If you sleep – or at least try to sleep – about eight hours a night, then you spend about one-third of your life in your bedroom. And if you like to work, play, read or talk in your bedroom, then you spend even more time there.

Clearly, the bedroom is a place where the need for electrical safety is paramount, no matter what the activity. This is another reason why Experts In Your Home recently launched a new series of articles on household electrical safety tips. This series will take you room by room, allowing you to check the most common sources of potential electrical trouble spots – and then correct them yourself or contact one of our local electricians in the Chico area.

Since you probably have multiple bedrooms in your home, try to get everyone in your home vested in the following safety measures.

Electrical safety checklist:

• Check the batteries in the smoke detector(s) leading to your bedrooms. One smoke detector should be located within 10 feet of every bedroom in your home – a precaution that could save your life especially if a fire breaks out at night. Test the alarms monthly.
   
• Test all the ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in your bedrooms. These nifty outlets are designed to cut off the flow of electricity when they detect trouble, such as the presence of water.
   
• Inspect all the outlets and light switches in your bedrooms. They should be securely mounted to the wall and in good condition. Child-proof outlets by covering exposed holes with plastic plugs. Light switches that make a sparking sound when turned on could indicate a wiring problem. In this case, call a licensed local electrician in Chico to make this important repair.
   
• Check the cord of every lamp, computer, phone and electrical device you plug into an outlet. The cords should be in good condition – not frayed, bent or otherwise damaged.
   
• Limit the use of extension cords in bedrooms, and never use them as a permanent source of power. Overusing them can cause the outer jacket to overheat, which can trigger a fire. Check the maximum wattage capacity of an extension cord—and don't exceed it. (For even more helpful information on electrical safety when using extension cords, please refer to an article on our blog: “Extension Cord Safety Tips When Doing Electrical Repairs").
   
• Check the bulbs in all bedroom lamps to ensure they are the correct wattage. A bulb that is too “hot” for a lamp could literally spark a fire.
   
• Ensure that any window air conditioners are connected to their own circuit to reduce the risk of fire. Turn off these units when no one is in the room.
   
• Keep any space heaters at least 3 feet away from furniture, window treatments and other objects. Never block them. 
   
• Check the condition of any electric blankets, including the control. Look for any suspicious signs, including cracks, protruding wires and especially charred marks. Discard a blanket that exhibits any of these signs. Remember that nothing should be placed on top of an electric blanket – such as another blanket – and that it should lay flat. A folded electric blanket can overheat.
   
• Correct any “wobble factor” on bedroom ceiling fans, which can wear down the motor and potentially spark a fire. Turn off the fan and tighten all the mounting screws on the fan to eliminate the noise and movement.

It's important to consider electrical safety tips for your home in general and when attempting any kind of electrical repair. To get the job done right the first time, contact a local Chico electrician at Experts In Your Home.

To get a list of free electrical safety tips, download this guide: