How to Prevent Electrical Fire Hazards

October 19, 2018

October is more than Halloween season: it is also National Fire Prevention Month! The National Fire Protection Association uses this time of the year to help educate families on how to create safer homes and how to react in emergency situations.

At Buzz Electrical, we consider out customers’ safety to be our number one priority. We decided to join the campaign for fire safety awareness this year and keep our customers informed about the dangers of electrical fires. Here is our tutorial on how to prevent electrical fire hazards in your home.

1. Inspect your fixtures and wiring.

One of the most common places for an electrical fire to start is at the spark of some faulty wiring. Homes built more than 20 years ago are prone to wiring issues because they were constructed under different electrical code requirements. If you notice flickering lights, hot outlets, buzzing lamps, burning odors, or copper wiring instead of aluminum, you should schedule an electrical inspection right away. If you ignore warning signs of faulty wiring, it drastically increases your odds of starting an electrical fire.

2. Plug in carefully.

Never plug in an electronic appliance if the cord is worn or frayed. Never remove the third prong on a plug to make it fit into a two-prong outlet. Only use extension cords as a temporary solution; do not leave electronics plugged in to them 24/7. If you follow these outlet rules, you can prevent sparks from your electronic devices that could easily start an electrical fire.

3. Upgrade to GFCI outlets.

If you live in a home without GFCI outlets, consider investing in them. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets are designed to protect you and your home from power surges. Modern electrical codes require GFCI outlets near any potential water source in a home to help prevent electrocution, damage to electronic devices, and electrical fires.

4. Don’t overload your circuits.

If you use too many different electrical appliances at once in one area of your home, it can overload and trip your circuit breaker. However, if issues with your appliances or internal wiring go undetected, an overloaded circuit can quickly start an electrical fire. If you notice your circuit breaker tripping frequently, try to distribute your use of electronics more evenly across your home. If this doesn’t solve the problem, you may need to add a designated circuit for one room, or upgrade your electrical panel to 200 amps.

5. Use surge protection.

Power surges are more common than most people realize, and they can take a toll on your electronics over time. A power surge is a sudden increase in the amount of electricity flowing into your home. They most commonly occur during thunderstorms as lightning strikes near your home or on a power line. While power surges are normally silent killers of your devices, in some cases they can cause electronics to spark.

To prevent power surges from affecting your home, plug your cords into a surge protection device. Not every power strip automatically comes with surge protection, so be sure to research before you purchase. Consider investing in whole home surge protection that will protect your entire electrical system.

Use this tutorial to help you understand how to prevent electrical fires.

This October, celebrate National Fire Prevention Month with us. Take inventory of your cords, appliances, fixtures, wiring, and outlets and inspect them for any danger signs. If you need electrical upgrades to bring your home up to code or if you want to schedule an electrical inspection from a seasoned professional, give us a call today.

Family owned and operated Buzz Electrical is Fayetteville’s leading electrical company! If you need to protect your Arkansas home from potential fire hazards with electrical repairs or electrical upgrades, we are here to help. Give us a call at (479) 267-2899.