How To Prevent Electrical Fires at Home

Worn or frayed cables are one of the most common causes of electrical fires in homes.

You can reduce the risk of an electrical fire in your home by hiring a certified electrician to inspect your electrical cables and outlets for damage, overload, and electrical code compliance.

Another way you can avoid electrical fires is by making sure that your electrical cords and appliances are nowhere near sources of water and heat. Also, ensure you use compliant outlets and electrical systems with the right specification for your home.

5 Common Electrics That Can Cause Fire

Here are five common electrical appliances you need to start paying close attention to in your home to avoid electrical fires.

1. Light Fixtures

To prevent electrical fire, only use light bulbs with the appropriate wattage that is not too high for the light fixture. Make sure you are compliant with the recommended bulb wattage and always ensure that your light bulbs and lamps are never covered by materials that could easily heat up and catch fire.

2. Portable Heaters

Avoid placing portable heaters close to combustible objects that can ignite and cause a fire. Coil space heaters should be used with care as the coils can become too hot if left unattended and ignite nearby flammable materials. A radiator-type portable heater is a safer option because heat is diffused over the entire surface of the heater, making it less likely to overheat and ignite.

3. Faulty Appliances and Outlets

Old appliances and faulty outlets pose a significant risk to your home electrics. Old kettles, pressing iron, and water heaters with worn-out cords are the cause of many electrical fires in homes. These frayed cables and bad outlets generate heat that can ignite nearby combustible materials and start a fire.

4. Nonstandard Chargers and Over-Charging

When you use a charger not recommended for charging your device, you do not only harm your device but put your entire room at risk of a fire. High voltage from a nonstandard charger and over-charging can make your device heat up and probably lead to an electrical fire.

5. Overloaded Circuits

Avoid plugging many appliances into one power board or outlet as this can cause a short circuit and an electrical fire. Using too many appliances on a single power point increases the amperage above the recommended level and leads to damage.

How to Prevent Electrical Fires at Home

Start by consulting with a certified electrician on how to prevent electrical fires. Ask your chosen electrical contractor the following key questions to receive insight on common mistakes to avoid and proactive steps to take to prevent electrical fires at home:

What poses a threat to electrical safety in my home?

Your trusted electrician will carry out a thorough audit of your home and identify the outlets, appliances, or systems that compromise your home’s electrical safety. Then he will offer solutions for resolving the issue and advice on common hazardous devices and poor electrical practices to avoid.

Do I have safe wiring in my home?

This is a critical question to ask your electrician as many home fires are caused by faulty electrical wiring. By asking about the safety of the wiring in your home, your electrician will examine your home and recommend solutions to any wiring issues to prevent an electrical fire.

Are there any changes I should make?

By seeking a professional opinion from your electrician about your home electrics, you go the extra mile in ensuring that your house is safe from electrical fires. Your electrician can identify wires, appliances, wiring errors, and overloaded power boards that are potential dangers, and provide valuable tips to correct them.

6 Salient Tips to Prevent Electrical Fires at Home

After consulting with a master electrician, follow these useful tips to avoid electrical fires in your home:

Don’t run electrical cords behind curtains, under rugs, carpets, and other combustible materials.
Replace worn-out cords and fraying plugs as soon as possible.
Replace two-prong outlets with the safer three-pronged outlets with protective earth.
Do not remove a plug by pulling the cord. Hold the head of the plug and safely remove it from the socket.
Plugging too many devices or appliances into an outlet will lead to overload, overheating, and probably fire.
Use portable heaters properly and away from easily flammable objects.

How to Prevent Electrical Fires at Home

How do you prevent electrical fires in your home?

You can avoid electrical fires at home by hiring a professional electrician to conduct an audit of the entire electrical systems in your home. Another way to prevent electrical fires is to carry out a routine inspection of your electrical cables and outlets.

What are 5 tips to prevent an electrical fire?

Don’t run electrical cords behind curtains, under rugs, carpets, and other combustible materials.
Replace worn-out cords and fraying plugs as soon as possible.
Replace two-prong outlets with the safer three-pronged outlets with protective earth.
Do not remove a plug by pulling the cord. Hold the head of the plug and safely remove it from the socket.
Avoid overloading electrical outlets and use portable heaters properly and away from easily flammable objects.

Do outlet covers prevent fires?

No, outlet covers do not prevent electrical fires. They are designed to protect you from electrical injuries caused by contact with naked wires.

What device helps prevent electrical fires?

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)
Circuit Breakers
Fuses
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)
Surge Protectors

What do you do if a plug catches on fire?

If an electrical plug is on fire, switch off the power at the fuse box and pull the plug out of the socket with a fireproof glove. Never use water or compromise your safety to put out an electrical fire.