1. Inspect your electrical wiring
One of the most common catalysts for electrical fires is faulty wiring. Homes built more than 20 or 30 years ago are much more likely to have outdated wiring techniques or materials. If you notice issues with your electrical wiring, address them before they become problematic and dangerous. The cost to have your home rewired pales in comparison to the damage an electrical fire can cause.
2. Think before you plug.
If you have electronics in your home with cords or plugs that seem worn or frayed, it is time to replace them. And whatever you do, never remove the third prong on a plug so that it will adapt to a two-prong outlet. That third prong is designed to protect you and your electronics..
3. Update your outlets.
Alberta Electric Code requires AFCI/Tamper resistant outlets in residential buildings and GFCI outlets near any potential sources of water. However, many older homes still have no GFCIs. It might seem unimportant to bother with upgrading your outlets, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Outlets have been completely redesigned to prevent dangers of electrocution or electrical fires.
4. Don’t overload your circuits.
If you have too many appliances plugged in and drawing power in the same area of your home, this can overload the circuit for that part of your house. Usually this will just trip the circuit breaker. But if there are issues with your wiring or appliances that you haven’t noticed, it can also spark an electrical fire. Distribute your use of power evenly across your home. If you are still having issues with circuit breakers tripping, it might be time to upgrade your electrical panel. Older homes have panels with 30-60 amps, while newer homes typically have 200-amp panels to accommodate more technology.
5. Use surge protectors.
Power surges can happen to any home any time, and they are especially likely during thunderstorms. A power surge is a sudden increase in the amount of electricity flowing into your home. They can cause unseen damage to your electronics, and in extreme cases they can even cause electronics to spark. Plug appliances and devices like computers or smart phones into surge protectors to help keep them safe from power surges. Not all power strips have surge protection, so read packaging carefully before you buy. Consider whole home surge protection as an alternative that will protect all of your electrical appliances and wiring at once.
6.Warm outlets are a bad sign. If an outlet feels warm or constantly flips the circuit-breaker, call an experienced electrician. Warm outlets can be signs of a bad connection and can lead to electrical fires or shock hazards.
7.Avoid overloading a single outlet. Outlets are made to put out a certain amount of energy. Multiple high-wattage appliances plugged into the same outlet can be very unsafe. If you can’t rearrange your appliances to different outlets, consider installing a new outlet to relieve some of the stress on the original outlet.
8.Have arc-fault circuit-interrupters installed throughout the house. AFCI’s protect against accidental unintentional electrical discharges that can occur at loose connections or where any wires or cords have been damaged.