Winter in Massachusetts brings a predictable spike in electrical demand — and electrical hazards. Space heaters, holiday lighting, and storm-related power outages all raise the stakes. A few precautions go a long way.
Give space heaters room to breathe. Keep portable heaters at least three feet from anything flammable, plug them directly into a wall outlet (never an extension cord or power strip), and never leave one running unattended.
Inspect holiday lighting before you hang it. Look for frayed wires, cracked sockets, or exposed copper. Use lights rated for outdoor use outside, and avoid connecting more than a few strands end-to-end.
Know your generator's limits. If you rely on a portable generator during outages, never run it indoors or in a garage, and never plug it directly into a wall outlet without a properly installed transfer switch — doing so can endanger utility workers restoring power to your street.
Have an emergency plan. Know where your electrical panel is, how to safely shut off power to a specific circuit, and keep our number handy for anything beyond a simple breaker reset.
If a storm knocks out your power or you notice anything unusual — burning smells, sparking outlets, or a breaker that won't stay reset — BH Electrics offers 24/7 emergency electrical service across the North Shore.