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Question about Standard 3 prong ivory sliding door outlet covers and Decora outlet covers.

Q: "Our hospital and affiliated communicty medical clinics were advised that the Joint Commission now requires electrical safety proofing of all patient waiting rooms in order to get Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement. This includes installing child resistant electrical outlet covers. Do you sell these in various colors and do you accept purchase orders for larger quantities?"

Answer: Currently the more popular sliding door outlet covers are in ivory and white. We do have red available only in the 3 prong standard outlet type. Most hospitals and clinics need the standard sliding door covers. One hospital has ordered both Decora and standard in ivory and white to match the walls more closely. We do accept purchase orders from hospitals for purchases $250 or over. Otherwise, we do accept credit cards and prepayment by check. Depending upon the quantities ordered, shipment time may be up to 15 business days. One of our hospital customers in Utah is ordered per clinic which means smaller quantities shipped per order and less lead time. Another customer recently ordered over 1000 units which should ship within two weeks. More...

Question about the electrical outlet covers and sliding door outlet covers such as CoverPlug Duplex Outlet Cover for Electric Outlets, the Plug Guard Energy Saving Safety Outlet Cover, the IVORY STD 3-Prg 1 Screw Outlet Cover,6/PK, the Kiddy Cop Outlet Covers, Leviton 12777, 12/Box, or the Sockit Lockets.

Q: "What kind of energy savings am I likely to have if I replace my standard outlet covers with the ones that slide open and closed? Is it enough to insert those round plugs? Or should I put complete covers such as the CoverPlug onto outlets I am not using? I've noticed cold air coming in through the unused outlets in cold weather."--Jerry

Answer: Reducing air leakage would immediately improve your comfort. To get a dollars and cents number, you'd need to figure in costs of natural or propane gas, oil, etc. Get a professional energy audit: you may need more than outlet covers for significant savings. CareCovers will reduce leakage, though, as I personally learned.

I do recommend using, if possible, sliding door outlet covers, the PlugGuard, the CareCover or similar sliding door units. The PlugGuard outlet covers fit only standard three prong outlets and come only in white. The CareCover or similar units come in cream, brown, white, ivory and sometimes red depending upon if the duplex unit is a Decora or standard outlet. Carecovers also come in non-grounded two prong covers. These units insulate not only the plug holes but the outlet itself.

The CoverPlugs fit over existing unused outlets. They can be painted or wallpapered. When you need the outlet, just pull out the cover as the original outlet is there.

The advantages of the Levitron units is that they are UL listed.  The PlugGuard doors move up and down while the other sliding door covers move from side to side. A less expensive option that is more difficult for kids to remove are the Sockit Lockets. CareCovers were tested using the Minnesota Blower Door Test that showed a 15% decrease in air leakage with Carecovers. Family Handyman magazine in 2008 recommended CoverPlugs.

I quickly installed CareCovers on all my exterior wall outlets several years ago when I felt cold air coming through outlet holes one January day. (My house was built in 1990 with insulation updated in 1994). There was an immediate increase in comfort without raising the thermostat.

All these units will save on energy just by blocking unused outlet holes. If you use the round plug inserts, remember to install foam gaskets behind each outlet cover.

If you have other questions, please contact us.

Sincerely, Barbara

Q:"Do you sell any non-grounded Decora style sliding door outlet covers?"
Answer: No, we only sell 2 prong sliding door outlet covers in the standard, ungrounded style style.
Comment from Customer: "A grounded outlet has three prongs, two "knife" blade ones of two lengths and a rounded grouping prong. So do you have ungrounded or not?"
Answer: The only ungrounded outlet covers we sell are the ones that work only on standard outlets with two oval outlets with two plug slots. The Decora style have the two plug outlets in a rectangular shape and have the grounding hole as well.

Comment: The Carecover sliding door outlet covers we sell are the originals, made in the USA. They are only available in duplex covers for a set of two outlets. Each outlet is covered by a spring loaded sliding door that remains closed until an electrical device is plugged in. Each cover also has a foam strip around the outside. Both the doors and the foam keep air from leaking in or out around the outlet, saving energy as well as fingers from shocks. Color choices: white, off-white (cream), ivory (almond), brown and red in the standard 3 prong. Decora and 2 prong are available in white, ivory and brown.

If you have other questions, please contact us.

Sincerely, Barbara