Top Causes of Electrical Fires in Homes

Prevent electrical fires in your home with these tips.

Fires are one of the worst offenders for home destruction. Within seconds, a fire can tear through a property, destroying everything in its path. Naturally, as a homeowner, you do everything you can to prevent fires. Keeping your electrics in good shape should be part of your safety plan. To prevent one from breaking out in your home, check out some of the common causes of electrical fires.

Overloading Sockets

Popular around the holidays, homeowners try to make the most out of one socket. From holiday lights to appliances to phone chargers, it’s not uncommon to load up sockets. Unsurprisingly, this can cause a lot of strain on the electrics, and can spark a fire. Keep your plug-ins to a minimum throughout the whole year.

Lights

Lights and light fixtures are another common reasons for electrical fires. You may think that it won’t do much harm, but fitting a bulb with a wattage too high for the lamps and light fixtures can spark a fire. Always check the maximum recommended bulb wattage on any lighting fixture or lamp and never exceed this amount. Be mindful not to place clothes over lampshades, too, as this can heat up and start a fire.

Portable Heaters

When winter approaches, the portable heaters get put to use in homes. Many times, people put space heaters too close to combustible surfaces such as curtains, beds, clothing, and rugs. If you do use this type of heater, be mindful to place it away from objects, keep it on stable ground, and turn it off when not in use.

Homeowners insurance can help you if your home does succumb to a fire. For the homeowners insurance you need and deserve, contact the team at Lou Aggetta Insurance Services.