Its part of the holiday season that, to some, is the best part of the season. Bright lights, festive decorations all displayed for family and friends to enjoy and aide in creating the spirit of the holidays. But, if you’re planning to deck your halls this year chances are, you’ll end up using an extension cord to help you. While they are a convenient way to supply power right where you need it, they can also create hazards if not used safely.

Here are a few simple tips to help avoid a disaster this holiday season:

• Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis.
• Make sure extension cords are properly rated for their intended use, indoor or outdoor, and meet or exceed the power needs of the appliance or device being used.
• Inspect cords for damage before use. Check for cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires, and loose connections.
• Never use a cord that feels hot or is damaged in any way.
• Do not run extension cords through walls or ceilings. This may cause the cord to overheat, creating a serious fire hazard.
• Do not nail or staple electrical cords to walls or baseboards.
• Make sure that cords are not pinched in doors, windows, or under heavy furniture, which could damage the cord’s insulation.
• Keep extension cords out of high-traffic areas like doorways or walkways where they pose a tripping hazard.
• Insert plugs fully so that no part of the prongs is exposed when the extension cord is in use.

For more information on electrical safety, call Delta Electric at the location nearest you – or call 1-800-321-2752.

When the cooler weather moves in, many people op for a space or compact heater to warm their spaces. Either at home or at the office, a compact electric heater is convenient and cost-effective, because it directs heat to a specific location. But it is also potentially hazardous if not used correctly.

In fact, between 1999 and 2002, electric heaters were responsible for an average 9,900 residential fires and 190 fatalities per year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). However, there are a few things you can do to keep you and your family safe;

• Be sure to place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor).

• Keep the electric heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture, and other flammable materials, and keeping children and pets away from space heaters.

• Be sure to turn off the heater when going to sleep or leaving the area or space you’re heating.

• Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory.

• Be sure to have a smoke alarm with fresh batteries on each level of the house, inside every bedroom, and outside the bedrooms in each sleeping area. In addition, have a carbon monoxide alarm outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area.

For more information on electrical safety, call Delta Electric at the location nearest you – or call 1-800-321-2752.

Serving the South Bay area for 30 years, Delta Electric has the experience necessary to provide the highest quality service to customers. Below are the top 10 reasons to choose Delta Electric.

1. We guarantee all of our work for 10 years.
2. No job is too large or small for us.
3. We employ only the most highly trained professionals.
4. We provide 24-hour emergency services.
5. We ensure that work is done right the first time.
6. We offer customers with reasonable rates and no hidden charges whatsoever.
7. We offer free estimates on installations.
8. We strive to provide service that exceeds customer expectations.
9. We come licensed and bonded.
10. We offer money-saving coupons.

To learn more about how Delta Electric can help with your next residential, commercial, industrial or mobile-home electric work, call 408-224-0176 today!

According to a recent investigation done by the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit, if your home was built before 1990, it may have a faulty Federal Pacific circuit breaker and could be a fire risk. It’s a fact that been known for years, but there has never been a recall.

The “Stab-Lok” circuit breaker and panel produced by Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) installed in hundreds of thousands of homes in the Bay Area may cause house fires, according decades of documentation and electrical experts interviewed by the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit. Stab-Lok circuit breakers are most commonly found in houses built before 1990.

Click here to read the full story.