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Make safety priority one when doing home improvement and repair projects

Make safety priority one when doing home improvement and repair projects

Mon, 05/23/2022 - 12:02 PM
All News

More people are doing their own remodeling, repairs, maintenance, landscaping, and construction projects inside and outside the home. Safe Electricity urges all do-it-yourselfers to take precautions, especially when working around electrical equipment and overhead power lines. 

Make sure outdoor outlets have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Use a portable GFCI if your outdoor outlets don’t have them. It’s also a good idea to have GFCIs professionally installed in wet areas of the home, such as the kitchen, bath, and laundry. 

Safety tips to remember include: 

  • Look up and around you. Always know of the location of power lines, particularly when using long metal tools, like ladders, pool skimmers, and pruning poles, or when installing rooftop antennas and satellite dishes or doing roof repair work. 

  • Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your house. Keep equipment and yourself at least 10 feet from lines. Never trim trees near power lines — leave that to the professionals. Never use water or blower extensions to clean gutters near electric lines. Contact a professional maintenance contractor. 

  • If your projects include digging, like building a deck or planting a tree, call the national underground utility locator at 8-1-1 before you begin. Never assume the location or depth of underground utility lines. This service is free, prevents the inconvenience of having utilities interrupted, and can help you avoid serious injury. 

  • Always check the condition of cords and power tools before using them. Repair or replace worn or damaged cords and tools. 

  • Electricity + water = danger. If it’s raining or the ground is wet, don’t use electric power or yard tools. Never use electrical appliances or touch circuit breakers or fuses when you’re wet or standing in water. Keep electric equipment at least 10 feet from wet areas. 

Make certain home electrical systems and wiring are adequate to support increased electric demands of new electric appliances, home additions, or remodeling projects. An older home may be inadequately wired for today’s electricity consumption, putting your family at risk for fire and electrical shock. Have a professional replace worn and outdated circuitry and add outlets for appliances and electronics – this is not a job for casual do-it-yourselfers! 

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970.247.5786 or 888.839.5732

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603 S 8th St., Pagosa Springs, CO 81147

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©2022 La Plata Electric Association. A Touchstone Energy Cooperative

  • About Us
    • ABOUT LPEA
      • Careers at LPEA
      • Your Co-op
      • LPEA Strategy
      • LPEA Calendar of Events
    • POLICIES & REGULATIONS
      • LPEA Policies and Bylaws
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
      • Board of Directors' Meetings & Resources
      • Annual Meeting
      • Meet the Board of Directors
      • Board of Directors Committees
      • LPEA Board Elections
  • Community
    • COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
      • Non-Profit Grant Programs
      • Community Sponsorships
      • "Round Up" Your Bill
      • Energy Outreach Colorado
      • Scholarships
  • Electric Services
    • BILLING
      • Pay Your Bill
      • Electric Energy Rates
      • On Bill Financing Program
      • SmartHub Registration
    • RESIDENTIAL SERVICE
      • Forms & Applications
      • AMI Meter Information
      • Time-of-Use Rate
      • Underground Utility Line Location
      • Building Near Powerlines
    • COMMERCIAL SERVICE
      • Commercial Service
    • Construction Projects
      • Construction Projects
  • Member Programs
    • MEMBER PROGRAMS
      • Capital Credits - CashBack
      • Rebates
      • Green Power
      • Area Light Rental
    • Beneficial Electrification
      • Electrify and Save
    • LOCAL RENEWABLE GENERATION
      • Member Solar
      • Qualified Solar Installers
    • ENERGY EFFICIENCY
      • Conservation Tips
      • Energy Efficiency Tools
  • Safety
    • Electric Safety Resources
    • Electric Safety Demonstration
  • News & Outage Center
    • News Center
    • Outage Center
    • LPEA Fact Checker
  • Contact Us