24 Jun A Simple Way to Make Sure Your Home Doesn’t Become a Statistic

When is the last time you had you electric system checked? If you are like the majority of residents in the Bay Area, you probably answered never. This could be a dangerous oversight.  Over 50,000 home fires are caused by faulty electric outlets, damaged wiring or other issues that could be discovered with a simple systems check every single year.

Even if you choose to forego the electrical check, there are several things you make your home safer when it comes to electricity.

Inside

• Don’t overload outlets
• Use power strips
• Tape down cords that run across a room
• Look for and replace frayed cords
• Protect cords from animal bites with bite-proof covering
• Keep all appliances in good working order
• Ask us about ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to quickly shut off power when problems occur

Outside

• Make sure all outlets have proper covering
• Inspect the area around the air conditioner lines for animal damage
• Check any wired ground lighting for damage

Even when you take the precaution of looking for potential problems with the electrical systems in your home, you are only looking at about half of the potential problem areas. Most indoor wiring is run behind the walls and can only readily be checked by a licensed electrician with the right tools and knowhow.

One of the best ways to prevent fires caused by faulty outlets is to have Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) installed. These special outlets can be placed anywhere along a circuit line to prevent the dangerous arcing that can cause residential fires. Each AFCI has its own circuit breaker which immediately shuts off power to the affected area. These units are a relatively inexpensive way to safeguard your home against arc-related fires.