With all the wonderful things that electricity does in our lives, it is sometimes easy to forget just how dangerous it can be when things go wrong. We hear about lots of house fires during the holiday season when electrical systems get strained by holiday lights and decorations, but this scenario can happen just as easily the other fifty weeks of the year, too.
When people buy a new home, they often have inspections done on the plumbing, electrical and other main components of the home. Unfortunately, that is often the last time they do that, when in reality, it is a good idea to have all systems inspected at least annually. Besides this inspection, here are a few common causes of electrical fires that homeowners should know about to improve prevention:
Overloading Circuits – Most homes were built long before families added a multitude of electronics into their lives. The wiring used was more than adequate for standard usage, but can easily be overloaded when too much is plugged into one circuit. Whenever possible, spread out electronics so they do not all use one outlet and are in more than one room if possible. The use of power strips, although convenient, should be kept to a minimum, and it is best to get ones that have safety features in them. If you find that a circuit breaker keeps getting tripped, that is a good sign that you have too much running. Never switch out the breaker for a higher capacity without having an electrician check to see if the wiring can handle the higher load. The breaker is there for a reason — to avoid a fire.
Lighting Mistakes – Always read the wattage maximums on any lighting fixtures and do not use bulbs that have a higher wattage than recommended. Also remember that light bulbs create heat, especially the most commonly used incandescent bulbs, and they can cause a fire all by themselves if something flammable is too close to the bulb.
Outdated Appliances – Everything from toasters to space heaters becomes dangerous when they have become too old to be safe. It is far better to replace an inexpensive appliance than an entire house.
Electrical wiring is like anything else — it can wear out or become damaged. Updating the electrical system in your home might just be a good idea, especially if the circuit breakers are getting old. Have an electrician check out your home, so you can have peace of mind that you are not at risk of a fire or perhaps an electrical shock to someone in the family.
[source: http://climatecontrolhickory.com/]
When people buy a new home, they often have inspections done on the plumbing, electrical and other main components of the home. Unfortunately, that is often the last time they do that, when in reality, it is a good idea to have all systems inspected at least annually. Besides this inspection, here are a few common causes of electrical fires that homeowners should know about to improve prevention:
Overloading Circuits – Most homes were built long before families added a multitude of electronics into their lives. The wiring used was more than adequate for standard usage, but can easily be overloaded when too much is plugged into one circuit. Whenever possible, spread out electronics so they do not all use one outlet and are in more than one room if possible. The use of power strips, although convenient, should be kept to a minimum, and it is best to get ones that have safety features in them. If you find that a circuit breaker keeps getting tripped, that is a good sign that you have too much running. Never switch out the breaker for a higher capacity without having an electrician check to see if the wiring can handle the higher load. The breaker is there for a reason — to avoid a fire.
Lighting Mistakes – Always read the wattage maximums on any lighting fixtures and do not use bulbs that have a higher wattage than recommended. Also remember that light bulbs create heat, especially the most commonly used incandescent bulbs, and they can cause a fire all by themselves if something flammable is too close to the bulb.
Outdated Appliances – Everything from toasters to space heaters becomes dangerous when they have become too old to be safe. It is far better to replace an inexpensive appliance than an entire house.
Electrical wiring is like anything else — it can wear out or become damaged. Updating the electrical system in your home might just be a good idea, especially if the circuit breakers are getting old. Have an electrician check out your home, so you can have peace of mind that you are not at risk of a fire or perhaps an electrical shock to someone in the family.
[source: http://climatecontrolhickory.com/]
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