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5 Common Causes of An Electrical Fire
4/28/2021 (Permalink)
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Is your home or business prone to an electrical fire?
Electrical fires are a source of great misery for both commercial and residential owners. There is sufficient data to support the fact that many fire damage claims result from faulty electrical wiring.
It is imperative to know if your home or business can potentially be the harbor of a threatening fire outbreak. This post will answer questions regarding electrical fires and what to do when a fire outbreak occurs.
How do electrical fires start?
Electricity is our everyday staple that we need to run our daily lives. But we often tend to take it for granted, especially when there is no maintenance towards it. Electrical fires start due to poor conservation and upkeep. There needs to be a regular check on the electrical panels and electrical appliances to prevent an electrical fire. Even with the most thorough inspection, an electrical fire can still start from other reasons like a weather-related incident.
The five reasons why
The number of hazards in residential areas took place in either bedroom, attics, or small spaces. It is essential to rule out the common causes of such an outbreak that can help you prevent such future fire damage. Here are some of them:
1) Light appliances
Any component related to lamps or bulbs requires a specific wattage for it to operate on. If it is too great of a wattage being imparted to the light source, it can potentially lead to an outbreak of fire. So it is advised to double-check the recommended wattage on any light fixture to ensure it does not go above the recommended amount. Also, the use of paper or cloth to cover a lampshade can trigger a fire.
2) Damaged appliances
The maximum amount of fire-related accidents are owed to damaged appliances. It can either be a faulty cord or a switch. The heat from the device or appliance may catch carpeting or upholstery on fire.
3) Extension cords
There is a lot of mistreatment associated with the use of extension cords. People tend to connect their appliances to an extension wire instead of the main switch. It does work temporarily, but it can potentially lead to a fire outbreak in the long run.
4) Portable heaters
Portable heaters are easy to carry, and because they are lightweight, people tend to put them anywhere without considering the surface it is being placed on. The professionals at SERVPRO have seen fire damages from a portable heater placed on a bed, chair, or carpet. These appliances heat up fast and can ignite any surface near them.
5) Old wires
Faulty or old wiring can cause the fire to trigger, especially if the building has been an old construction. Old wiring cannot withstand a more significant electricity load and may lead to an uneventful fire outbreak. In modern-day circuitry, there are circuit breakers installed to alert when the electric load exceeds its capacity. But in old and faulty wiring cases, the breakers often do not work, leading to a fire outbreak.
How to put out an electrical fire?
- Use a fire extinguisher
- Use a blanket to cover the fire, but this will only work if the fire is not as widespread.
- Use baking soda, but only if the fire is containable.
- Call the fire department.
Call SERVPRO for electrical fire damage restoration.
The occurrence of a fire is undoubtedly an unfortunate event. But you need to think of solutions to troubleshoot the problem at hand if it arises. SERVPRO of South Cobb provides IICRC trained professionals to restore your home or office to pre-fire condition quickly.
In metro Atlanta, SERVPRO of South Cobb has built a name as one of the best restoration companies to provide quality customer service with superior quality. Contact us today, and we will make your electrical fire “Like it never even happened.”