Peace of Mind: Six Home Electrical Safety Tips to Prepare for Vacation

Let’s face it: we work hard and vacations are a precious commodity—a time of rest and relaxation. The last thing you should think about while on vacation is whether your home is safe.

“Many things can go wrong while you’re traveling,” said Rick Cross, president of Mr. Electric. “Fires can start when lightning storms strike electronics or small appliances.”

Home invasion can also be a big issue. Burglaries increase when people take vacations in the summer months, and more than 34 percent of burglars enter through the front door, according to the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association.

Here are six tips from Mr. Electric to prepare your home for your time away:

- Turn off all electrical appliances, including hair dryers, toasters and blenders.

- Unplug televisions and computers– they are susceptible to lightning and power surges.

- Use metal power strips, rather than plastic ones, and unplug them before you leave.

- Make sure extension cords are not overloaded, and remove them from under rugs or furniture.

- Use a timer on indoor lights and radios. Look for a timer that can be set to a random pattern, varying the times the lights turn on and off every day.

- Have adequate lighting and a motion detecting light outdoors.


About Mr. Electric:
Established in 1994, Mr. Electric® is a global franchise organization providing electrical installation and repair services. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500,” the company provides these services to both residential and commercial customers at more than 160 locations worldwide. Mr. Electric is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group Inc. For further information or to find the location nearest you, visit www.mrelectric.com.

About The Dwyer Group:
The Dwyer Group Inc., based in Waco, Texas, is a holding company of six franchise businesses, each selling and supporting a different franchise under the following service marks: Aire Serv® Heating and Air Conditioning, Glass Doctor®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Rooter® (Drain Doctor® in the UK), and Rainbow International® Restoration and Cleaning. Collectively, these independent franchise concepts offer customers world-wide a broad base of residential and commercial services. The Dwyer Group also owns Harmon Solutions Group, a third party administrator for the insurance community, and provides services to an associate company, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide®, a national remodeling franchise. The Dwyer Group is a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, a private equity firm with offices in New York, Cleveland, Dallas and San Francisco. For more information on The Dwyer Group, or its franchise concepts, visit the company’s Web site at www.dwyergroup.com.

About the NBFAA:
Founded in 1948, the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association is the nation's oldest and largest association dedicated to representing, promoting and supporting the electronic life safety, security and systems industry. Through a federation of state associations, NBFAA reaches grass roots members, enabling them to band together on national issues, and delivering to them industry information, professional development tools, products and services. For more information about the NBFAA, visit www.alarm.org.

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