Electrical fires strike fear in the hearts of most homeowners. These fires are dual threats: in addition to the fire hazard, you also risk electric shock or electrocution if you can’t disable the power. At their most insidious, electrical fires rage within the walls of the home, making them difficult, if not altogether impossible, to extinguish. Fortunately, with the proper precautions and common sense, homeowners can avoid these catastrophic events. Learn about the causes of household electrical fires and how to avoid them to enjoy peace of mind.
Faulty Light Fixtures
Old or poorly installed light fixtures can cause shocks or burns, and over time, failing to intervene could lead to an electrical fire. Keep your eyes, ears, and nose peeled for the signs of a problematic light fixture, such as a flickering light, a buzzing sound emanating from the wires, or a persistent burning smell.
Space Heaters
Space heaters can prove useful to basements in the winter, where the temperature is often several degrees lower than it is on the ground floor. They’re a pleasantly modern alternative to wrapping oneself in bear pelts. However, space heaters are temperamental appliances, and users must operate them with the utmost care. Keep the unit away from any fabrics or furniture that it could ignite. Don’t rely on a space heater by running it for sustained periods, causing it to overheat. Most of all, be careful in a basement with insufficient wiring—never use extension cords and power strips instead of a direct wall outlet. On second thought, maybe wrapping yourself in something warm is the better bet.
System Overload
On the topic of power strips, these handy extenders often cause household electrical fires when people push them beyond their capacities. Every power strip will note its wattage capacity. Be aware of this as you load it—if the combined wattage of everything you plug in exceeds this number, you’ll overload the strip. Multiple high-demand electronics on a single strip, such as a gaming PC and a window AC unit on the same line, can prove too much for the power strip to bear. Don’t run more than one 24/7 unit on the same strip. As for “daisy-chaining” your power strips by connecting one strip to another? Don’t even think about it.
About the Publisher
Bo Kauffmann is a residential real estate agent with over 18 yrs experience in helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals. Inducted into the REMAX Hall of Fame in 2010 and receiving the REMAX Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Bo has sold over 500 houses and condos in the Greater Winnipeg market. He is an accredited buyer representative (A.B.R.) and a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.
Bo provides exceptional service to First-Time Home-Buyers, Seniors looking to downsize and Home Sellers of all ages.
He can be reached easily By E-Mail or call/text him Call/Text Here
Never miss an episode of our real estate podcast. Install our FREE Podcast App available on iOS and Android. For your Apple Devices, click here to install our iOS App. For your Android Devices, click here to install our Android App. Check my videos on Youtube
