Preventing Electrical Fires in Your Canton Home

9/24/2020 (Permalink)

Take care to make sure that electrical fires don't happen in your home.

As a homeowner, there are many maintenance items on your checklist each year, electrical safety being among the most important. Electrical fires are one of the most common causes of household fires, but they can be easily prevented through proper maintenance and awareness. 

There are different ways to avoid electrical fires that almost anyone can follow. The first way is by checking electrical outlets within the household. Improperly installed electrical outlets are one of the top causes of electrical fires. Check for any loose plates or broken wall plates because this ensures that the wiring and components are not left uncovered. As an added safety measure, if children are present within a household, be sure to cover up any unused outlets.

Another way to avoid electrical fires is by checking the plugs within a household. Be sure to never force a plug into an outlet. When plugging in a three pin plug into a two pronged outlet, never remove the third pin from the plug. Instead, use an adapter for a three pin to two prong outlet, it’ll save some time & money and more importantly keep you safe. Be sure to never overload an outlet with too many plugs and adapters because it can cause the outlet to short circuit and start a fire. 

An additional safety measure is making sure to check the cords within the household. Check to make sure that each cord isn’t frayed, cracked, under a carpet, or areas where there’s high foot traffic. Never staple cords to walls, floors, and other objects because it can cause the above mentioned issues with the cords. If cords are damaged or frayed, be sure to replace them immediately. 

Once you have assessed your household with these ways in mind, be sure to fix any issues upon encountering them. A safe household is a happy household. And of course, be sure to call SERVPRO in the event of a disaster. SERVPRO can handle fire damage restoration making it appear "Like it never even happened."