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Just Ask Vozz - Easy ways to prevent electrical fires in the home

By: Don Carter

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Did you know that each year, there are 67,800 electrical fires in the home that take the lives of 485 citizens, hurt 2,305 more people, and cause $868 million dollars in property loss*? Some fires are caused by lightning and poorly wired appliances, but considerably a lot more are caused by wiring in poor condition, bad use of electrical cords, and overloaded circuits. In fact, improper home electrical wiring (perhaps done by do-it-your-selfers) causes twice as many fires as electrical appliances. While it is usually best to have any electrician service done by a licensed electrician, there are a lot of things you can do within the home or office to help keep your family safe.

This article describes easy steps you can take to prevent electrical fires in your house and help prevent property damage and potential loss of life.

Easy to remember simple statistics to consider

- December is the time of year when most electrical fires tend to occur.

- Almost all electrical fires begin in the bedroom.

- During winter, deaths due to electrical fires are much higher. This is usually due to the increased amount of indoor activities, increased lighting usage, heating, and appliance use.

- In city areas, bad wiring is the cause of over 33% of house electrical fires.

- The home appliances most involved in home electrical fires are central heating units, electric stoves, dryers, televisions, radios, and stereo equipment.

These are some easy steps you can take to help stop electrical fires in the residence

- Carefully Think about any Do-It-Yourself electrical project. It is always to have any electrician work done by a certified electrical contractor.

- NEVER run an extension cord under a carpet! The foot and chair traffic across the area rug will over time slice through the cord, causing an immediate fire hazard.

- Small space heaters are the cause of a lot of fires. Keep clothing, curtains, and any combustible material at least three feet away from space heaters at all times.

- Always check all lamp cords, extension cords regularly, and look for signs of overheating, frayed insulation, or bent prongs. Always replace all worn or damaged electrical cords immediately.

- Routinely check all of your appliances, especially where the cord connects, and look for signs of frayed wiring.

- Never let kids play with or near electrical appliances such as space heaters, hair dryers, or irons.

- Never force a 3 prong plug into a two prong outlet.

- Never overload extension cords or outlets. As obvious as this may sound, there are a lot of electrical fires that are started by the overloading of electrical cords and outlets.

- If you find a light switch that is hot to the touch, or the lights dim when using the switch, call a journeyman electrician and replace it immediately.

- Regularly check any electrically powered tools. Make sure you replace any tool that gives off sparks, smoke, or small shocks, or overheats.

- Install and regularly check smoke alarms.

- Practice a house escape plan in case of fire.

By following these simple steps you can help make sure your family and your home or business is safe from electrical fires.

* U.S. Fire Administration

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

This article was written by Don Carter and a licensed, insured Hollywood Electrician and Los Angeles Electrician at Vozzcom Electric.

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