Ask the expert

I take all the precautions and suggestions I’ve read to prevent a home fire started by open flames such as those from a candle or fireplace. But what steps can I take to protect myself and my family from an electrical fire?

“According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electrical failures cause 43,900 home fires every year,” according to an article on State Farm insurance’s website. “Those fires cause about 400 deaths, around 1,400 injuries and close to $1.5 billion in property damage. One simple way homeowners can prevent costly electrical fires is with a home fire inspection.”

Many fire departments offer this service free of charge.

Those interested in having a professional inspect their home for potential electrical problems and recommend steps for improving fire safety should contact their local fire department.

While an inspector should review all possible fire hazards in a home, including testing smoke detectors to making sure curtains and other flammables are a safe distance from heat sources, electrical factors they should look for or examine include:

A proper ground. Grounding a home diverts any excess current that may result from an electrical surge and helps to keep electrical systems, devices and people in the home safer.

Electrical panel. Inside the electrical box, there should be space around the main panel, no evidence of overheating or corrosion, and the fuses and breakers should be the correct size.

Appliances. The most likely culprit for a home fire is a device that draws a lot of current, says Bill Burke, division manager of electrical engineering for the National Fire Protection Association. It’s a good idea to have an inspector check the condition of cords and plug-ins on refrigerators, stoves and other large appliances.

Out-of-date equipment. In addition to observing, a home fire inspector can also suggest improvements to reduce the risk of an electrical fire. Important updates include installing arc-fault circuit interrupters, which are designed to shut down power upon detecting any fire-starting arcs.

General safety concerns. The inspector also should look for electrical hazards like receptacles and switches that are not functioning properly, light bulbs that exceed the maximum wattage for which the socket is designed, overloaded power strips and damaged cords.

In addition to having homes inspected, homeowners can also walk through the home for an inspection of their own, checking to make sure that extension cords are being used in a safe manner, feeling for overheated switch plates, and listening for any buzzing sounds coming from outlets and other telltale signs that it is time to rewire the home.

Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203; or email:

[email protected]

HomeStyle, Pages 33 on 12/21/2013

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