Electrical Fire Prevention Tips

With the upcoming fall and winter seasons quickly approaching us, it’s important for homeowners to understand the various hidden dangers that are associated with electrical fires. In fact, $2 billion in property loss occurs each year from winter home fires. For this reason, there are various precautions that you can take to protect your home from the hidden dangers of electrical fires.

Bring out a certified professional electrician

Before we get to some of the dangers to be aware of around your home, it’s important to mention the value of a certified electrician. Bringing in an electric repairman for a safety inspection of your home is your best bet to ensure that your home is safe. For homes that are 20 years and older, a safety inspection from an electrician is a must-have. There’s a good chance that you may have some out-of-date electrical components that need to be replaced to ensure that your home is as safe as possible.

Common causes for electrical fires:

• Faulty appliances and outlets — faults in receptacles and switches can pose serious dangers. An electrician can evaluate these around your home to make sure they are in good condition. Old appliances should also be evaluated to make sure they are safe.
• Light fixture issues — specifically, installing a light bulb with a wattage too high for the light fixture. Always make sure that you are using the proper wattage.
• Extension cords — undersized extension cords often overheat. Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis. Many people tend to use extension cords with space heaters in the colder months. Never put cords underneath rugs and keep the heaters away from combustible surfaces (curtains, clothes, couches, etc.). Again, extension cords should be temporary! Have an electrician install an outlet wherever needed in your home.
• Out-dated wiring — A certified electrician can evaluate the wiring in your home to make sure that all of your wiring is up-to-date to handle the proper capacity of the appliances and devices throughout you home.

Secure your home with your kids in mind

It’s that time of year — back to school season! While safety is always a top concern when it comes to kids, this is a great time of year to review all of the safety components related to your home, especially when it comes to your electrical devices, appliances and outlets.

Installing electrical socket covers is certainly a good precautionary measure for those with babies; however, it’s also important to ensure the safety of older kids as well. For example, Wemo smart plugs are great devices to help you remotely control different outlets around your home. Here’s a scenario to show you how it works: If you set up the Wemo smart plug on an outlet where you and your kids use a hot iron in the mornings before work and school, you can turn it off remotely if you realized later on that you forgot to turn it off. These smart plugs provide a peace of mind for those with large families that you use multiple electronic devices during those rushed school mornings.

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