May brings National Electrical Safety Month WACO, Texas (May 20, 2015) – During the storm season, rain, wind and especially power issues, all have an affect on homes. With May being National Electrical Safety Month, the service professionals at Mr. Electric want to inform homeowners about electrical safety during the storm, spring and summer seasons. “May is a great time to have National Electrical Safety Month,” said Dennis Teeuwsen, with Mr. Electric. “We still see plenty of rain through many parts of the country, so lightning safety needs to come into play. Also, many people will be using types of electricity that may have kept off for the winter.” Properly install outdoor lighting Outdoor lighting needs to be installed properly. Certain installations of outdoor lighting require the running of underground electrical cables. A licensed professional should perform all home electrical work. “Any time additional wiring has to be added to a home, whether it is outside or inside, a professional electrician should be called,” said Teeuwsen. Practice lightning safety Lightning can be damaging to all electrical equipment in and around the home. Lightning strikes can cause thousands in damages to electrical devices due to surges caused by electrical spikes. Take preventative measures by unplugging items such as tv’s, computers, game consoles and other home electrical items to prevent surges from ruining the equipment. Correctly plug in heavy-duty electrical equipment A dedicated circuit is used with the specific purpose of having its own circuit breaker in a home’s electrical box. Heavy appliances such as stoves and refrigerators should be connected to a dedicated circuit to cut down surges in the home. Understand GFCI and AFCI outlets Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets protect from ground faults. The outlets monitor current flow and turn off power if hazardous leakage levels occur. Arc-Fault Interrupter (AFCI) outlets provide added protection from potentially hazardous arc-faults. The outlets detect hazardous arc-faults and interrupt power. The AFCI outlet helps to reduce the likelihood of the home's electrical system from being an ignition source of a fire. For more information on electrical safety visit mrelectric.com. 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,” Mr. Electric franchisees provide these services to both residential and commercial customers at almost 200 locations worldwide. Mr. Electric is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc., family of service franchises. For more information or to find the location nearest you, visit MrElectric.com.