How to Protect Your Home Against Electrical Fires

Take two primary approaches: fire prevention to avoid a blaze in the first place and fire protection to extinguish a fire if one breaks out.

Prevent Electrical Fires

Practice these tips during the winter months and all year round to prevent electrical fires:

• Hire an electrician: Every decade or so, have an electrician conduct a full inspection to spot and repair potential problems that could spark or otherwise cause a fire.
• Replace old wiring: If your home was built before 1970, it may have knob and tube wiring or other outdated features such as two-prong outlets that need to be updated for safety.
• Check plugs and cords: Old appliances and electronics may have frayed cords or damaged plugs. Either repair the wiring or completely replace the device to eliminate this fire hazard.
• Don’t overload your outlets: Plug only one heat-producing appliance into a single wall outlet at a time. Never use extension cords to power heat-producing appliances. If you find yourself using extension cords on a permanent basis, hire an electrician to install more outlets for improved electrical safety.
• Use surge protectors: Plug computers and other sensitive electronics into surge protectors to not only safeguard these devices but also to reduce the risk of an overloaded outlet that could spark and cause a fire.

To reduce the risk for electrical fires in the home, click here to review safety measures from the experts at Rainbow International about safety tips for your home or business.

If your home is damaged in an electrical fire, you can begin the restoration process with help from Rainbow International of Long Island. Contact us at (631)563-7860