How to Prevent Electrical Fires in Seattle
Keeping your Seattle home's electrical system in excellent condition is important in part because you use electricity for so many different things on a daily basis. But it's also important that you know your electrical system is always as safe as possible. According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 50,000 fires caused by an electrical problem are reported to the U.S. Fire Department every year. Many different problems with your home's electrical system have the potential to turn into an electrical fire, including:
- Wiring and wiring equipment malfunctions
- Problems with lamps, light fixtures, and bulbs
- Malfunction of outlets, cords, and plugs
- Problems with transformers and power supplies
The best way to prevent an electrical fire in your home is to keep its electrical system in excellent condition, but that's more easily said than done. At NW Electricians Today, our professional Seattle electricians recommend that you have electrical safety inspections performed regularly, and you should also keep an eye out for any of these signs of potential danger:
Old or Outdated Wiring
The wiring systems in more than one-third of U.S. are older than 50 years, but most electrical wiring systems have an estimated lifespan of 30-40 years. If your Seattle home's electrical wiring system is outdated or damaged, you're likely to notice some of these problems:
- Circuit breakers frequently tripping
- Fuses that frequently blow
- You over-rely on extension cords or surge protectors
Plugging in an extension cord or pushing a breaker back into place should be a temporary solution to a problem. If they've become a regular part of the way you use your electrical system, you may at risk of an electrical fire. Call our professional electricians to have your electrical wiring system inspected as soon as possible.
These problems may also indicate that it's time to have your electrical panel upgraded.
Aluminum Wiring
Aluminum wiring was very popular and, in fact, commonplace throughout the 1960s and 70s. However, it has since been deemed unsafe because of how quickly aluminum oxidizes, which increases its chances of corroding. Aluminum wiring performs very well, but only for a very short period of time. If your Seattle home has aluminum wiring, it could be at risk of an electrical fire.
Our electricians can provide you with an aluminum wiring replacement, whether you need to have all or only part of your wiring replaced.
Arc Faults
Arc faults occur when an electrical current veers away from its intended path, and arc faults are a leading cause of electrical fires. Any number of things could cause an arc fault—they could occur because a tree falls on a power line, or they might occur because you've damaged the wiring in your home—so it's very important that you know that your electrical system is protected from them.
Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) will detect any arc faults in your Austin home's electrical system. Especially in older homes, these devices can easily prevent major disasters.
