Every year, electrical emergencies occur in homes due to various factors such as natural disasters, accidents, faulty wiring, or bad weather.
So, Regular electrical maintenance is important to prevent electrical emergencies. However, emergency damaged electrical situations like power outages and fires are dangerous.
To keep these problems from worsening, homeowners must know how to deal with them safely.
Here are a few helpful tips that homeowners may take to bring household safety under control.
What are common electrical issues in a home?
Electrical issues can be prevalent in any household. Therefore, the initial step in troubleshooting an issue is understanding the symptoms.
Constant tripping
Sometimes, short circuits and overloads can also induce tripping. Usually, it indicates that a circuit is overloaded and the system has tripped to avoid damage.
Flickering lights
The most common causes of this issue are overloaded circuits and, occasionally, bad wiring. If an average circuit’s 15-to-20-amp capacity is surpassed, it will have trouble providing enough power to all connected devices.
Burning smells
This indicates that an electrical fire is imminent or already in progress. When outlets and wires get excessive current, they can overheat and melt the plastic surrounding them. Turn off all electricity if there is a noticeable smell like burning plastic.
Sparks
Short circuits or bad wiring are the causes of sparks. To prevent electrical fires, all power should be turned off immediately if there is any sparking in the system.
Never try to fix sparking wires on your own; always call a licensed electrician for home electrical services.
What To Do in Case of An Electrical Fire?
Circuit shorts or frayed cords become the cause of electrical. They require emergency response procedures to ensure family safety and health.
Here is a complete emergency response procedure for an electrical fire:
Cut the Power
To prevent an electrical fire, cut power to the causing system by flipping the breaker box. This step is essential as it reduces electric shock risk and allows for more resources to be used to stop the flame.
Use a Fire Extinguisher
To put out an electrical fire in your home, use a Class C-rated fire extinguisher if power was not cut or a Class A water-based extinguisher if power was cut.
So, disperse the chemical until the fire is fully extinguished. Class A and Class C extinguishers are not interchangeable and should only be used in specific circumstances.
Smother the Fire
To extinguish an electrical fire without a fire extinguisher, use a fire blanket or water if power is off. Avoid using water or approaching the fire if power is off or uncertain to avoid electric shock.
Practice Fire Safety
Before contacting the authorities, leave the building as soon as possible if the fire is out of control. To prevent breathing in smoke, always stay low to the ground if your clothes catch fire, halt, drop, and roll.
Call 911 and Exit
Even if there isn’t a fire, you should still call 911. Smouldering objects have the potential to rekindle, particularly if the power to the fire source is not managed to be switched off.