Ditch the power strip? Abilene electricians tips for a safe & warm winter

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)- Every winter season, firefighters and electricians see a comparable rise in calls as the temperature drops. Since the year started, multiple Big Country homes have been damaged or destroyed in fires caused by space heaters and electrical difficulties. Electrician Joshua Jones has responded to a plethora of calls already since the recent cold snap, many of which, he says, could have easily resulted in a fire if not addressed swiftly.

“Calls answered probably 110. Calls actually gone on, 60-70% of that,” Jones shared.

Jones explained that many calls they receive can be resolved over the phone, but that doesn’t make the issue any less important. KTAB/KRBC asked Jones the number one issue they’ve had to respond to this year, and improper electrical use topped that list.

“A lot of overloading people not understanding the power strip. It’s not a way of protection. A power strip is no more than just taking your standard two outlets and turning them into six. The more that we can stay away from those things, the safer everybody will be,” Jones said.

Jones stated that a standard wall outlet is rated for about 15amps worth of power. He said a power strip increases the demand on those outlets, which can result in overloading. In addition to limiting the number of devices on a single plug, you should also consider how much power any particular device pulls. Jones spoke about space heaters, which he said should never be plugged into a power strip and should be limited to one per room.

“Let’s spread them heaters out a little bit more. You don’t have to have two or three of them sitting in one room… Most of the time, most of the circuits are done room by room. So that we can keep them on different circuits and be less likely to overload them,” Jones explained.

It’s important to supervise your heat sources closely. Whether you’re using a space heater, heat lamp, or gas-powered heater, ensure that the heat source is placed in an open area and is not surrounded by flammable materials such as clothing, bedding, hay, or paper.