According to the National Fire Protection Association, an average of over 47,000 house fires were caused by electrical failure or malfunction between 2007 and 2011. The fires resulted in 455 deaths, 1,518 injuries and $1.5 billion in property damage.
Here are some tips that will keep your home and your family safe from fires:
- Listen to your breaker. A breaker that trips immediately after being reset indicates an electrical problem. If a breaker won’t reset, it could indicate that there’s too much of an electrical load or other severe electrical problems. Contact a qualified electrician to take care of these problems.
- Have a fire extinguisher on hand and know how to use it effectively. All houses should be equipped with a fire extinguisher to manage small fires. You and your family should know how to effectively use a fire extinguisher, so you’ll be ready when the moment arrives when you have to use it. Just use the simple PASS method:
- Pull the pin.
- Aim the extinguishers nozzle at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the handle.
- Sweep the nozzle side-to-side until the flames are out.
- Repair or replace damaged or loose electrical cords.
- Always cut the power when making electrical repairs.
- Replace ceiling fans that wobble. Check for loose or damaged hardware. Your fan may be installed on a box that is not listed for supporting a fan and you may have to replace the box.
- Make sure your home has tamper resistant receptacles if you have small children at home.
- Replace old appliances. Sometimes an old appliance may leak out some current because of worn-out insulation. The problem can really be of concern if the appliance is on a concrete floor or one that is damp with condensation. The best alternative is to replace these appliances with a model that conserves energy.
- Avoid overloading outlets. Only one high-wattage appliance should be plugged into a receptacle at a time.
When you have a minor electrical repair to undertake, such as replacing circuit breakers or ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), the professionals at Bauer Construction are ready to help. Our experienced team is prepared to take care of all of your minor electrical repair tasks.