Electrical Safety in a Residence: Protecting Your Home and Family

By Joe Voci JDV Electric, LLC

Electricity is an essential part of our daily lives; it can also be dangerous if not used and maintained properly. Electrical accidents can cause serious injury or death, so it is important to take electrical safety in your residence seriously. Here are some of the key ways to protect your home and family from electrical hazards.

  • Install and maintain smoke detectors.

Smoke detectors are crucial for protection from fires caused by electrical faults. Install them on every level of your home and in every bedroom, test them regularly to ensure they work correctly, and replace the batteries at least once a year.

  • Use certified and approved electrical appliances and fixtures.

Electrical appliances and fixtures like lamps, power strips and extension cords that are certified and approved by a recognized safety organization are tested and designed to meet strict safety standards and are less likely to cause electrical hazards.

  • Do not overload circuits.

Overloading circuits can cause electrical fires and damage appliances. Avoid using too many appliances on one circuit and never plug in too many extension cords or power strips. Consider installing additional circuits to use multiple appliances in one area.

  • Keep electrical cords away from water.

Water and electricity do not mix. Keep electrical cords away from water sources such as sinks, bathtubs and pools. Ensure outdoor outlets are weather-resistant and protected from rain and moisture.

  • Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

GFCIs are designed to prevent electrical shocks and should be in all areas of your home where water is present, such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. They detect imbalances in the electrical current and shut off the power if a fault is detected.

  • Do not attempt electrical repairs yourself; hire a licensed electrician.

Electrical repairs should only be performed by a licensed electrician; licensed electricians have the expertise and knowledge to ensure that your electrical system is safe and up to code. Attempting to fix electrical problems yourself can be dangerous and/or cause further damage. 

  • Replace damaged or worn cords and plugs.

Damaged cords and plugs can cause electrical shocks and fires, so replace frayed or cracked cords immediately.

  • Use surge protectors.

Protect your appliances from power surges and spikes. Surge protectors are particularly important for expensive devices such as computers, televisions and home theater systems.

  • Use arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection.

AFCIs are designed to recognize dangerous arcs in your wiring and immediately break the flow of electricity. They prevent your electrical system from becoming an ignition source for a fire. The life-saving technology and superior design of AFCI protection, now standard in new construction, has been refined to also reduce unwanted nuisance tripping due to interference from electrical devices or appliances. Arc fault receptacles and circuit breakers provide fire and electrical safety protection.

In conclusion, electrical safety is an important aspect of home maintenance that should not be overlooked. By following these tips, you can help protect your home and family from electrical hazards and ensure that your electrical system is safe and up to code.

For all your Electrical needs contact Joe Voci at JDV Electric, LLC at 610-364-5099 or [email protected]

This Is How Many Gallons of Water Plumbing Leaks Cost You

By Jeff Goane Murphy’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

If you had a gushing leak in your home’s plumbing, you’d notice it right away, right? Aside from the potential water damage, you’d be thinking about the amount of wasted water and just how much your next water bill might cost.

What if we told you that most of the wasted water isn’t caused by huge emergencies? Would you want to know just how much water might be going to waste in your home right now? We’ve got some fascinating facts for you about just how much water is wasted in American homes and why. We’ll even tell you just how much money that could be costing you. And yes, we do have a great solution to this problem.

Water Usage
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American uses 82 gallons of water per day. For a family of four, the household would then be consuming 328 gallons every day. That’s almost 120,000 gallons in a year! 

Water Bills
One statistic from 2019 suggested that the average American water bill for a four-person household was nearly $73 a month. However, according to the Census Bureau, as of 2021, the average American household contains 3.13 persons. Another study determined that for the average American household, the monthly water bill was $45.44. Even at this lower estimate, that’s nearly $550 per year; the higher estimate would put it around $875. 

Water Waste
The EPA determined that plumbing leaks account for 10,000 gallons of wasted water in the average American household every year. Even worse than that, they say that 10% of homes have leaks that waste at least 90 gallons of water every day. That’s more water than adding a family member would use. These leaks add up to over a trillion wasted gallons of water every year in the U.S. 

Crunching the Numbers
If ten thousand gallons are wasted each year in a household that uses 120,000 gallons a year, that’s the equivalent of losing an entire month’s water bill each year. If you’re unlucky enough to be in the 10% of households that waste 90 gallons a day, that’s 2,700 gallons per month (more than a quarter of the average household’s water use). That potentially adds up to nearly $20 every month going down the drain.

Sources of Leaks
It’s astonishing just how much water can be lost to a very small leak. A shower dripping just ten times a minute allows 500 gallons a year to be lost down the drain for no reason. If your toilet won’t stop running, it might be going through two gallons of water every minute! Having your fixtures tightened could make a huge difference. If you’re worried that water is being lost in other ways, our team can use video pipe inspection to check your entire plumbing system for problems, so you can get plumbing leak repair and stop wasting water—and money.


For an assessment of your plumbing by Jeff Goane contact Murphy’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. Located at 565 Abbott Drive, Broomall. Phone: 610-461-6502; [email protected] or visit www.murphysonmacdade.com
(PA License #113639)

Our Home Should Feel Safe and Comfortable All Year

Heat-induced illness is a very real threat as temperatures climb during the summer. Heatwaves and other hazardous weather can settle in, and, if you aren’t taking the proper precautions, things can take a turn for the worse. While heat and humidity make us all uncomfortable, there are ways to mitigate risk and ease the impact of extreme temperatures. Oliver is here to provide some helpful tips. If you live in the Delaware Valley, we can give your home an air conditioning safety inspection so that you know you’re ready to handle the heat.

The best way to safeguard yourself from heat-induced illness is to stay hydrated. It is recommended to drink eight glasses of water a day–not just to keep your body hydrated, but also to help flush out toxins. While sports drinks or caffeinated beverages may help increase your body’s water level, they are not as effective because they can sometimes contain other dehydrating elements. Staying hydrated will help reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Another important way to avoid the summer heat is to stay indoors in your climate-controlled home. Your air conditioner regulates the temperature inside your house and can be a haven for anyone at risk for heat-related illness. Making sure your air conditioner is in working order before the heat comes can help you avoid an emergency. The experts at Oliver recommend an annual home A/C safety inspection to make sure your system is clean, operational and running efficiently this season. By ensuring your home will be cool all summer long, you have one less thing to worry about.


A membership with Oliver provides true peace of mind when your heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical equipment has been inspected to keep it running safely and efficiently all year long. Annual inspections and testing by our professional technicians help to identify issues before they become unexpected problems or expensive repairs. Here are just some of the benefits of our Peace of Mind Membership:

  • Plumbing and electrical inspections
  • Convenient payment options
  • Priority service
  • Appointment reminders
  • No-breakdown guarantee
  • 10% discount 

Expert Article provided by Ashley Dennon of Oliver Heating & Cooling. To learn more about the Peace of Mind Membership, call 610-616-5691 or visit oliverheatcool.com.