Our friends across the pond—otherwise known as England and the U.K.—have been celebrating National Electrical Fire Safety this past week, and we have to give them a round of applause.
Electrical fire safety is an important part of Fire Prevention Week held in the U.S. in October as well, but really, anytime is a good time to review electrical fire safety.
On average, about 48,000 electrical fires happen in U.S. homes each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Between 2007 to 2011 electrical fires caused 455 deaths, more than 1,500 injuries and $1.48 billion in direct property damage. Roughly half of those fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment.
That’s a serious risk to life and property, and we here at Eric Krise Electric can’t stress enough the importance of regularly checking and maintaining your electrical system.
So in the spirit of the U.K.’s Electrical Fire Safety Week, here are smart tips to prevent electrical fires from the National Fire Protection Association.
1) Always make sure your electrical work is done by a certified electrician.
2) Plug one heat producing appliance such as a coffeemaker, toaster, microwave, etc., into an outlet at a time.
3) Think about having an arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) installed. They are a circuit breaker that shuts off electricity when a dangerous electrical incident occurs.
4) Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) shut of an electrical circuit when there is a risk of shock. Install them in your bathrooms, kitchens, garages, basements, and outdoor receptacles.
5) Make sure to test your AFCIs and GFCIs every month.
6) Electrical cords shouldn’t run under carpets or across doorways.
7) If you are using extension cords as a permeant solution, think about adding more outlets. Extension cords are intended for a temporary solution.
8) Check to make sure the light bulbs you are using match the recommended wattage.
9) Electrical cords that look damaged or frayed should be replaced.
10) If you have children, think about getting tamper-resistant (TR) receptacles.
11) Always read the manufacturer’s instructions before plugging an appliance into an outlet.
12) If you ever notice a warm outlet feel warm outlet, this could be a sign of a serious problem. Call us to get one of our qualified electricians to check it out.
13) Always keep your lamps of level surfaces and away from anything that may burn easily.
Do you live in Gloucester County, Salem County, or Cumberland County and have electrical concerns at your home or office? Call us at 856.769.3932.