3 Hidden Fire Hazards In Your Home

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, 27% of fires occur in residential homes. The majority of homeowners are familiar with the most well-known fire hazards in the home, such as those involving an open flame or electricity, including the stove and electrical wiring. However, other objects in the home that aren’t commonly considered fire hazards can also be dangerous. The following are 3 hidden objects that risk the ignition of a fire in your home.

• Loose Outlets

Faulty electrical wiring is known to be a fire hazard, but what about electrical outlets? As time passes, the blades inside of electrical outlets loosen. Have you ever tried to plug in a cord and it falls out? This is a common sign that the blades inside of the outlet have loosened. These blades can conduct intense heat, which may lead to a fire igniting.

• Laptops

We’re all too familiar with experiencing our laptops overheating while using them for long periods of time. When laptops overheat, leaving them sitting on fabric surfaces such as a bed comforter, a blanket, or a sofa, for extended periods of time can risk the ignition of a fire.

• Glassware

You may remember the classic science experiment of starting a fire by focusing a ray of light on a flammable object through a magnifying glass. Certain types of glassware, which may include vases or drinking glasses, can serve the same purpose as the magnifying glass, instigating a fire if a concentrated ray of sunlight passes through them and focuses onto a flammable object. Be sure to keep glassware away from windows in order to prevent an unwanted fire.

Residential fires can ignite and spread quickly, risking the safety of anyone inside your home and devastating fire damage in the blink of an eye. Keep a lookout for these hidden fire hazards and practice caution when dealing with wires, electrical appliances, and flames in order to prevent a potentially dangerous fire from igniting in your home.

Hidden fire hazards can cause unexpected, devastating damage. If your home has experienced fire damage, call SERVPRO today and click here to learn more about our fire damage services. You can also check out our Fire Brochure. You can trust our team of fire damage specialists with extensive expertise in residential fire damage to restore the damaged areas of your home quickly and thoroughly.