Childproof Electrical Outlets

At John's Electric, we’re all about keeping you and your family safe while you enjoy the awesome convenience of electricity. Let’s be real—electricity is great, but it can also be dangerous. We’re talking electrical shocks, burns, electrocution, and even fires. Scary, right? But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way. If your home’s electrical system is installed properly and up to code, you can eliminate a lot of those risks.

If your home in Birmingham was built before 2008, chances are it has standard outlets installed. The problem? These outlets aren’t exactly kid-friendly. Little ones love to explore, and it’s way too easy for them to stick something metal into the outlet and get hurt.

Childproof Electrical Receptacles

If you’ve got kids or grandkids, you’ve probably seen those little plastic covers you can stick into your outlets to keep them safe. They’re a great idea, but let’s be honest—they’re not perfect. Kids have a knack for finding tiny objects on the floor and heading straight for the outlets, don’t they?

And those plastic covers can be kind of a hassle. You have to pop them out every time you want to use the outlet, then remember to put them back in. Sometimes they’re hard to remove, and sometimes you forget to replace them. Sadly, this has led to accidents, with kids getting shocked or worse. Did you know that in the U.S. alone, seven kids a day are treated for electrical shocks or burns from tampering with outlets?

The good news? There’s a better solution now: childproof outlets! Also called tamper-resistant outlets, these have a clever design that acts like a built-in safety lock. Think of them as tiny locked doors inside the outlet. If a child tries to stick something into one of the slots, it won’t go in. The "doors" only open when both slots are pushed at the same time with equal pressure—like when you plug in something properly.

Why Upgrade?

Nowadays, building codes require all new homes to have tamper-resistant outlets. But if your home still has the older, standard outlets and you’ve got small children, it’s time to upgrade. Call us at John's Electric at (205) 426-0583, or use our online service request form, and we’ll help make your home a safer place for your family. It’s one of the simplest things you can do to keep your little ones safe!