How to Reduce the Likelihood of Electrical Fires in Your Home

Posted on

Electrical fires can be very devastating because they spread very fast and pose dangers of electrocution. It is for this reason that you should take every precaution possible to prevent these fires from breaking out. This article discusses some of the things you can do to reduce the likelihood that an electrical fire will break out in your home.

Install an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)

An AFCI works by monitoring how electricity is flowing in your home. Once it detects an irregularity, such as fluctuating voltage, it will immediately turn off the supply of power to your home. This can save your home from an electrical fire when the irregular power supply causes appliances like washers to blow up and ignite.

You should therefore contact an electrical contractor to install the appropriate AFCI basing on the size of your home. Once the power irregularity ends, the circuit interrupter can restore power supply automatically.

Do Not Replace Blown Fuses Without Inspecting the Appliance

Occasionally, fuses may blow or circuits may trip. When that happens, you should never replace that fuse without first establishing why the circuit tripped or the fuse blew. This is because the fuse may have blown because of a short circuit so if you replace it without fixing the problem (short circuit) an electrical fire may break out. It is therefore prudent for you to ask an electrician to inspect your appliance if its fuse blew so that any fault (such as crossed wires) is corrected before it causes a fire.

Inspect Cords and Plugs Regularly

This inspection can be at two levels; the first is a visual inspection for cracks and frays. The second inspection should be conducted by an experienced electrician so that the electrician identifies any defects that you could not detect while you conducted the visual inspection.

The electrician has specialized tools like current flow detectors which identify all places where current is present (such as in bathroom walls) so that remedial action is taken before that current causes a fire or electrocutes a family member.

You should therefore inspect your cords and plugs regularly (such as every three months) so that any faults are detected early before they endanger you and your family members. You can also call electricians like Urban Electrical Contractors at least once each year to inspect your electrical system thoroughly so that he or she repairs any defects that developed in that year.

Keep this advice in mind and you will take a big step towards reducing the threat of an electrical fire occurring in your home.


Share