Many people are educated on how to react in the event of a fire. However, many are not knowledgeable about the common dangerous fire hazards in the home. You may not know it, but many of our taken-for-granted household appliances, amenities, and items could be a potential firestarter. This article covers some common fire hazards in the home and what you can do to prevent them from becoming dangerous to you and your family members.

Faulty Wiring

As with all machines and devices, wiring done many years ago can become a fault over time. In some cases, the wiring may not have been done properly in the first place. These situations are very dangerous and can spark electrical fires without knowing about them.

Fortunately, there are some telltale signs that you should be taking a closer look at the wiring. For example, situations like your circuit breaker panel tripping regularly, your outlets experiencing short circuits regularly, and your lights dimming when you turn on an appliance. Therefore, it is critical that you consult with your electrician to inspect and repair your wiring systems if you have any issues. 

Electrical Appliances

We use a wide range of electrical appliances essential to our home. These could all be potential firestarters from ovens to computers to TVs if they are not cared for or maintained properly. Be sure to pay special attention to any damaged wirings as many people may unsuspectedly use these appliances without noticing them. If you observe any frayed cords or wires in the equipment, don’t risk starting an unsuspecting fire and replacing it with a new one.  

Candles

Many people tend to forget that candles burn on an open flame and leave the room or the house without extinguishing them. While they can produce inviting and pleasant scents in the home, candles are also potentially fatal and can quickly start a fire if you don’t pay careful attention to them. When burning candles, be sure to keep them away from children, flammable liquids, and items such as petroleum, kerosene, curtains, papers, cabinets, and clothing – as these are often what causes fires to spread quickly. Therefore, you should always remember to extinguish them before your room or home.

Smoking

While you deserve the privacy and freedom to smoke in your own home, smoking can also be a potential cause of home fires, especially if you are not careful. Unfortunately, many people forget to extinguish the butt and leave the cigarettes burning in the ashtray. This could be dangerous, especially when located near flammable items such as curtains, clothes, papers, and fabrics. If possible, avoid smoking in the bedroom too, as the linens on your bed are also flammable, and you will be more likely to unknowingly cause a fire when you are sleepy and tired while you are smoking.

Heating Systems

While this might be the most common sense in this list, heating is often the cause of many house fires. This is especially common in space heaters and radiators, as they use a lot of electricity and overload circuits, resulting in a potential electrical fire caused by power failure. In comparison, a central heating system is much safer and less likely to catch fires. Additionally, you should always avoid drying your clothes and towels near or on them as they can overheat and start a fire once they are completely dry. If you are not using them, make sure to unplug and turn them off.

Staying Safe with ASCO Fire

At ASCO Fire, we are highly qualified and experienced in providing all types of fire protection services for many commercial and residential properties. We can help you install a wide range of fire systems, including fire sprinkler and detection systems. In addition, we also offer preventive services such as testing, maintenance, repair services, and inspection. Our professional team of experts is also highly experienced in providing engineering services such as hydraulic calculations, hazard analysis, and plan review that adhere to the fire code standards to help you avert fire-related incidents.