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How to Avoid an Electrical Fire

Whether you live in a house, an apartment or a mansion, you will have to deal with electrical issues at some point. Bill Lutz, an electrician with Generation 3 Electric in Philadelphia, gives his tips here on how to avoid electrical fires.

Author: Figowang

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Electrical fires are dangerous, damaging and deadly. Many electrical fires are caused by old and outdated electrical systems, as well as by fuse boxes overloaded by the surge of electricity.
Have your home inspected.

The first step in preventing an electrical fire is to have your home inspected regularly by a licensed home inspector or electrician. Professionals can tell you if your electrical system is subject to risk. They also let you know if the system contains some components that may have passed safety ratings years ago, but are seen as fire hazards today. In addition to these basic precautions, you can take other preventative measures to insure that you never experience a home electrical fire.

Use arc fault breakers
Arc faults are one of the leading causes of home electrical fires. Arc fault breakers, also called arc fault circuit interrupters, detect faulty electricity arcs such as loose connections, damaged wires, or an immediate outage when a wire, cord or appliance starts to spark. An arc fault breaker has been shown to stop fires. The only downside is that it can sometimes be a nuisance. But considering the alternative, it seems a small price to pay. In the near future, EFCIs — Electrical Fault Circuit Interrupters — will be used, which is a similar, but more advanced, technology.

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
It is important to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home with new batteries. Test your batteries frequently to make sure they are fresh and your alarm is in good working condition. This obvious step cuts your chances of dying in a fire in half, according to the National Fire Protection Association. With so many houses sealed almost airtight by modern insulation, carbon monoxide detectors are necessary in any home. This basic precaution is the easiest and most effective form of preventing fires.

Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
If you touch a current source and a conduit that leads to the ground (like a water pipe), you will essentially become a live wire and you can be electrocuted as electricity continuously flows through you. A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is an outlet used for a ground fault that is an accidental path between a current and the ground.

GFCIs can detect a sudden drainage of electricity and turn the electricity off immediately. They measure the current flowing out versus what is flowing in. And if they detect that electricity is leaking via the non-planned path through your body, the circuit will immediately shut off. You might still get a slight shock, but GFCIs will save you from a fatal electrocution.

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How to Avoid an Electrical Fire