Electrical safety advice from FirstEye
Our advice on preventing electrical fires
Unfortunately electrical fires are amongst the most common causes of fire damage, injury or even death in the home. When you consider that the majority of electrical fires could be easily avoided, it’s well worth carrying out a few straightforward checks and being aware of the warning signs. Being aware of the danger of electrical fires could not only help prevent damage to your home, it could also save your life.
How to spot the warning signs
Statistically the winter months are the most dangerous when it comes to electrical fires in the home. This is because the days are shorter so heating; lighting and appliances are likely to be switched on for longer. We tend to stay indoors more in the winter which means that more rooms in the house are used, increasing the risk of faulty or poorly connected appliances causing a fire.
It’s a common misconception that most electrical fires are spontaneous but this is not the case. In the majority of cases there are warning signs and if you spot sockets or plugs which feel hot to the touch, stop using them immediately. Some plugs do get hot and if this is the case, then the manufacturer should indicate this, however as a general rule of thumb, a hot plug or socket should not be used until it has been checked by a qualified electrician.
Poor wiring is another cause of electrical fires and any plugs which have frayed or exposed wires is potentially very dangerous. Frayed or exposed wires can mean that the plug is ‘live’ when touched and this could cause a very serious or even fatal electric shock.
Plugging more than one appliance into the same socket can be a recipe for disaster, especially when an appliance is plugged into a socket that is already being used by an appliance which is used regularly or for long periods such as a television or kettle. If your home doesn’t have sufficient plug sockets, the safest option is have additional sockets installed by a qualified electrician.
It’s also important to make sure that you always use the correct wattage of bulb in lamp or light fittings. Using a bulb of a higher wattage than the lamp or fitting is designed for can prove to be very dangerous and because the internal wiring will degrade, you won’t be able to spot the danger signs. Again a qualified electrician will be able to provide you with advice on the correct bulbs to use in the light fittings in your home.
Contact Firsteye for qualified, professional advice on preventing electrical fires
Electrical safety in the home is something which should be taken very seriously and if you would like advice on any aspect of electrical safety, we’d be happy to help. Are quotes are free and without obligation so why not get in touch to find out more?
