If the lights come on when you flip the switch, the refrigerator keeps food cold. If you’re able to watch your favorite shows on TV, that means that your electricity is working perfectly, right? Not necessarily. There are some not-so-obvious issues that could lead to potential electrical fires in your house. Here are four tips and tools you can employ to be sure that you’re actively preventing electrical fires at home.
1. Update home wiring older than 30 years
Faulty wiring is the leading cause of electrical fires. The older your house is, the greater the chance your wiring is outdated or unsafe. You not be sure that your wiring is up to code. It’s also possible that the wire insulation has deteriorated over time. It is well worth your investment to have a licensed electrician inspect your home’s wiring, especially if you’ve experienced any of the following:
- Breakers that trip frequently
- Flickering lights
- Warm, discolored, or sparking outlets
- Two-pronged, ungrounded outlets in your home
- No GFCI outlets in areas like kitchens and bathrooms
Not only will your home be safer with updated wiring, but you may also receive a lower insurance premium as well.
2. Repair frayed electrical cords
You might think it’s ok to continue to use a charger or appliance that has a frayed electrical cord, but you put your home at risk of electrical fire by doing so. You also put yourself at risk of shock if you use a cord with exposed wires. Frayed cords can do damage to your appliances, so it can be a much cheaper option to repair damaged cords rather than continue to use them.
3. Install tamper-resistant receptacles helps preventing electrical fires
Tamper-resistant receptacles have spring-loaded shutters that close off the slots of your outlets unless a two-prong plug is inserted to cause both shutters to open. If you have children, we highly suggest that you have these receptacles installed. If your curious child inserts something like a key or hairpin into one opening of the outlet, there won’t be any contact with electricity. Not only will this protect children from shock and burns, but it’ll also prevent possible electrical fires.
4. Check your lamps
Light fixtures and light bulbs are common causes of electrical fires. Mainly, installing a light bulb that is too high of a wattage for the fixture is a major cause of fire. Placing flammable materials over a lampshade can cause a fire. Always check the wattage of light bulbs used in your fixtures and never go over the recommended amount, and keep your fixtures away from flammable materials.
Preventing electrical fires are a combination of vigilance on your part as a homeowner and finding a trusted, licensed electrician to make any repairs that are necessary. Contact the pros at Wire Craft Electric if you need an inspection or any repairs made to improve the safety of your home.
