Educating yourself and your family on ways to prevent electrical fires in your home can save lives. It can also save you thousands of dollars in repairs and replacing lost items.
Electrical fires are a big problem for many people and are almost completely preventable. Knowing what to do and what not to do can save your home from the severe damage these fires cause.
While most electrical fires can be prevented, it doesn’t mean they won’t happen. These safety measures can help keep you and your home safe.
1. Pay Attention to Warning Signs
If you notice things out of the ordinary, like hot sockets or light switches, charred marks on sockets, frayed or damaged cords, exposed wires, or fuses that keep blowing, call your electrician.
These are warning signs that there is a problem and it really shouldn’t wait. If the cord on an appliance is broken or frayed, get it replaced or discard the appliance.
2. Don’t DIY
One of the best ways to prevent electrical fires in your home is not to Do-It-Yourself project that will mess with anything. Don’t try to extend a cord by splicing two together, cutting the third prong off the plug, or don’t start poking around a socket with a screwdriver.
These are great ways to get electrocuted or start a fire in your home. Even if you have experience working with electrics, you don’t have any experience working with electrics.
3. Don’t Overload Plugs and Power Strips
It’s quite common in older homes that do not have enough outlets and to load up a few sockets with socket extenders or power bars. If you are trying to operate your entire home office or kitchen on two sockets, you are asking for an electrical fire.
Call your electrician to install a few more sockets. They can inspect your entire electrical system and make sure it is up to code, or recommend an upgrade to your home functions much better and safer.
4. Upgrade Your Electrical System
An older home is bound to have a lot of old, damaged wiring. Inspection and upgrading your electrical system is a great way to prevent electrical fires in your home.
Old systems can be terribly outdated and often damaged. There could also be a few attempts at repairs that are not up to code or simply just dangerous. Many older systems can’t handle the energy demand that today’s appliances and gadgets require.
5. Too Many Extension Cords
Extension cords are meant to be a temporary solution. Having more than one is definitely a fire hazard and connecting two or more together is just dangerous. Your home clearly needs more outlets.
Extension cords are often out in the way, so they get stepped on, caught under chairs, and eventually break and become frayed. This can lead to electrocution and fires.
6. Lamps and Light Fixtures
Using the wrong wattage in a lamp or light fixture can also be a common cause of the fire. Often, the lamp is not made to withstand more than recommended.
To prevent electrical fires, don’t overload the wattage, don’t use small lamps near the bathtub, sink, or pool, and don’t drape a scarf or other fabric over the lamp. Use a lower wattage bulb if it is too bright.
Prevent Electrical Fires in Your Home
If you need an inspection or just more information on how you can keep your home safer from electrical fires, please contact us today at Fusion Electric. Make sure your electricity is up to date.
