Experiencing a home fire is a dreadful experience, whether it’s an electrical fire or any other kind. Fires start in many different environments, not just outdoors. According to the NFPA report, the estimated number of fires in structures under construction has increased since 2014 after declining between 2006 and 2010. Three of every four fires (76 percent) in structures under construction involved residential properties. While cooking is the leading cause of home fires, electrical fires cause the biggest property damage.
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Property Statistics
| Property Used | Fires | Civilian Injuries | Direct Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 76% | 76% | 79% |
| Mercantile or Business | 6% | 5% | 3% |
| Outside or Special Property | 5% | 4% | 11% |
| Assembly | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| Storage | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| Health Care, Detention, Correction | 2% | 7% | 2% |
We have put together a list of things that teach you how to prevent electrical fires at home. This is also a guide on how to put out an electrical fire and what are some signs of an electrical fire in walls and other places in your home.
Warning Signs of An Electrical Fire
The most common signs of an electrical fire risk are:
- Circuit breakers trip frequently
- You feel shocks or get a tingling feeling when you touch or plug-in devices
- The extension cord or power strip sparks when you plug in an appliance
- Electrical fire smell coming from an appliance, a plug or any wiring
- The device gets very hot during use
- The bulb flickers even after you replaced it
- Burn marks or stains around electrical wall outlets
1. Circuit Breaker Trips Frequently
Unlike the old fuse box, today’s electrical panel has circuit breakers that trip automatically once there’s an electrical overload to prevent overheating. Your circuit breaker tripping regularly means that you’re plugging in appliances with higher amps than the circuit breaker can handle.
2. Shocks From Light Switches
If you feel shocks or get a tingling feeling when you touch or plug-in devices there could be a problem with the electrical wiring. You need to have a licensed electrician check out the faulty wiring.
Static electricity could also cause shocks but don’t worry this doesn’t mean you’re living in hazardous conditions.
3. Persistent Burning Smell, Sparks, or Burn Stains on Electrical Power Outlets
Burning smells or a buzzing sound from your power outlets indicate an electrical issue. If your light switches or electrical wires are too hot to touch or your appliances produce too much heat you have a problem. Another warning sign is sparking on your circuit breakers.
Burn stains and discoloured outlets are warning signs of electrical hazards. The electrical wiring has a problem and requires immediate attention.
4. Flickering Lights
Dimming lights or flickering lights could indicate faulty electrical wiring or an overloaded circuit. You should however test the bulb on a different circuit to ensure it’s a wiring problem and not a problem with the individual lamp.
When fires break out, it is good to know what type of fire it is. This way you will use the appropriate methods to extinguish it and use the right safety equipment.
How To Prevent Electrical Fires
Update the electrical system in your house
The electrical system is only meant to function in top shape for up to 40 years. However, more than 30 million houses in the US are more than 50 years old. In New York alone, there were 15 deadly electrical fires in 2017.
Old houses use aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring, which are prone to deterioration and therefore overheat and cause electrical fires. Obsolete systems can cause unintentional electrical current discharge, or arc faults, that are sometimes strong enough to ignite a fire. This mostly happens due to normal decay or because the electrical system cannot accommodate modern appliances.
Therefore, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that electrical systems and especially aluminum wiring systems are replaced with the ones that use modern wiring materials, such as copper. Most electrical fires happen due to poor maintenance or the failure to update current codes, as recommended by the NYC Buildings Department.
Don’t Overburden Electrical Outlets
Overloading electrical outlets by plugging too many appliances into the same power strip, outlet or extension puts you at great risk of an electrical fire. Extension cords should only be used temporarily. In case you need more power sources in your home, you should call a qualified electrician.
Nowadays most power strips come with surge protectors. The strip will shut off immediately in case of a power surge and protect your appliances. Without it, the sudden increase of electricity flowing to your outlet can cause your appliances to spark and potentially start a fire. Even with overload protection, it is still advisable that you do not use too many connecting extension cords, as they might cause an electrical fire.
Replace Damaged Plugs And Electrical Cords
Faulty wiring and damaged power cords lead to issues that can easily become a fire hazard. Most home fires involve arc faults produced by damaged conductors and connectors. This can happen if you have frayed appliance cords, broken wiring, a loose connection in wall outlets or faulty switches.
Be aware of cracked, frayed, or loosened power cords before you plug in any appliance. If you notice that your power cord is damaged in any way, get it replaced or repaired before using it again – don’t take any risk at all. Short circuits due to worn or defective insulation caused 14% of the deaths provoked by an electrical malfunction.
Cords can deteriorate when pinched by doors or furniture or through extreme flexing. The wiring inside your walls can get damaged from nails or screws that puncture the insulation when you install shelves for example. Also, make sure that no cords run under the carpet, as the generated heat can produce an arc fault.
Only Use Safe Appliances And Sockets
Updating your electrical system to meet modern standards is very important. Along with that rule, make sure you only buy appliances that follow up-to-date safety regulations as well. Try to buy extension cords and power strips from reputable retailers who offer you a warranty. This applies to any type of electrical product.
According to NFPA, 1 in 5 electrical failures leading to a home fire has happened in the kitchen. 12% of electrical fires originated in the bedroom and 10% happened in a concealed space such as the attic or roof assembly.
Brett Benner, the president of the Electrical Safety Foundation International talks about the risk of buying low-cost electrical products: “I’ve seen extension cords all over the country that have inferior copper in them-it’s speaker wire, and it literally melts in your hands.”.
What you can do is contact an electrician who can replace old sockets, check that the appliances are safe to use and set up the electrical connections to make the system more stable.
Even when you take the best measures, accidents happen and an electrical fire can still occur. There are obvious clues such as electrical fire smell, but some are more subtle. Such an example could be a change in the color of your electrical wall outlets.
In case a fire does break out, it is good to know what type of fire it is. This way you will use the appropriate methods to extinguish it and use the right safety equipment.
Get Professional Help From A Restoration Company
Once the fire is extinguished, the restoration process begins. If the fire damage is serious, you need to contact a professional fire restoration service company to help you clean the soot and get rid of the smoke. The fire restoration company will assess the damage and start the cleaning process to restore your house back to normal. iFlooded Restoration has a vast experience in restoring homes after electrical fires and is ready to bring your property back to normal.
Does Fire Insurance Cover Electrical Fire?
Electrical fires cause the biggest financial damage out of all types of fire. Homeowners insurance typically provides substantial cover for the losses and restoration. You might want to consider updating your electrical system for both safety measures and because it can help you save on fire insurance.
What Are The Benefits of Fire Restoration Services?
If your property has a fire, the next 24 to 48 hours are crucial, and they’re the difference between recovery and complete loss. As fires are usually put out with chemicals and water, this can combine with the soot and cause further damage to your property. However, a quick response cleaning corp can execute a strategy to recover your property.
Toxic smoke leaves behind a strong odor, and if you leave this smell to settle, it will be near impossible to completely neutralize the property and restore the air quality.
Working with us means you have the best opportunity to return to life before the fire. Our team performs a range of services and takes a tactile approach to get your property back to pre-loss condition.
Contact Us For A Free Estimate
If you’d like to find out about our fire damage restoration services in Brooklyn, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We offer free estimates to all potential clients and guarantee a rapid response. Recovering your property requires a highly trained team, and we’re confident that we can support you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is restoration different from repair?
When a property has fire damage, both restoration and repair are essential. Restoration is the process of neutralizing the air, ensuring all soot damage is gone, and performing deep cleaning services. The extent of the damage depends on how we approach a project, and in severe cases, the property will need extensive repairs.
Do you guarantee you’ll restore all of my items?
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all of your items are salvageable, but we will do our best and always go out of our way to do an excellent job. Some items, such as appliances, might need to be replaced, and if there’s a great deal of damage, we recommend disposing of the item.
How much will your fire restoration services cost me?
Because each property is unique, we don’t offer a pricing list. Your restoration needs will depend entirely on the amount of damage, the severity of your fire, and the scope of the job. We’ll visit your property and provide a quote based on the work we need to do.
