Tag Archives: power off

General Safety Issues

SAFETY AND THE DIY RENOVATION PROJECT (GUEST POST)

Five quick & easy water heater replacement safety steps –
By Tina Jacobs

December means one thing to home owners—frigid temperatures and high energy bills—which relates to longer, hotter showers and baths. It’s true; in the winter months the temptation to lie in a hot bath or languish under in a hot shower is too much! That’s why it’s important that the water heaters in our homes are working efficiently.

A little proactive planning can really make a difference when it comes to protecting your water heater from breaking down mid-winter. That’s why last winter, I was taken completely by surprise when the heating element in my water heater broke and I was left without hot water for days. Luckily, a water heater is a safe and easy DIY repair. If you notice that your electric hot water heater is slow to heat, runs out of hot water faster than it should, or doesn’t deliver any hot water at all, that’s your first sign that one or both of the heating elements might need to be replaced. The fix is fairly easy and safe, with replacement parts costing between $10 and $20 per element at your local home center or hardware store.

So do yourself a favor. If your water heater needs some maintenance, follow these five quick and easy do-it-yourself steps to help you replace a broken water heater and keep it running safely and effectively all winter long.

1. Check to see if the electrical source is tripped

Before you test the heating elements in your water heater, ensure the circuit breaker is on and not tripped. A tripped breaker can indicate an electrical problem or even burn out the elements. Just be sure to monitor your unit to see if it trips again.

2. Reset the circuit breaker and high-temperature cut-off

It’s also wise for safety sake to push the reset button on circuit breaker as well as the high-temperature cutoff (you’ll see it right above the upper thermostat). This reset by itself could be enough to solve the problem.

3. Test the heating elements with these safety measures

First and foremost, turn off the power at the circuit breaker and remove the metal covers to expose the thermostats and elements. You can ensure the power is off by touching the electrical connections with a non-contact voltage detector before you start any work. If the tester doesn’t light up, it’s safe to go ahead and test the heating elements.

4. Replacing your hot water tank elements

To replace an element, ensure the power is still off and drain the tank by opening the hot water faucet in the kitchen. You can drain faster by connecting a garden hose to the drain valve and opening the drain the empty the tank. Next, unscrew the bad element and install the new element with a wrench. Finally, reconnect the wires on the new element, turn on the drain valve and fill the tank. Now you’re ready to switch on the circuit breaker and test your new elements for working order.

5. Ensure the thermostat is working

If the circuit breaker isn’t tripped and the reset doesn’t work, the elements are fine. This may indicate that your thermostat is broken and require a replacement.

About The Author

Tina is a registered nurse and DIY home improvement maven who has written and blogger for DIY Mother as well as numerous print and online publications ranging in topics from education to health and from home renovations to interior decorating.

 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

THE DANGERS OF WIRING AND HOW TO STAY SAFE (GUEST POST)

Sent to us by Jake @ CustardMedia.co.uk

Working with electrical wiring can be very dangerous. This is particularly true for those who have never worked with wiring before. If you are planning to complete a do-it-yourself wiring job, you need to understand the dangers of working with wiring and how you can avoid these dangers. Safety should always be your primary concern. Even though it may be a bit less expensive to do your own repair jobs and home maintenance, it is always a much better idea to call in a professional if you are not completely certain of what you are doing. Electrical shock can be fatal and is one of the most common incidents that occur when homeowners work on their own wiring. Aside from electrical shock, you also risk a fire hazard if your wiring is not done properly. That being said, here are a few tips that will help you to ensure your safety when working with electricity. 

1.       Know when you are in over your head. Again, if you are not a professional electricity expert, you should know when to call one. If at any time you realize that you are completely unsure of what you are doing, stop and call in an electrician. It is much better to pay a few extra dollars and get the job done properly than to risk electrical shock or fire.

2.       Make sure that all power is turned off before you begin working on any electrical wiring. You should turn off the power at the main and check to see that it is indeed turned off. You can turn off each individual circuit as needed as long as you check to ensure that the proper circuit is turned off before you begin. If you are not certain as to which circuit runs the electricity you need to turn off, turn off the entire main just to be on the safe side.

3.       Wear gloves when possible to protect your hands. When working with electrical wiring, there may be sharp points or edges that can cause you to cut yourself. Protect yourself from injury by wearing work gloves whenever you can.

4.       Rubber boots can help to protect you when working with electricity as well. Remember that water and electricity do not mix well so if you are working with electricity and there is any chance that water or dampness may be evident, wearing rubber boots can help you to avoid electrical shock. Rubber boots will stop an electrical current from reaching your body. Make sure that you check your rubber boots to ensure that there are no holes that could allow water to touch your feet.

5.       Safety glasses are very important when working with electricity. These will help you to protect your eyes from dust and debris as well as electrical sparks. If you are working with electrical wiring and you need to cut holes or otherwise drill into a wall or ceiling, safety glasses will ensure that you do not get debris in your eyes that could cause infection or in very extreme cases, blindness. 

This article was written by Electric Point, electrical wholesalers in the UK.