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Electrical fires are a major public safety risk throughout the United States. The NFPA states that about 46,000 home fires occur every year due to electrical or lighting failure or malfunction. These fires cause approximately 440 deaths and 1250 injuries, and property damage costs approximately $1.5 billion annually.
Older wiring, excessive loads on circuits, and improper use of electrical items are usually held responsible. Much can be done to prevent such dangerous and expensive accidents. These are 15 red flags that most people never even consider regarding electrical fires, along with preventive measures.
Overloaded Outlets
According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 2014 and 2018, electrical distribution and lighting equipment were cited in more than one out of every seven home fires. Too much power drawn from the outlet by so many devices can cause the electrical outlet to overheat, causing a fire.
Adopt the ‘one strike’ rule: only one heavy appliance per outlet. If you can afford them, use power strips with internal overload protection and give your outlets a break when possible. Move those high-energy appliances around to other circuits in your house. Call an electrician immediately if you smell something odd or see sparks.
Old Wiring
Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent yearly on rewiring American homes — but hundreds of millions of American homes built before the 1980s may still have outdated wiring. Unfortunately, wiring can degrade over time, and even these old wiring cords struggle to keep up with the demands of today’s appliances, so the risk of overheating and sparking fires is only increasing.
Some warning signals include the smell of burning, discolorations on or around outlets, and damage to the wires. An electrician can see these problems and recommend changes or new installations. If your home has old wiring, it’s better to upgrade to modern ones, like the copper ones, because they manage the current loads better. Mounting good-quality anti-circuit breakers that have a ground fault and are arc-proof can also help avoid an overload or a fault.
Frayed or Damaged Cords
When a cord becomes frayed or damaged, the electrical wires within are exposed to heat, sparks, and—yes—fires. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says electrical cords and plugs caused more than 10 percent of home fires involving electrical distribution and lighting equipment.
It might be the phone charger mangled into every bend or the extension cord that got through the move. Retire them if you notice any fraying, brittle sections, or scorch marks. When you need them, opt for heavy-duty extension cords and watch those cords that run under rugs because they can hide damage and overload.
Dirty or Blocked Vents
According to the USFA’s statistics, approximately 2,900 home clothes dryer fires occur annually, with approximately five people being killed, 100 sustaining injuries, and $35 million in property damage. One major culprit? Right, you are—clogged dryer exhaust vents!
Clothes dryers must work overtime when vents are clogged with lint or dust. Not only does this consume more energy, but the temperature rises, making for ideal conditions for a fire. Develop the habit of washing your dryer’s lint filter anytime you use it. It may be best to hire a professional to come in and inspect and clean the HVAC systems and all the hidden spaces you cannot clean.
Outdated Appliances
Old appliances are an insidious electrical fire risk that we ignore most of the time because they are still functional, even if they are sluggish or noisy. Appliances older than 10 years may not have certain safety measures that are standard on the models being manufactured now; besides, the connections could get damaged or frayed, which is a serious fire risk.
For instance, the NFPA states that oldsters or microwave ovens might cause sparking when not well maintained. Consider upgrading to more recent models that follow more current safety standards. If you can’t afford to replace it right now, check your cords and plugs for signs of damage (like cracking or discoloration).
Light Bulb Wattage
You are in a rush one day and just pick a bulb that isn’t exactly right for the maximum wattage allowable for that fixture. Almost everyone has, including myself. It may not seem like a big issue, but exceeding that recommended wattage may cause the bulb to overheat.
The NFPA also notes that lighting equipment contributes to slightly over one-tenth of home structure fires. Before you buy a lamp (or overhead fixture), squint at the fine print and double-check that the bulb’s wattage will not raise the heat too much. You can also go the LED way.
DIY Electrical Work
Your big-picture DIY attitude may just set the stage for something much bigger than innovation. DIY electrical work often comes with risks, largely because people are unaware of how intricate electric systems are. Improperly installed systems are a major culprit for overloading circuits, one of the leading causes of electrical fires.
Likewise, wrong connections can lead to heating the wires and, in due course, creating fire. Any significant electrical job should only be performed by a licensed electrician. You can still participate in relatively small work assignments, such as replacing outlet covers or installing new energy-saving light bulbs.
Misuse of Extension Cords
Extension cords are meant for temporary use only. For this reason, they must not be used for permanent connections. Even so, those of us who are busy or lazy seek to find solace in them for a more permanent solution. Each year, home fires due to extension cord use kill 50 people and injure 270 more.
Daisy-chaining a few appliances or plugging several high-wattage devices into one extension cord may cause it to overheat beyond its safe operating temperature, thereby causing a fire. Check the amperage capacity on your devices; this should not exceed the rating on the cord that you want to use. Some brands of cords are equipped with a circuit breaker that can be effective; if you can find one, then you should use it.
Electrical Outlets Near Water Sources
This is true because water is well known to conduct electricity. Therefore, any water that comes into contact with outlets is very dangerous. It should also be noted that any water contact with outlets results in short circuits, sparks, and, where worse, may result in a fire outbreak.
These outlets should also be checked to make sure they’re wired with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) to cut the power and the possibility of lightning striking the water pipes. Since their 1971 introduction, home electrocutions have been reduced by more than 50% through these lifesaver devices.
Inadequate Smoke Alarms
Three of every five home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Most are out of your sight, silently sitting on your ceiling, waiting patiently until they aren’t.
There are times when they are not fitted in such places as the basement or garage, where fires commonly begin unnoticed. Make certain that you have an alarm for every bedroom, near the bedrooms, or on each floor of the house, including the basement. Ensuring that your alarms are tested every month and batteries replaced at least once on that particular chosen monthly date and time can go a long way. Remember that any alarm requires complete replacement every ten years.
Electrical Outlets and Flammable Materials
Though it may sound absurd, materials such as curtains, paper, and even furnishing can be dangerous at times. If an outlet is short-circuited or overheated, it could cause sparks that ignite other materials.
Get started by leaving a lot of space—a foot or more—between outlets and anything flammable. Additionally, take some measures, such as using surge protectors and outlet covers in more crowded rooms like the living room or the kitchen. But if you’re ever in doubt about how your electrical setup looks, hire a professional.
Uncovered Outlets
If you’ve got kiddos running around or an inquisitive pet bopping about, that bare outlet is an open invitation for (possibly) unsavory (and surely naughty) behavior! The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reveals that 30,000 people get non-fatal shocks each year, often because of innocent-looking hazards.
To increase safety and get rid of the risk, use childproof outlet plug covers for unused outlets or sliding safety wall plates.
Arc Faults
Arc faults arise when electrical wiring is damaged or degraded and releases high-intensity sparks capable of starting a fire. A frayed wire, tucked away in the drywall or sitting somewhere behind an electrical device in its old cover or metal case, steadily radiates a little heat and sparks while waiting for just the right moment to light a fire.
Arc faults are sneak because some common uses, such as pushing a cord behind furniture, can cause wire injury over time. Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) look for arc faults and break the electrical circuit before the material that arcs becomes a fire hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has estimated that AFCIs could be as effective as reducing over fifty percent of electrical fire incidents in a year.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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