These Unsafe Behaviors Could Lead to an Electrical Fire

Few things are as frightening as the prospect of a house fire. every year the U.S.there is an average of 358,500 home structure fires per year, resulting in an annual $8.9 billion in property damage and, more importantly, 2,620 deaths each year. It will come as no surprise to learn that cooking, which obviously involves the use of a heating element, results in nearly half of home fires; however, 10% of house fires are caused by electrical problems, which can be harder to detect and prevent. Luckily, you can reduce your chances of having an electrical fire by avoiding a few dangerous, but common, behaviors.

Here are a few of the most common behaviors and why they could be dangerous.

Using three-prong adapters

If you live in an older home, then you might have outlets that only have holes for two-prong plugs. Rather than go through the hassle and expense of replacing the outlet in order to use the very common three-prong plugs that are found on a variety of devices, many people opt to simply plug in a two-to-three-prong adapter. Unfortunately, this simple work around increases your chances of a house fire because it circumvents the added protection of the ground wire (the third hole/prong). The ground wire provides a kind of safety valve which helps prevent surges of electricity from causing damage to you, the outlet, and the device.

Plugging into loose outlets

A loose outlet, meaning one that plugs easily fall out of, might seem like just a minor annoyance; however, in reality these represent a dangerous potential source of a house fire. Because the blades of the plug are able to jiggle around inside the outlet, they are prone to producing excess heat which can result in a fire. Plugs that aren't fully inserted into an outlet can also result in a shock if contacted.

Ignoring frayed wires

This one is simple: never plug in a cable whose insulation is damaged or removed. If you can see the metal of the wire, then electricity can escape and cause a shock or spark. Promptly repair or replace any damaged wiring, especially in areas with water such as bathrooms and kitchens. Because water conducts electricity very well, its presence greatly increases the likelihood of an electrical shock.

Letting circuit breakers trip frequently

Circuit breakers are designed to prevent your home's electrical system from becoming overloaded and potentially dangerous. If you have a particular circuit breaker that seems to trip whenever you turn on too many things, then you might be inclined to ignore it; after all, the breaker is doing what it's supposed to do! However, it would be much safer to have an electrician upgrade your breaker box and confirm that there isn't a dangerous short causing the issue.

These are just a few of the common mistakes that people are making when it comes to their home's electrical systems.