How to Avoid Electric Fires in Your Home

Perhaps the most tragic thing about more than 25,000 fires in electricity-related homes every year in the US is that the vast majority of them could have been prevented. Appropriate security measures have been taken. In most cases, these are very simple tips that you can do right now. Just be careful to use your electrical appliances, sockets and more. proper handling can significantly reduce your family's chances of an electric fire tragedy, so read these tips and walk around your home and make sure everyone is following them today.

 

1. Don't overload your outlets

Extension cords should be temporary rather than permanent solutions.

The circuits of each outlet are designed to transmit a certain amount of electricity, and overloading with extension cords and too many plugs does just that. This is one of the most common causes of electric fires and is completely preventable. Make sure your surge protector is equipped with an internal switch that turns off the power. If your family has too many tools to plug in at the same time, it's probably time to install new sockets and cables.

 

2. Use GFCI sockets near water

Kitchens, bathrooms, workshops with sinks, and every outdoor outlet must have a "ground fault circuit breaker" outlet. You've seen them-solid-looking sockets with three-decked plug drives with two buttons marked between "Test" and "Reset". These outlets are specifically designed for power outages when they feel moisture. If you have an old outlet in your kitchen, bathroom or any other room where water is running, without these buttons, contact Root electric immediately to replace them.

 

3. Keep flammable items away from sockets and power cables

Avoid placing furniture, curtains, jewelry, boxes, or other flammable objects in front of (or very close to) the exhaust pipe. Most sockets emit inconspicuous heat, but if overloaded,(see fig. Step 1) or otherwise they fail, they can generate much more heat, cause sparks, and then fire the one closest to them. Use this chance! In fact, feel your sockets regularly to see if they are noticeably hot (they shouldn't).

If so, the electrical repair is complete.

 

4. Turn off small devices and devices when not in use

According to some studies, on average, at least 50 electrical devices or devices were connected in the family at any given time. Of course, very few people turn off their entertainment systems when they leave the house, and there is no point in turning off the fridge. However, we recommend turning things off, such as a toaster and other small kitchen appliances, every day before you leave. And never leave the heater on when you're not there! They're known for their electric fireplaces! The same thing applies to:,for electric heated blankets. Try to get used to disconnecting now, as this will cause a lot of fires when kitchen appliances are left plugged in and unattended. Also turn off small devices that you use in the bathroom.

 

In addition, if you're not at home, even in the "Off" position, you can save more on electricity by separating all these things from the computer, printer and entertainment systems from the wall to absorb energy from the system and add October to your electricity bill.

 

5. Decommissioning Of Older Devices

We know you love every moment of using every device you have, because these can be expensive! But these decadent, faulty devices may be among the worst electric fire triggers! Therefore, if any of your devices have the following signs of wear, dispose of them safely and purchase a newer, safer model as soon as possible:

 

·         Frayed electrical cables

·         Its use causes light to flicker, room or off them (we look at you, old microwave ovens...)

·         Spark when opened.

·         Excessive heat from the device

 

These are signs of an electric fire disaster that hasn't happened yet, so don't ignore them!

 

6. Limiting the use of room heaters

One of the main causes of electric fires is the long-term use of electric heaters. We recommend that people limit the use of heaters to using them only when the room is full. We also recommend running at 1/2 power instead of full power. The 1/2 watt heater keeps the off heat at full power, but there is no risk of damaging the sockets or overloading the circuit.

 

7. Schedule a regular electrical safety check

Plan (make a family event so everyone knows these safety tips) in October, in addition to these 5 things you can walk around your home and do right now. Regularly check electrical safety and electrical regulations with your electricians in California. If you have any concerns or questions, we can help you decide how to solve the problems listed above, you can also check your electrical panel, cables and other areas that you would be unsafe to check yourself. Electrical safety checks provide great peace of mind for you and your family and give buyers a little more incentive if you try to sell your home.

Residential Electrical Safety Inspection: When and Why?

Electric house inspection provides in-depth inspection of your entire electrical system, ensuring that all electrical cables, systems, and components (such as devices) meet legal safety standards. The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the code that all electricians use when inspecting your home and defines the parameters of the minimum standards in the United States. After completing the house inspection, you will have a report with details on what was checked and what needs to be done. You will notice that some are of more importance than others.

 

When do you need an electrical inspection to your home?

• There are times when homeowners need to schedule an electrical Home Safety Check:
• Housing purchase
• When the house is 40 years old or older
• When adding a new appliance or device (especially if big)
• When the estate underwent a major repair
• When something is wrong with your electrical – e.g. flickering lights, tripping breaker, many outlets stop working at once

 

Why Should You Do an Electrical Inspection?

Electrical house inspections are important for the safety of your home and everyone inside. Checking your home electrical system by a professional gives you peace of mind:

• Ensures safe operation of electrical components in your home
• Identifies common electrical failures by contractors and previous homeowners – important if you are buying a home
• Checks for old cables such as aluminum or knob and tube wire
• Verifies faulty or old wiring and components that may fail overtime
• Detects oversized fuses or switches that could cause a fire
• Helps you save energy and reduce costs
• Ensures compliance with insurance risk assessment requirements

 

Will You Pass or Fail an Electrical Inspection?

For homes, most official home electrical checks are ordered at the time of purchase or in case of a problem that seems difficult to diagnose. Prevention and regular maintenance is the best way to ensure you will pass a home inspection when you need to. Otherwise, here are the most common reasons why some homes fail an electrical inspection:

 

• Knob and tube wiring
• Overcrowded plugs and circuits
• Poor wiring placement and quality
• Problems with smoke and fire detectors
• New devices installed in faulty wiring systems
• Sockets in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, and outside the home is not upgraded to GFCI
• Lack of special circuits for large appliances
• Pulling cord to turn on light and no wall switches

 

Commercial vs Residential Inspection

We recommend hiring an accredited professional inspector in whichever case. For commercial properties it is recommended to have is inspected about every 5 years. For residential homes, you can stretch it to about 10 years if nothing else changed in your electrical systems, such as new big appliances, overcrowding of wiring, and no electrical problems.

Ensuring the safety of your home should be a priority for you and your family. Avoid unnecessary risks and additional costs if you can.  Moreover, keep up with your electrical system and upgrade when needed.   

Understanding Your Electrical Panel

 

Every homeowner should be aware that there is an electrical panel somewhere in their house or condo. In fact, if you live in a rental home, you should find out where your panel is on day one, should an emergency occur. Think about the panel as the heart of the electrical network. Large amounts of power are brought into the panel by your local electric company. Then, the panel will split into circuits and distribute the power in lesser amounts to the various components of the network.

Panel Vs Subpanel

Some panels drive a single item, maybe a large appliance that needs a lot of power and a dedicated breaker or disconnect. Some outside units for air conditioning equipment require a mini panel, or subpanel near the unit so the power can be disconnected at the site for maintenance. Most simple homes will have only one main panel. Some bigger home that runs big appliances may have sub-panels along.

Panel Capacity

Most home residence’s panels will receive 200-240 volt input. The newer or homes will have an updated panel able to provide a 200amp service. You may also have this if you upgraded your old electrical panel. The old system has one large breaker for 100 amp service with only 120 volts being available. The new and currently used panels have two large breakers for 200+ amp service with two strips offering 120 volts on each side. On the bottom side of the panel, you can find two long rows of screws that allow for attaching the ground wires into the panel.

Inside the panel box you can have two types of breakers. The first is a single-width breaker, about 1/2-3/4 inch wide with clips attaching to the power strips for 120 volt service. The second breaker is a double width that can attach to both sides at the same time. That means it gets 120 volt form each side to be able to produce 220 volt. This type of circuit is the current standard and is desired for most families who wish to have a dryer, a toaster, and over, a microwave, and air conditioning for example. Using the microwave and the toaster at the same time with the dryer should not be a problem anymore if you upgrade to a 220 volt panel.

Wiring

The wiring to be used will defer depending on which type of voltage you want to use. That is why some people need to upgrade their wiring along with the electrical panel. As you can imagine, if there is more power going through, the wiring itself needs to be more resistant and “heavier”.

Why Dealing With Electrical Panels Is Not A DIY Project

Electrocution is a real hazard. Dealing with anything electrical is not something you can learn by watching a 10min video on YouTube. Think about it, it takes about 5-6 years for a Santa Barbara electrician to become a journeyman, meaning independent from supervision. You may cause injury to yourself and your family and incur the risk to damaging part of your house should you cause an electrical fire.