How to Prevent Electrical Fires in your Home

10/3/2023 (Permalink)

Understanding how to properly and safely use your system can help homeowners to prevent fire damage in their homes and save them from expensive accide

It is not uncommon for homeowners in Little Rock to not fully understand the electrical system that runs in their homes. Many people do not understand the limitation of electrical outlets and propensity of oversized items to fail in dangerous ways from improper use.

For most families, preventing dangerous situations is a top priority. This begins with having a better understanding of the limitations and restrictions of your electrical system. Understanding how to properly and safely use your system can help homeowners to prevent fire damage in their homes and save them from expensive accidents. 

One of the first things to consider is that electrical outlets only are rated for a specific amount of available power. When you plug in a device into an outlet that requires more power than the outlet can provide, it will under-power the device and overload the outlet, causing sparks and combustion. SERVPRO® technicians have responded to many emergency situations in both residential and commercial buildings caused by this exact situation.  

Another common mistake homeowners make is when they believe that all of their outlets are grounded. Many assume that since their home is grounded with a wire outside that all of their outlets are protected, whether or not they have a grounding slot. Unless the electrician who installed your electrical system connected all of your outlets to the grounding rod in the fuse box, some of your outlets may not be protected. 

Adaptors for three-pronged appliances to plug into two-pronged outlets do not provide surge protection. Power surges can and do start fires, so using this method to plug in your device poses a serious hazard to your home. Improper use of extension cords and power strips are another common cause of electrical fires. Like outlets, people may not realize that their cord or power strip is not rated for the device(s) they are using it with or may plug too many items into it at once. It is important to check the rating of the extension cord and to only use it temporarily, they are not meant to be a long term solution. Always unplug these items when they are not in use. 

Gaining a better understanding of your home’s electrical system, its limitations, and the safety guidelines surrounding it can help prevent fires and disasters in your home. 

If you are already facing a fire disaster, our SERVPRO® of Little Rock fire restoration specialists are here to help. We will help you clean up the mess and get your home back to preloss conditions quickly. Give us a call 24/7 at (501-803-9700).

Click here for fire emergencies.