Each and every year residential fires occur all across the country. There are many different reasons that residential fires occur. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that one of the causes for residential fires are caused by electrical issues. In 83% of residential building electrical fires the fire occurs in one- and two-family dwellings. The most common month for this type of fire to occur is January. This is because the weather outside is colder and more people are using heating appliances. Sentry Electric wants to make sure that your home does not burst into flames during winter or any other time. In an effort to prevent this from happening we are going to discuss the most common causes of electrical fires so that you know what to watch out for.

Space Heater Outlet Fire

One of the most frequent causes of home fires is space heaters. When the weather outside is cold many people use spaces heaters to help keep their home warm. The concern with space heaters is that people do not use them properly. Space heaters need to be used away from flammable items, carpet, clothes, and furniture. They should also only be used when you are in the room that it is operating in. If you are careful with your space heater you can avoid an electrical fire.

Electrical Wall Outlet Caught Fire

Another common cause of electrical fires is faulty electrical outlets. Over time electrical outlets start to wear down. Wires loosen and can eventually break the longer they are used. If these wires break it will cause an electrical fire. You will want to look for signs that your outlets need to be replaced. One warning sign is that your cords will not stay in the outlet. Another sign is that you cannot even get the cord to plug into the outlet anymore. Other times the outlet does not consistently work. If you are experiencing any of these signs Sentry Electric can come out and help you replace the outlet before you end up with an electrical fire or other issues.

Electrical Outlet Fire with Old Appliance Plugged In

Next up on the list of common causes of electrical fires is old appliances. Many times old appliances still work just fine so we do not pay that much attention to them. You will want to check out the cords on older appliances periodically though. If these cords start to fray or become loose it could cause an electrical fire. If this happens you will want to consider replacing the appliance.

Overloading Electrical Circuit

Last up on our list of electrical fire causes is overloading an outlet or power strip. In an effort to get all of your appliances and gadgets plugged in, many of us use power strips. Using a power strip is not an issue as long as you do not overload it. Many people make the mistake of not thinking about the need for the power strip to be able to withstand the amount of energy that you are plugging into it. Be careful not to plug in too much to one power strip. You may want to consider having Sentry Electric add some additional electrical outlets to your home to help solve this problem.

Emergency Electrical Repair & More in Wildomar, Rainbow, Murrieta, Temecula, California

Sentry Electric hopes you learned about some ways that you can prevent an electrical fire from happening in your home. If you are not sure if the electrical outlets and cords in your home are safe give Sentry Electric a call. We can help answer any questions that you may have.

Always buy your electrical lighting from a reputable retailer. Make sure that the lights that you are purchasing have a ‘tested for safety’ marking or branding on the side of the box. Look for certification marks such as CSA, ETL, UL or any other nationally approved laboratory. LED lights are a great option for exterior lighting as they use less energy, run cooler and last longer than the standard incandescent lightbulbs you may be used to. Before you buy any lights from the store, be sure to inspect them for broken or malfunctioned bulbs. Planting outdoor lights and decorations is not as simple as just plugging them in! First you have to make sure that any lights that are to be used outdoors are plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter in order to reduce the risk of electrical shock to anybody in the area. This is a must for electrical safety. You pick up a Portable GFCI from any electrical supply store. Make sure that all the lights and decorations are firmly secured to solid structures to prevent damage caused by the high winds we often experience in the Temecula area. If you are placing different colored and scented candles for your holiday decorations, make sure that they are away from any combustible or flammable material such as plastics or fabrics. Instead of using regular wax candles (which could be a hazard), choose instead battery-operated candles which are much safer.