the coop offices. Clovis, 762-4466; Ft. Sumner, 355-2291; or Santa Rosa, 472-3971.
Check Power Tools - Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers before each use for frayed power cords, broken plugs and cracked or broken housings. If the product is damaged, stop using it and have it repaired or replaced.
- Pay attention to warning markings on electric tools and appliances. Don't allow tools to get wet. When using tools or extension cords outside, make sure they are marked for outdoor use.
- Unplug all portable power tools when not in use. Power tools may contain internal parts that remain electrically alive while still plugged in, even though the tool is turned off.
- Use and store power tools away from water sources to help avoid electrical shock. Never use electrically operated power tools in the rain.
- Have a qualified electrician install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacles in outdoor outlets. After installation, test your GFCIs monthly.
Power Pole Don'ts - An electrical lineman's job is one of the toughest in the business of providing you electricity. Climbing poles and stringing wires in all kinds of weather and dealing with electrical hazards are serious matters. You can help make the lineman's job safer by following these simple suggestions:
- Don't hang birdhouses or basketball goals on electrical poles. The lineman will have a hard time climbing around them if he has to climb that pole.
- Don't landscape around poles with flower boxes or birdhouses. Keep the area free of obstacles.
- Don't hang or post signs on utility poles. These could cause the lineman to slip while climbing.
- Don't use electrical equipment for your target practice. The damage done could not only harm you, but could also cause an outage affecting hundreds of people.
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