Bathroom Electrical Safety Tips

May 31, 2019

To honor and celebrate National Electrical Safety Month this May, we have been blogging about electrical safety tips in each area of your home. A few of the most important places to prioritize electrical safety are spaces where you could be exposed to water.

For this reason, we’ve chosen to focus on electrical safety tips for your yard, your kitchen, and now, your bathroom. Here are a few top bathroom electrical safety tips from our team of electricians at Buzz Electrical.

General Bathroom Electrical Safety Tips

• Try to avoid using any unnecessary electrical appliances in the bathroom. Use battery-powered devices for extra light or music. Don’t plug in phone chargers. Never use a portable heater. Use hairstyling tools with caution.
• If you want to install recessed lighting in your bathroom, consult with an electrician about vapor-tight recessed lights. Installing the right type of recessed bulbs is crucial because the shower creates so much steam and moisture on the ceiling.
• If you notice any problems with your electrical system in your bathroom, don’t ignore them. Call a professional electrician about flickering lightbulbs or dead outlets.

Electrical Safety Near Water

• Do not use any electrical appliances near a full bathtub or running shower.
• Consider adding outlet covers to protect the circuits underneath. Water can easily splash inside of an outlet or can be transferred from your hands.
• Upgrade your bathroom outlets to Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). GFCI outlets are designed to protect you from electrocution. They can detect disruptions in the flow of electricity caused by surges or contact with something wet. When this happens, GFCIs will shut off power to the outlet from the source. They are required in all new kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces by the National Electrical Code.

Electrical Safety with Hairstyling Tools

• Regularly inspect heat tools for any signs of fraying cords. Replace heat tools if their cords have cracks or exposed wires.
• Never operate hairstyling tools with wet hands.
• Never plug heat tools into an extension cord or power strip in the bathroom.
• Keep all electrical appliances out of children’s reach.
• Don’t overload your bathroom circuit by plugging too many heat tools into one outlet.
• Don’t leave heat tools plugged in for extended periods of time when they are not in use. It puts you at risk for fire or electrocution, and it wastes energy.

We hope these bathroom electrical safety tips help you keep your family safe.

Worrying about electrical safety might seem like a bother, but in rooms with water it is critical to take it extra seriously. Have any questions about bathroom electrical safety? Need to install GFCI outlets in your home? Our team can help! Give us a call at Buzz Electrical today.

Family owned and operated Buzz Electrical is Fayetteville’s leading electrical company! If you need any electrical upgrades or repairs in your Arkansas home, we are here to help. Give us a call at (479) 267-2899.