Watch Out for These Top Causes of Electrical Fires in Homes

Don’t leave your home at risk; watch out for these common causes of electrical fires.

It’s no secret that a house fire can have absolutely devastating effects on the structure of your home, your personal belongings, and your loved ones.  This is why it’s so important to take steps to reduce your home’s fire risk.  One of the most common types of house fires are electrical fires.  If you want to reduce your home’s fire risk, then here are some of the common causes of electrical fires that you should watch out for.

  • Faulty Appliances

Many electrical fires are caused by old or outdated appliances.  Oftentimes, fires start on the cord of the appliance or within the appliance itself.  To reduce your fire risk, you should be sure to never use appliances with broken cords or loose receptacles.  If you are no longer confident in a certain appliance’s safety, then it’s probably best to replace it completely.

  • Light Fixtures

Another common cause of electrical fires is the inappropriate installation of high-wattage lightbulbs.  This normally occurs when homeowners install bulbs that are too powerful into their lamps and lighting fixtures.  To reduce this fire risk, make sure you always check the specifications of your home’s various lamps and lighting fixtures to ensure that you are using the right bulbs.

  • Extension Cords

Finally, improper use of extension cords is also a common cause of electrical fires.  For instance, fires can result from running a cord underneath a rug or from plugging to many things into a cord at the same time.  Ultimately, extension cords are not a safe, permanent solution for your home’s power needs.  If you want to protect your home from fire, then speak to an electrician about installing additional power outlets in your home.

Keep your home safe by looking out for these common causes of electrical fires.  Want another way to protect your home?  Then make sure you have the right homeowners insurance in place.  For assistance with all your coverage needs, contact the experts at Champion Commercial Insurance today.