• Have a licensed, qualified heating technician service your furnace or heating system. 

  • Change heating system filters to keep air passing through. 

  • Replace batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.  

  • Don’t use electrical appliances around wet areas like bathtubs or sinks.

  • Dry your hands before using electrical appliances.

  • Keep electric heaters on level surfaces and 6-8 feet from furniture, curtains and drapes.

 

Safe Electricity offers the following checklist to help you prevent electrical fires in your home:

  • Electrical outlets – Check for loose-fitting plugs. Replace missing or broken wall plates so wiring and components are not exposed. If you have young children, cover unused outlets with safety caps or install tamper resistant outlets (TROs). TROs have a built in safety feature that won’t allow any object in the outlet except for electrical plugs. If an outlet is not working, it may be an indicator of unsafe wiring.  Have an electrician check it out.

  • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) – Make sure GFCIs are installed in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, workshop, basement, garage, and outdoor outlets. GFCIs help protect against electrical shock.  Use the test and reset button monthly to ensure they are working properly.

  • Plugs – Never force plugs into outlets. Do not remove the grounding pin to make a three-prong plug fit a two-conductor outlet. Avoid overloading outlets with adapters and too many appliance plugs.

  • Cords – Make sure cords are not frayed or cracked, placed under carpets or rugs, tightly wrapped around any object, or located in high traffic areas. Do not nail or staple them to walls, floors, or other objects.

  • Extension cords – These are not intended as permanent household wiring, so use them on a temporary basis only. If you find you need more electrical outlets, talk to an electrician about installing more so you will not need to use extension cords.

  • Light bulbs – Check the wattage to make sure light bulbs match the fixture requirements. Replace bulbs that have higher wattage ratings than recommended on the fixture. Make sure they are screwed in securely so they do not overheat.

  • Appliances/Electronics – If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, or has given you an electrical shock, immediately unplug it and have it repaired or replaced. Look for cracks or damage in wiring and connectors. Use surge protectors to protect expensive electronics. Make sure your appliances and electronics are placed in dry locations. If an appliance has been water damaged, be sure to replace it.

  • Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) – Consider having AFCIs installed in your home. An AFCI is installed in a circuit breaker and monitors the flow of electricity throughout your home. If the AFCI detects any abnormality, it will shut the system off, preventing a fire.

  • Electrical wiring – Check for loose wall receptacles, loose wires, or loose lighting fixtures. Listen for popping or sizzling sounds behind walls. If light switches are hot to the touch or lights spark and flicker, immediately shut them off at the circuit breaker and then contact a qualified electrician to make repairs.

  • Circuit breakers/fuses – Check that circuit breakers are working properly. Fuses should be properly rated for the circuit they are protecting.

  • Service capacity – As you continue to upgrade your home with more lighting, appliances, and electronics, your home’s electrical service capacity may become overburdened. If fuses blow or trip frequently, you may need to increase the capacity of your electrical service or add new branch circuits. A qualified electrician can determine the appropriate service requirements for your home.

For more information on electrical safety in your home, visit SafeElectricity.org.