The Invisible Fire Hazards that are Risking Your Home

Contributed post.

Just picture yourself in this little scenario for just a second; you’re curled up on the sofa, maybe you have Netflix on, a blanket pulled up, and you’re thinking your home couldn’t feel any safer. Okay, now this all sounds great and normal, right? Well, then the smoke alarm goes off, and you’re just trying to figure out what’s happening and how. It’s scary, right? Like when a fire just erupts without any real explanation?

Well, it’s sadly far more common than you might actually think. You know how when it comes to spring cleaning you’re also trying to prevent long term problems (like checking for water leaks, cracks, and everything else), well, checking for fire hazards should be on the list too. A lot of everyday things quite literally cause fires, and yeah, often times, they’re not caught until its too late. 

So, what are these anyways?

Are Your Outlets Working Overtime?

It’s easy to treat plug sockets like they’re unlimited. You’ve got the phone charger here, lamp there, laptop, heater, and they’re all piled onto the same extension cord. Sure, it’s normal, but the problem is, those cords have limits, and when they’re asked to handle too much, they heat up. 

That heat doesn’t stay harmless for long. Basically, all it takes is one extension cord or one socket overloaded for hours, and you’ve got a fire risk that’s completely avoidable.

Wires Wearing Out

Out of sight, out of mind is a dangerous motto when it comes to electrical cords. Well, it’s dangerous for basically anything in the home. So, just think about the ones stuffed behind furniture, squashed under rugs, or bent into corners they were never meant to handle. 

Over time, the insulation frays, the wires weaken, and that harmless-looking cable is pretty much ready to spark. Oh, and if you’re in an old house, well, you need to keep an eye out for your wires for that too (and maybe hire an electrician to fix them in general).

Dryer Lint

If you’re a fan of The Simpsons, then you might vaguely remember that Marge once said, “I forgot to clean the lint basket in the dryer. If someone broke into the house and did laundry, it could start a fire,” and sure, it sounds so ridiculous, doesn’t it? But lint is one of the most common causes of house fires, and it builds up fast.

Dryers work hard enough without being clogged up by lint, which makes them overheat. Yeah, cleaning out the filter helps, but lint hides deeper in the vents, too. That’s why calling in professional dryer vent cleaning services can save you from more than just higher energy bills. Really, it’s a small job, and yeah, it basically makes a massive impact.

How About Your Appliances?

There are some household appliances that are, well, pretty dodgy, like the unbranded hair dryer you got from Amazon, for example, that sparks every time you plug it in. You see the problem? Oh, and the same goes for space heaters that run way too hot, coffee makers that have been on for days. 

While sure, they’re everyday items, at the same time, it’s easy to overlook them, too, right? And yeah, they can overheat, spark, and just fail without warning.