What Are the Signs of an Electrical Fire?

September 7, 2020 10:13 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Are you at risk of an electrical fire? This type of fire can come seemingly out of nowhere and leave people devastated—and homeless—in just minutes. The best way to ensure that you’re safe and protected is to get regular professional inspections and electrical repairs in Forsyth County, GA.

If you ever find yourself in an electrical fire, remember one thing: do not try to put out the flames with water. Water poses an electrocution risk. Instead, use a fire extinguisher and make sure your family or employees are safely out of the building as quickly as possible.

Here are the warning signs of an electrical fire:

  • Constantly tripping breakers: A tripped breaker is annoying when it happens once in a blue moon, but when it happens more often than that, you should be concerned. Sometimes it simply means the circuit is overloaded, so you need to quit trying to run the microwave and the dishwasher at the same time. If it keeps happening, despite moving appliances to different circuits, there may be a more serious problem at hand. Call an electrician before you overload the circuit and cause an electrical fire.
  • Long-term burning smell: If there’s a persistent burning smell in your home or business, it’s time to call in the professionals. This smell usually comes from short circuits or faulty wiring, and is a huge risk for electrical fires. When you notice this odor, make sure to call an electrician right away.
  • Randomly dimming lights: Unless you work in a Halloween theme park, your lights should never dim or flicker on a regular basis. You could be dealing with faulty wiring, an overloaded circuit or power supply issues. Keep an eye on your lighting and have an electrician’s number on hand if it lasts more than two or three days.
  • Charring or discoloration on your outlets: Charring and discoloration usually happens when your outlets have been sparking or arcing. This is another major electrical fire risk, and requires a call to a professional immediately.
  • Old wiring: Older homes and businesses can’t handle the electrical demands that today’s technology requires. If your building hasn’t been rewired in this century, it’s probably time to give it some serious thought. It’s better to be prepared than to be devastated by an electrical fire—and the same goes double if you’re running a business with a high electrical load.
  • Too many power strips: Are you using a ton of power strips? Your building likely wasn’t designed for that—ask an electrician how you can install more outlets in your home or business.

Even if you’re not currently at risk for an electrical fire, you should have your electricity inspected regularly. It’s smart to treat your electricity just as you’d treat any other appliance or maintenance issue in your home. Regular maintenance and repairs makes it easier for electricians to spot any issues before they become costly or even devastating. To schedule an appointment with an electrician in Forsyth County, GA, reach out to Duke Electric Co. today.

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