The 5 Most Common Causes of Electrical Fires In The Home
Fires often occur because of defects in wiring or appliance failure, and many happen because of outdated electrical service components or overloaded electrical outlets.
Here are the 5 most common causes of electrical fires in the home:
1. Faulty electrical outlets and aging appliances. This can include faults in appliance cords, receptacles and switches. If an appliance has a worn or frayed cord it can generate dangerous levels of heat, igniting surfaces like rugs and curtains, starting a fire.
2. Using ungrounded plugs. Appliances have the a third prong so they can be only used in outlets designed to handle the demands of higher wattage appliances. Never circumvent the ground on an appliance or power cord.
3. Overloading light fixtures. Installing a high wattage bulb into a lamps or light fixtures that it is not designed for is a leading cause of electrical fires. Always install a bulb that is within the recommended wattage.
4. Placing flammable material near light fixtures. Placing cloth or paper over a lampshade can cause the material heat up and ignite, causing a fire.
5. Extension cord misuse. Large appliances should not be plugged into an extension cord. If you do not have a nearby outlet for your appliances, you should have one installed.
6. Space heaters. Placing electric heater too close to combustible surfaces such as curtains, bedding and furniture is a leading cause of house fires. Coil space heaters should be avoided if possible. Liquid filled “Soft heat” electric heaters are safest.
5. Old wiring. If your home is over 25 years old, it may not have the capacity to handle today’s energy intensive homes. In addition, outdated breaker boxes often have worn connectors that do not work, causing the system to overload.
