Home Fires: Leading Causes and How to Reduce Risk
Home fires are rare, but their impact can be devastating and, in some heartbreaking cases, deadly. These fires can start unexpectedly and spread quickly—perhaps sparked by a faulty electrical wire or a decoration placed too close to the fireplace. But many can be prevented with the right safeguards in place.
General reminders to reduce your risk
Here are a few recommendations to help you avoid the potential disruption and trauma so often associated with home fires.
- Inspect your chimney and have it cleaned professionally each year
- Never leave candles unattended, use caution when cooking and remember to clean out clothes dryer lint
- Work with a professional to ensure your home’s electrical system is grounded in case of a lightning strike
- If you use a space heater, invest in one that turns off when tipped over or overheated and keep it at least 3 feet away from anything flammable
Home fires risk can increase significantly during the holidays with flammable decor, holiday lights and more activity in the kitchen. Here are a few simple steps to keep your home safer during the holidays >
How to prevent a top cause of home fires: electrical issues
The causes for home fires among the membership range from lightning strikes to cooking mishaps to unattended candles to poorly maintained fireplaces. But the most common cause resulting in severe damage is electrical issues, with an average cost per claim of more than $1 million.
Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, older appliances and improperly installed light fixtures are the common causes for these electrical fires. Fortunately, many of the conditions that cause electrical fires can be monitored and detected by a device called Ting and prevented with a few other helpful actions.1
Install a Ting
This small sensor can be plugged into any outlet in your home and help prevent electrical fires by monitoring electrical currents and flagging potentially dangerous spikes in voltage frequencies. If an electrical issue is detected by the sensor, Ting will contribute $1,000 towards repairs. Get your free Ting >
This small sensor can be plugged into any outlet in your home and help prevent electrical fires by monitoring electrical currents and flagging potentially dangerous spikes in voltage frequencies. If an electrical issue is detected by the sensor, Ting will contribute $1,000 towards repairs. Get your free Ting >
Use appliances properly
Although it may feel like common sense, it’s important to be mindful about unplugging heat producing electronics like kettles, toasters and curling irons. Be mindful of overloading power strips and outlets. If you notice that a device's power cord is frayed, cracked or loose from its plug, have it repaired or replaced before using it.
Although it may feel like common sense, it’s important to be mindful about unplugging heat producing electronics like kettles, toasters and curling irons. Be mindful of overloading power strips and outlets. If you notice that a device's power cord is frayed, cracked or loose from its plug, have it repaired or replaced before using it.
Assess your home's electrical system
Make sure your home’s electrical system has been inspected by a qualified electrician. Be vigilant for signs of faulty wiring, such as flickering lights, blown fuses, discolored or scorched outlets and burning odors.
Make sure your home’s electrical system has been inspected by a qualified electrician. Be vigilant for signs of faulty wiring, such as flickering lights, blown fuses, discolored or scorched outlets and burning odors.
Charge electrical vehicles safely
Before charging your electric vehicle check chargers and cords for damage and ensure your charging station outlet is covered to keep water out. Before plugging your vehicle in at home, have an electrician assess your electrical system and install a new circuit just for charging.
Before charging your electric vehicle check chargers and cords for damage and ensure your charging station outlet is covered to keep water out. Before plugging your vehicle in at home, have an electrician assess your electrical system and install a new circuit just for charging.
How Ting works
1. The Ting device is a product of Whisker Labs that is being given to members through a collaboration with PURE. PURE does not guarantee that the Ting device will prevent a fire or detect all electrical hazards. Use of the Ting device and corresponding app is subject to the terms and conditions of the Ting User Agreement and any additional terms that may be required from time to time. To learn more about Ting, including the availability of the $1000 credit, please visit https://www.tingfire.com/help/faq.
