As a homeowner, it’s important to protect your family and property from fire, especially electrical fire. Luckily, many electrical fires can be prevented by taking basic safety measures.
Use the following tips to work to avoid electrical fire in your home:
Replace Outdated Wiring
One major cause of electrical fires is outdated wiring, which often cannot handle the load placed on it by more modern appliances. In general, electrical panels will need to be replaced every 25-40 years. If your house is within that range, you may need to consider speaking with local electricians to upgrade your wiring and panels.
Avoid Overloading Circuits
It’s important to avoid overloading your household circuits, as well, as doing so can accidentally cause an electrical fire. You’ll know if a circuit is overloaded if you notice a flickering or dimming of the lights, a burning electrical smell, warm or discolored wall plates, or fuses that frequently trip. Continually overloading a circuit can cause a fire hazard.
Check Light Fixtures
Using bulbs with too high of wattage in lamps and light fixtures can cause them to overheat, creating a fire hazard. It’s also dangerous to put scarves, cloth, or other combustible materials on or near a lamp. Instead, stick to using bulbs that are the correct size in all of your light fixtures and keep them away from other objects in the room.
Use Heaters Safely
Portable electric heaters draw a high amount of power and have the capability to ignite combustible materials that are too close to them. If you plan to use portable heaters in your home, keep them in the center of the room, avoid placing items on top of them, and keep them away from curtains, clothing papers, and other materials that can easily combust. Check the heater each time you use it to make sure that it is safe to use and that everything is away from it so that you can avoid potential fire hazards.
If you’re experiencing issues with the wiring in your home, or if you’d like to have it updated, contact a local electrician. These skilled professionals can evaluate your wiring and fixtures, making sure that your entire electrical system is safe and functional. A home electrical system that’s working incorrectly can be a major fire hazard, so it’s important to have your system checked out if you have any concerns
