Fall Safety Tip: Don’t Overload Your Electrical Circuits
Published on September 22, 2022
With school back in session, there are likely more of us plugging in our electronic devices at school, home, and work. As the weather gets cooler, heaters are also coming on again. This uptick in power use could lead to inappropriate use of multi-plug adapters and extension cords - common fire code violations often seen in businesses. These hazards become even greater in homes, since fire inspections are not done in private homes.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, at least 47,000 home fires in the U.S. are caused by electrical malfunctions every year. These fires lead to more than 400 deaths, 1,500 injuries and more than $1.4 billion in property damage. Overloaded electrical circuits are a major cause of homes fires. Help lower your risk of electrical fires by not overloading outlets, power strips and extension cords.
How do you know your circuits are overloaded? Here are some warning signs:
- Flickering, blinking or dimming light
- Circuits frequently trip or fuses are blown
- Warm or discolored outlet plates
- Crackling, sizzling or buzzing from outlets
- Burning odor from outlet or wall switch
- Mild shock from appliances, outlets or switches
Here’s how you can help prevent electrical overloads:
- Never use extension cords or multi-plug converters for appliances - major appliances should be plugged directly into an outlet, and only one appliance per outlet
- Replace worn and frayed cords and extension cords
- Replace outlets that move when plugging items in - this indicates connection problems and can result in electrical shorts or arching in wall spaces
- Relying on extension cords could mean you have too few outlets - contact a qualified electrician to inspect your home and add new outlets
- Remember: power strips only add more spots to plug into, they don’t change the amount of power received from the outlet
Find more fire safety tips from Kirkland Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau.