One of the main causes for fires starting in the home is faulty, outdated electrical wiring, and faulty electrical mains. As a homeowner it’s your duty to ensure your home is safe to live in for you and your family. One thing to be aware of is, if your home was built prior to 1975, it is possible aluminum wiring was used, which has a much higher risk of fire hazard then copper wiring.
Electrical fires are a dangerous threat to homeowners, in the UK alone, there has been more than 20,000 fires reported last year form electrical causes. The statistics show that at least 70 people died in the fire, and more than 300,000 were seriously injured due to electrical accidents in the home. Homeowners need to routinely check if the home is safe.
The times we are living in, shows more and more of us are using numerous electrical appliances in our homes. With more computers, toasters, microwaves, hair dryers, TVs and DVD players in the home than 20 years ago it has resulted in a major spike in accidental electrical fires.
If you are a homeowner, then the best option is to contact a home inspection company and request a professional home inspection service. A qualified inspector is able to evaluate the home’s electrical system and wiring. The home inspector could advise accordingly what steps to take next if updates are required.
We need electricity in our homes for obvious reasons, but we need to be careful in the way we use it. Try not overloading plug sockets, and any buzzing sounds, or smell of burning should never be ignored or overlooked.
Most electrical fires happen due to sockets being overloaded; other factors are faulty or broken products or products that are misused. If you fail to address any electrical problem, then the outcome can be devastating. You need to be smart, use your common sense, unplug cell chargers and other electronics when not in use.
