Financing 
2/22/2023
Protect Your Home From Being An Electrical Inferno: 7 Savvy Tips From Your Seasoned Electrician | Arlington, TX
Share:
Electricity is a powerful force that helps make our lives more convenient. Without proper maintenance and inspection, they can easily cause a fire. Home electrical fires are a serious safety concern, with over 45,000 occurring yearly. Lighting equipment and faulty electrical wiring are the two leading causes, accounting for about half of all fires.
Many of these fires are preventable with proper maintenance of existing electrical systems, correct use of extension cords, and ensuring all wiring and light fixtures are up to code.
It is advisable to keep in mind the safety standards when handling electricity at your home and consult a professional electrician if any doubt arises. Keeping these tips in mind can help keep your family and home safe.
Replace Old Wiring
As homes age, their electrical wiring can become worn, putting the home and its occupants at a higher risk of fire. Old wiring can cause an electrical overload, which can cause sparking and arcing. In addition, the insulation of the wiring can break down over time, leading to exposed wires that could cause a fire.
Having an electrician replace old wiring can help reduce the risk of fire at your Arlington, TX home. An electrician can inspect the wiring and look for any signs of damage or fraying. If any damage is spotted, a professional can replace the wiring with newer wiring that meets current safety standards.
Add More Outlets
Extension cords are helpful tools and are great for providing temporary power solutions. However, these devices should never be a permanent solution to electrical problems. Overloading extension cords by plugging in too many electronics can cause them to overheat, leading to a potential fire hazard.
It is always best to contact a certified electrician to install new outlets in areas of your home that do not have them. This will increase the convenience of having access to electrical outlets and ensure all outlets are up to code and are correctly installed to avoid any safety risks.
Additionally, having a professional install extra outlets can be beneficial in rooms with multiple appliances and electronics, as it will ensure your house has enough power to accommodate the extra load.
Have an Electrical Inspection
Scheduling a regular home electrical inspection is crucial in ensuring your house is safe and hazard-free. During the check-up, an electrician can inspect your entire electrical system and identify potential risks, such as improper wiring, overloaded circuits, faulty outlets, and other hazards that could cause damage to you or your home.
A professional may also recommend the necessary steps to fix the issue, such as updating your electrical system, ensuring it meets current safety standards and rewiring any outdated or faulty components. This will ensure that your home is free of any potential risks, and you can rest assured that your Arlington, TX home is safe and secure.
Unplug Appliances When Not in Use
Heat-generating appliances such as electric kettles, irons, and heaters are potential fire hazards if not properly managed. If left on for an extended period or if they malfunction, these appliances can generate enough heat to cause a fire.
Disrupting heat-generating appliances when not in use is crucial to prevent a potential fire hazard. This is particularly important when leaving the house or going to bed.
Additionally, it is crucial to hire an electrician to regularly inspect these appliances to ensure that they are in proper working order and that any potential issues are addressed before they become a safety concern.
It is also advisable to handle heat-generating appliances carefully and safely. It is advisable not to operate them in moist areas since it can increase the risk of starting a fire. If an appliance malfunctions, it would be best to contact a professional for help.
Install Smoke Alarms
Installing the appropriate number of smoke detectors in your home is crucial for your safety in the case of an electrical fire. Smoke detectors alert you of smoke, providing an early warning and giving you extra time to evacuate safely.
Ideally, there should be one smoke detector every 21 feet in your house, including each bedroom and outside sleeping areas. It is also essential to install these devices in the basement, attic, and garage, as smoke can travel through these areas and affect multiple rooms in your home.
Finally, it is best to hire a professional electrician for the project since such an expert can adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines, including the type and location of the detector, the power source, and any maintenance requirements.
Keep Flammable Materials Away
Keeping fabric items, including bedding, dish towels, and rugs, away from electrical devices is crucial to prevent fire and other damage. The distance should be far enough away that if an appliance such as a space heater or iron were to overheat and catch fire, the fabric items would not be close enough to burst into flames as well.
Additionally, any flammable liquids, like gasoline, should be stored far away from outlets. The safest place to store these liquids is in a secure area, such as a garage, but even then, they should still be kept at a safe distance from any electrical outlet.
Taking the time to store these items properly can help prevent potential fires or other damage to your home and the belongings you keep in it.
Use Surge Protectors
Surge protectors are vital devices in protecting your home from electrical fires. In the event of a power surge, they will save your electrical system from being overloaded and potentially causing an electrical fire.
An electrician installing surge protectors can ensure your electrical system is safe and not at risk of causing a fire. They can also protect your appliances and electronics from damage.
Talk to the Experts
Take action to prevent electrical hazards in your Arlington, TX home! Ensure the electrical wiring is up to code and always unplug any unused appliances from outlets, and never overload a single outlet with too many plugs.
If you need help, contact professional electricians at Tioga Plumbing & Electric to ensure the safety of your family and property. With the proper knowledge and tools, we can help you identify potential hazards and find ways to keep your home safe.
See our previous blog post here!
Photo By mesut zengin at istock
Share:
Taking a bite out of Your Plumbing & Electrical needs
682-224-0757
Other Electrical & Plumbing Services
Taking a bite out ofYour Plumbing & Electrical needs
Does Baking Soda and Vinegar Drain Cleaner Actually Work?
There’s nothing more annoying than standing in ankle-deep water because your shower won’t drain, or watching your kitchen sink fill up like it’s staging a protest. You grab the baking soda and vinegar drain trick because hey, everyone swears by it. It’s cheap, natural, and already in your pantry. But does it actually work, or... Read more »
Why Does My Bathtub Drain Keep Clogging?
You’re standing in the shower, and instead of the water swirling down the bathtub drain, it’s creeping up around your ankles. Gross, right? A bathtub drain that doesn’t clear like it should might seem like a minor headache at first, but it’s usually the start of a bigger plumbing problem. Hair, soap, even the way... Read more »
How Does Drain Line Excavation Work?
A drain line moves wastewater from inside your home to the main sewer system or septic tank. It works quietly underground, but when it fails, the impact is anything but silent—backups, slow drains, and even flooding can follow. A damaged drain line can’t be ignored, and sometimes, the only solution is drain line excavation—digging into... Read more »
Why You Should Hire a Professional Drain Cleaning Company in Dallas
Your kitchen sink gurgles, then suddenly overflows—yep, it’s time for emergency drain cleaning. Sound familiar? In Dallas, that kind of chaos isn’t rare. Thanks to clay-heavy soil and aging pipes, clogs and backups hit fast and hit hard. You might think grabbing a plunger or pouring in some cleaner will fix it, but that quick... Read more »
Repiping Service Explained: When Homeowners Should Consider Whole-House Repiping
Older plumbing systems can cause more problems than most homeowners realize. Hidden leaks, corroded pipes, and outdated materials quietly wear down your home’s plumbing from the inside out, especially in homes built decades ago. A repiping service replaces those failing pipes with modern, durable materials and helps prevent water damage, low pressure, and unexpected repair... Read more »
Arlington Drain Cleaning Service
A drain clogged at the wrong time can turn your home into a mess—slow sinks, foul smells, and even water backing up in places it shouldn’t. Whether it’s your kitchen, shower, or sewer line, ignoring the issue won’t make it disappear—it’ll only get worse. You need a solution that works fast and lasts. That’s why... Read more »
How Professional Drain Cleaning in Arlington Solves the Toughest Clogs
Drain cleaning Arlington isn’t something you think about until your tub won’t drain or your kitchen sink smells like last week’s dinner. But here’s the thing—when your plumbing stops working, everything in your home gets thrown off. Over time, hair, food bits, grease, and gunk build up in your pipes. That buildup doesn’t just slow... Read more »
How to Find the Best Drain Cleaning Company in Arlington
Flushing wipes, paper towels, or hygiene products might seem harmless, but those non-degradable items are exactly what send people scrambling for a drain cleaning company. You think it’s just a clog, but what’s really going on in your pipes can be a whole mess of buildup, broken lines, or even invasive tree roots. That’s where... Read more »
Signs You Need An Emergency Drain Cleaning Service
If you’ve ever needed an emergency drain cleaning service, you know how fast things can go from annoying to full-on chaos. Whether it’s a slow drain or a major sewer line backup, these issues can turn your day upside down. And here’s the truth—waiting it out won’t make it go away. Overflowing sinks, nasty smells,... Read more »
Taking a bite out ofYour Plumbing & Electrical needs
We make fixing your home easier than ever. Whether it’s a leaky pipe, faulty wiring, or an urgent repair, our experts deliver fast, reliable solutions you can count on.