After putting out several fires caused by electrical issues this summer, the Snyder Fire Department wants to help the public to prevent electrical fires.
Deputy Fire Marshal Brad Bawcum said most electrical fires are the result of improper wiring.
If homeowners are wiring appliances, Bawcum advises they hire a licensed electrician to at least inspect the wiring.
“You probably ought to get an electrician to do the wiring for you,” Bawcum said. “At least have them check your work.”
Bawcum said a lot of issues stem from wiring on the outside of the house. Weather can cause insulation on wires that run in the attic or under eaves of the house to corrode. Bawcum said the best way to fix those situations is also to hire a professional.
“When the insulation is corroded, once that live wire meets another live wire, it can very easily ignite a fire,” Bawcum said. “Again, it’s probably a situation where you want to call a licensed electrician.”
When it comes to wiring for patio lights and outdoor electronics, many people use staples to make sure the wires stay attached to the outside of the house. Bawcum said that is fine, as long as residents make sure the staple does not go through the wire.
Bawcum said other electrical problems can arise from too many appliances being plugged into an outlet. Surge protectors can help alleviate some of the stress put on an outlet, but Bawcum said people should still be careful about how many appliances they plug into a wall.
“Outlets are only meant to hold a certain amperage,” Bawcum said. “If you overload one, that can cause problems.”
With the summer heat keeping air conditioning units running a majority of the time, Bawcum said homeowners need to make sure their central heating and air units are maintained. Making sure condensation is at a minimum and that drain plugs are not clogged can help prevent sparking.
Bawcum said another problem he sees is when a breaker trips multiple times. If a breaker trips more than once, there is a more serious problem at hand.
“If it trips multiple times, don’t turn it back on,” Bawcum said. “You need to call an electrician immediately and have them look at it.”
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