The Dangers of Bad Wiring: 4 Electrical Hazards That Can Be Avoided

It’s no surprise that bad wiring can lead to bad problems. Here are 4 main electrical hazards that can be avoided if you hire a reliable electrician! Each year in the United States, there are roughly 51,000 house fires attributed to electrical issues. These particular types of fires claim roughly 500 lives, cause over 1,400 injuries, and destroy a ton of property equating to over a billion dollars worth of damage.

What’s especially tragic about these statistics is that many of these house fires could have been prevented if the right precautions were taken. While our goal is not to scare you, we do hope we convince you to take the necessary measures when dealing with electrical hazards in your home. Keep reading to discover four common electrical hazards that can be avoided.

Defective and Poor Wiring

The leading cause of house fires is a defective wiring system. Many people won’t see the need for it, but you really should have a certified electrician check your home’s wiring every few years to make sure your home doesn’t need any wires repaired or replaced. This is especially true if your property is a bit on the older side. Now if you’re one of those people that refuse to call for help until a visible problem presents itself, there are warning signs you should keep an eye out for that may signal poor wiring. For example, if you notice the lights strangely flickering or dimming, or if the outlets in your home feel warm to the touch, call an electrician.

Dangerous Use of Appliances

While some of you may have gotten used to not using the washer and dryer simultaneously to avoid tripping the circuit breaker or disregard the fact the refrigerator or dishwasher glitches every other day, such behavior from your appliances really is a red flag. Continued misuse of appliances can again lead to electrical fires, or perhaps even cause you or family members to be shocked or burned. If you notice your appliances are not functioning appropriately, you’ll want to have them checked out for a possible repair, or think about catching a sell at your local electronic stores.

Inappropriate Use of Extension Cords

In homes across America, families commonly misuse extension cords. You shouldn’t use indoor extension cords outside, because they weren’t made to endure the outside elements.In addition, plugging several heavy-duty electronics or appliances into the same worn extension cord is never a good idea. It’s like playing electricity roulette.

Mixing Water and Electricity

We realize you didn’t just fall off of the turnip truck, and know that you shouldn’t get electrical equipment and outlets wet. Yet, you’d be surprised the everyday risk people take mixing water and their home electricity.With all the home kitchen gadgets that are on the market, your kitchen counter probably has more electronics than space. Make sure you’re electronics are not too close to the sink, and your outlets and plugs stay dry. And be sure to clean up the water puddles and milk spills.

When in Doubt about Electrical Hazards

It bears repeating that we aren’t trying to scare you, but prepare you to take the right precautions. If you fear you may have one or more electrical hazards in your home, make sure you contact us as soon as possible.