Warning Signs that Your Home is In Danger of an Electrical Fire

Warning Signs that Your Home is In Danger of an Electrical Fire

Fires are destructive and dangerous, let alone electrical fires! Unfortunately, almost 25% of house fires are caused electrical problems. So, if you already thing that electricity is dangerous, wait until one of your electrical problems leads to a house fire. It’s a total nightmare!
Luckily, it is possible to prevent electrical fires, especially if you are aware of what causes these fires. Once you know, you can utilise effective safety measures and remedies to prevent fires from ever occurring from your electrical system.

So, what are the warning signs that you need to look out for?

Electrical Fires: How Do They Start? What are the common symptoms of electrical fires you need to watch out for?

Burning Smell

Is there a burning smell in your home? Sort of like a burning rubber smell. Why do you need to pay attention to burning smells?
Electricity, just like lightning, is hot. But most of the time, the heat is contained by electrical insulation and wiring. However, there are times when electricity tends to leak out, and this is because of faulty insulation and/or loose wiring connections. Apart from short circuits, faulty insulations and loose wiring can also generate fire.
Most electrical wires are wrapped in plastic or rubber insulation; therefore, an unusual burning plastic smell can indicate that your home is at risk of an electrical fire. Apart being a danger to your home, this burning smell is also dangerous to you and the other inhabitants in your home.
The burning smell usually contains toxins that make it hard for people to breath. These toxins also cause damage to the lungs and induce the risk of respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis.
Fortunately, you were able to detect it while it is still burning before it becomes a full-on fire. This means that you can get it fixed before the situation gets worse.

Old and Outdated Electrical Writing

Have you ever wondered how electrical fires start in walls? How do old and outdated wirings cause electrical fires in homes?

As mentioned previously in this post, electricity is hot. Nevertheless, wires and other electrical components are designed to handle it. So, they are safe to use. But the same cannot be said for old and outdated electrical wiring. As electrical wirings get older and outdated, their capacity to handle electricity diminishes. Therefore, there is always a higher chance that they will not be able to hand your home’s current demand for electricity. As a result, they will get very hot.

In addition, worn out wires aren’t any better. The rubber or plastic that insulates the wires and components get worn out over a period of time, which leads to exposed heat. The exposed heat can intensify and reach extreme levels, to a point where it will start fires inside the walls.
Sustainable Industries performs electrical inspections where our licensed and registered sparkies will check your electrical wirings and determine their condition, thereby helping homeowners and businesses avoid electrical fires.

Loose and Worn-Out Electrical Outlets
It’s not just electrical insulation that you need to watch out for. You also have to have to look out for worn-out and loose electrical outlets because they can also lead to electrical fires.
In fact, among the common causes of home electrical fires are loose and worn-out electrical outlets, which results in poor electrical connections. This type of electrical issue can induce heat build-up in the electrical system, which over prolonged period of time can also generate fires.
A reliable Brisbane electrician will commonly fix this issue by tightening the poor electrical connections and replacing outdated outlets.

Overloaded Extension Wires
Overloaded extension wire may not be a direct issue with your wiring but surprisingly enough, it is a common cause of electrical problems and fires.

Electrical circuits have a fixed capacity and if you go over this capacity, the circuit will generate more heat. This makes them unsafe, while increasing the risk of an electrical fire. One of the most common ways that homeowners overload their electrical system is by using too many extension cords.
Electrical outlets must never be overloaded. This is particularly applicable to extension cables and power strips because they produce heat faster and has more tendencies to melt electrical insulation.
Yes, extension cords are convenient. Nevertheless, this convenience come with risks. So, before plugging your appliances on an extension cord, it is crucial to know if your circuitry can handle the load safely and without any issues.

Circuit Breaker Tripping
Circuit breakers are designed to prevent electrical fires. They also prevent the electrical circuits from overheating. Their design allows them to cut off the power supply once they detect that the flow of current is already unsafe.

They also bring down the heat generated to prevent your system from overloading, thus, reducing the risk of an electrical fire from occurring.

Once your safety switches keep tripping, it may indicate that there is a problem that is continuously at plat. The question is, what is the exact electrical issue? In this case, contact a local electrician to find out!

How quickly does electrical fire spread?

Electrical fire can spread very fast. The speed at which a house burns is downright terrifying and traumatic. This is not our way of scaring you. It is the truth, it’s that simple. Once an electrical fire occurs, it takes only a few minutes, to spread, to almost anywhere. Remember, your home contains materials that can easily burn such as wood, plastic, etc. Here’s an informative video detailing how quickly electrical house fire can spread.
Within minutes, a small, insignificant fire can spread quickly enough and become unmanageable and dangerous. It spreads faster, making it virtually impossible to control, destroying properties and putting people’s lives in danger.

Wood, fabric, synthetic materials, and chemical-based cleaners can further accelerate the spread of electrical fires. As you may have already realised, these are things that are present in one’s home.

These reasons alone make it crucial for you to avoid electrical fires in the first place. These should be enough reasons for you to make sure you always watch out for the potential causes for electrical fires.

Are you skeptical about your electrical wirings? Then find out how often electrical inspections need to be by getting in touch with one of our reliable, licensed, and registered Brisbane electricians from Sustainable Industries.

What to do when you think there’s an electrical fire?
Turn Off Appliances and Remove Wires in Outlets

So, luckily you were able to detect a smoke. The issue still hasn’t gotten to the worst stage yet. Once you sense a burning sell inside your house and if you thin that it is coming from one of your appliances, electrical outlets, or wiring, what you need to do initially is to shut off your main power source, then unplug all your appliances and remove all the wires from the outlet.

Shutting off the main switch will stop the electricity from flowing, which in turn, will let you gradually reduce the heat and track down where the burning smell is located. It should also help you fix the issue before it becomes a full-blown electrical fire.

Can You Use Water to Put Out an Electrical Fire?
One common misconception is using water to put out electrical fires effectively and quickly. But this is actually a bad and dangerous idea. Water is great for putting off regular fires. But when it comes to electrical fires, using water can get you in trouble, even putting your life at risk.

Remember that water is a great conductor of electricity. If you use water to put out an electrical fire, you are putting yourself at risk of getting electrocuted since electric current spread faster through water.
Instead of using water, you can put out an electrical fire by using a fire extinguisher, but not just any ordinary ones. There are fire extinguishers made specifically for putting out electrical fires.

Evacuate and Call Triple Zero (000)
Okay, now that the problem has turned into fire, there’s nothing more you can do. At this point, there’s no need to call a Brisbane electrician. Instead, what you need to do is to get out to safety. If you watched the video above, you know how fast it can spread and control.

At this point, your primary concern should be the safety of you and your family. So, evacuate, especially if the fire has spread enough and build to a point where it is already starting to consume items inside you home and property. Remember to stay close to the ground when evacuating to avoid inhaling the smoke.

Reducing the Risk of Electrical Fires in Your Home
Schedule an Electrical Inspection Now!

Preparation is an essential factor when it comes to fire safety and security. This means getting an electrician on board to inspect your electrical system to make sure that it is at optimum condition and safe to use.
Sustainable Industries has a team of licensed and registered electricians who can identify potential fire hazards in your home and property. Our team will also detect any issues with wires, outlets, and other electrical components, especially in older homes.

No matter where you are in Brisbane, our team of reliable and highly qualified electricians can conduct safe, efficient, and thorough electrical inspections and repairs for your home.

It doesn’t matter if it is a simple job like a blown fuse or a big job like a complete home electrical rewiring, you can depend on Sustainable Industries to deliver unparalleled electrical services in Brisbane. You can even rely on us if you are looking for after hours electrician services. This means that our dependable electrical services will cover you no matter what time of the day it is.

Call Sustainable industries electricians Brisbane today on 1300 772 750 for the best service and advice or you can message us.