Child proofing in Grand Rapids, MI

Do you have a new little one making their way around the house? You may want to look into child-proofing a number of areas such as your outlets. Our Grand Rapids electricians at Flat River Electric can help baby-proof your home by changing your current outlets to tamper-resistant outlets.

Today’s homes are required to have a certain number of outlets installed in each room. If your home was built before 2008, there is a good chance that the outlets that were installed are not tamper-resistant outlets.

With the shutters closed, tamper-resistant outlets are designed so that a child is not able to insert a metal object into the outlet. Tamper-resistant outlets work like a normal outlet when equal pressure is applied to both sides of the plug at the same time. When there is not equal pressure applied to both sides of the plug then the shutters remain closed which prevents foreign objects from being inserted and causing traumatic electrical injury to children.

You can bring your home up to code and make it safer for your family by having child proof outlets installed for just a few dollars more per outlet, pennies more than traditional receptacles. In fact, tamper-proof receptacles have been so effective that as of 2008 the National Electrical Code has required the installation of them in all new homes. Without child proof outlets, your child is at risk of electrical shock, electrical burn, and other injuries.

Many people install plastic inserts into their outlets, but these are dangerous to small children because they’re a choking hazard. Tamper-resistant outlets remove these eliminating that potential risk to your child.

You can call our licensed electricians in Grand Rapids, MI today at (616) 987-0596 to schedule a service call. We can replace your existing outlets with new tamper-resistant outlets to prevent your child from being severely injured due to inserting metal objects into an outlet.