3 Ways Your Electricals Can Burn Down Your House (and how to avoid it)

3/23/2021 (Permalink)

Electrical Fires are common problems in the family home (and in businesses). Their damage can range from small to catastrophe.

At SERVPRO, we've seen family homes severely damaged from easily avoidable electrical issues. We urge you to read this closely, but more importantly follow the steps. A few minutes every few months could save your home or business going up in flames. 

What Are The Leading Causes of Electrical Fires?

1. A lack of air flow: Electrical equipment and wires heat up. Obvious? Yep! But we commonly have multiple wires sitting together, without the ability to cool down. Just like this person in Parkersburg! [Click here to view] 

2. Overloading the Circuit. Have you ever seen (or even have) a power board with piles of cords plugged into it? Sometimes these can get so crazy that it looks like a game of Pick up Sticks. Each cable added to the power board exponentially increases the risk of short-circuiting happening, which can spark and cause a fire.

3. Damaged Wires: Damaged wires are a fire waiting to happen. Similar to having an overloaded circuit, a damaged wire has a dramatically increased risk of creating a spark and therefore creating a fire.

How to Avoid these Risks in under 5 minutes.

Make sure to routinely check your power outlets and wires. It will take you less than a few minutes to do the entire home (or business). 

1. Check your wires have enough space: Resolving this issue will be the longest to fix of the three. This issue may require professional help such as from an electrician. But before you "put this on the back burner" have another look at what happened to a home in Parkersburg (who were lucky). [Click here to view] 
2. Check your Power Outlets: As a general rule, if your power boards have 3 sockets, only use the 3. Do not add additional adapters into the sockets. 
3. Replace all damaged wires: Wires are thankfully affordable to replace these days. So if there's a cable that's damaged, throw it out and buy a new one. If it requires special attention we recommend calling your local electrician for help. Remember, a few dollars to get someone to fix it is cheaper than a burned out room in your home!

We hope this has helped. To read through 3 Ways Your Kitchen Can Burn Your House Down (and How to Avoid It) click here.

If you ever need any questions answered, or need help with fire, mold, storm or water damage, please call your local team at SERVPRO on 304-428-7378 or contact us on our contact page.

From the team at SERVPRO of Wood, Ritchie & Pleasants Counties.