Installation for Child Proof Outlets in Chesterfield, VA
Enhance Home Safety With Child Proof Electrical Outlets
All homeowners should understand the importance of having child proof outlets, especially if they have children or are expectant parents. When it comes to protecting your family with simple household upgrades, you don't want to cut any corners. Protecting your children is critical, especially with more than 2,400 children getting treated for electrical shocks and burns every year from tampering with electrical outlets.
At Mr. Electric of Chesterfield, the safety of our customers is our top priority. With years of experience providing a full suite of residential and commercial services, our licensed electricians can ensure your home in Chesterfield, VA is fully updated with child proof electrical outlets or tamper-resistant receptacles (TRR). The installation of child proof electrical outlets is a simple, inexpensive investment that gives you peace of mind and allows you to protect your family and loved ones. Reach out to our team today to learn more!
What Is a Child Proof Outlet?
Child proof electrical outlets look like standard electrical outlets, but they operate differently. They’re equipped with spring-loaded receptacle cover plates that protect children from getting shocked by electricity. Children can’t insert objects into a child proof outlet by applying an unequal amount of pressure to the receptacle's points of contact. If you need child proof outlets installed in your home, it’s essential to have a licensed, experienced electrician complete the service for the most protection and reliability.
How Can Adults Operate Child Proof Outlets?
Using childproof outlets is straightforward and easy for adults. To use them, you simply apply the same amount of pressure on both sides of the plug while interesting it into the outlet. The equal pressure allows the outlet cover plate to open and operate the same way a standard outlet does.
Common Items Children Put in Outlets
Children are naturally curious, and we’ve all heard stories about kids shoving objects into outlets and getting shocked. Children have attempted to insert all sorts of things into electrical outlets, including the following:
- Keys
- Tools
- Belt buckles
- Staples and paperclips
- Jewelry
- Nail files
- Knives and forks
- Plugs
- Bobby pins
- And more
Updating Your Home With Child Proof Electrical Outlets
Our licensed electricians perform all our electrical work under the strictest electrical code standards. Child proof outlets have been required in all new construction homes since 2008. Most child proof outlet updates only cost a few dollars per outlet, and they aren’t much more expensive than installing traditional electrical outlets. If you currently don’t have child proof outlets or your current ones need to be upgraded, we can help. If you don’t have child proof outlets installed by a licensed electrician, your children could be at risk of the following types of injuries:
- Electrical Burns – Electrical burns make up 95 percent of injuries caused by electrical outlets. Children have thin skin that doesn’t provide a lot of protection from electrical flow or heat, increasing their risk of being severely injured.
- Electrical Shocks – Seven children get injured from electrical shocks every day by inserting various items into electrical outlets.
- Serious & Fatal Injuries – Some electrical injuries can be severe or fatal.
Are Tamper Resistant Outlets Child Proof?
Unfortunately, it's a myth that tamper-resistant receptacles (TRR) are child proof when they're not. Some people believe tamper-resistant outlets are "child proof" when they are not. TRR outlets don’t prevent children from inserting objects into outlets. These types of outlets can reduce the risk of electrical injuries, but they are not entirely tamper-proof or suitable for a home with children present.
Products Parents Should Avoid
At Mr. Electric of Chesterfield, we’re knowledgeable about all the types of popular electrical products on the market that are advertised as safe for parents. We recommend avoiding child proof electrical outlets that require you to screw plugs into place. Although they’re marketed as being safe, these outlets can pose a fire hazard. When you rely on our team of licensed electricians for child proof outlet installation, you can have peace of mind it's done right the first time.
Schedule Child Proof Outlet Installation Today
With years of experience installing child proof outlets for homeowners throughout Chesterfield, VA and the surrounding areas, the Mr. Electric of Chesterfield team can help protect your family against shocks and burns from electrical outlets in your home. We’re committed to giving you peace of mind and helping keep your loved ones safe.
In addition to expertly installing your child proof outlets, our licensed electricians can also conduct a safety inspection on your property to ensure everything’s up to code and your electrical system is in great shape. We’re happy to answer any questions, whether you’re curious about our installation process or want an estimate for your child proof outlets installation cost. Contact us today to schedule service or request an estimate!