How to Prevent Electrical Fires

Electrical fires are dangerous, damaging and deadly. Many electrical fires are caused by old and outdated electrical systems and fuse boxes when they are overloaded by the surge of electricity that today’s modern appliances often require when they are turned on.

According to Bill Lutz, an electrician with Generation 3 Electric in Philadelphia, the first step in preventing an electrical fire is to have your home inspected by a licensed home inspector or electrician. These professionals can tell you if your electrical system is subject to risk or if it contains some of the many components that may have passed safety ratings years ago, but are seen as a fire hazard today. In addition to these basic precautions, you can take other preventative measures to insure you never know of the disastrous horror that is a home electrical fire.

Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: First and foremost is to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home with new batteries. Test your batteries frequently to make sure they are fresh and your alarm is in a loud and working condition. This obvious step cuts your chances of dying in a fire in half, according to the National Fire Protection Association. With so many houses sealed almost airtight because of modern insulation, carbon monoxide detectors are also a necessary safety feature in any home. This basic precaution is the easiest and most effective form of protection against fires.

Arc Fault Breakers: Arc faults are one of the leading causes of electrical fires at home. An arc fault breaker, or arc fault circuit interrupter, detects faulty electricity arcs such as loose connections and damaged wires and immediately cuts power if a wire, cord or appliance starts to spark. They have been shown to stop fires and no one has died in a home electric fire since they have been installed. The only downside is that it can be a nuisance if your breaker gets tripped because of a minor surge that is not dangerous. But considering the alternative, it seems a small price to pay. In the near future, EFCIs — Electrical Fault Circuit Interrupters — will be used, which is a similar, but more advanced, technology.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs): A ground fault is an accidental path between a current and the ground. If one touches a current source and a conduit that leads to the ground (like a water pipe), the person will essentially become a live wire and can be electrocuted as electricity continuously flows through him. GFCIs are outlets that can detect a sudden drainage of electricity and will turn off immediately. They work by measuring the current flowing out versus what is flowing in. And if they detect that electricity is leaking via the non-planned path through your body, the circuit will immediately shut off. You might still get a slight shock, but a GFCI will save you from a fatal electrocution.