Fire Damage Stockbridge: Cleaning Up After Fires From Lights and Switches

According to the U.S. Fire Administration,  electrical fires accounted for more than 6% of all residential fires. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) estimates that every year, over 50, 000 such fires cause pain and headache to families throughout the country. 

With so many outlets, and so many appliances charging or using power all day and all night, many things can go wrong. There is an increased risk of accidents when homeowners misuse the electrical system or miss performing routine maintenance. Restoration 1 of McDonough wants your family and home safe from any disasters, especially home electrical fires. 

Fire Damage Cleanup In Stockbridge 

Significant technological advancements in modern outlets, and the amperage breakers that protect them, are unlikely to cause a fire. However, almost every electrical device has the potential to plug into faulty electrical outlets, corroded wiring, or faulty receptacles. If you are operating obsolete appliances, you have even more chances for trouble. 

Any time electricity flows it creates heat. Under normal conditions, this heat is minimal – your home wiring is designed to prevent excessive heat build-up in the electrical system. But sometimes a fire is set off by a mechanical failure of an electrical device; other times it is the result of poor system design.

Loose or Worn Outlets and Switches

When too many appliances or devices are plugged into even a good outlet, it can become overloaded with the current. If a home is over 20 years old, it may not have the wiring capacity to handle the increased electrical load: computers, wide-screen televisions, smart appliances, routers, and air conditioners. When circuits become overloaded, outdated breaker boxes often have worn connectors that do not work. If the break isn’t properly triggered, it could start an electrical fire.  

Sometimes homeowners notice the heat from outlets even when nothing is plugged into them. An outlet might need to be tightened (or replaced) when appliances mysteriously flicker. This could lead to a fire starting right in the wall. Poor connections can happen either in the outlet itself or in wire nuts in the box behind the outlet. Like outlets, switches will wear out over time or the wire nuts become loose behind the switch.

Lamps and Lighting Fixtures  

The average for single-family homes is 85 lights– that is a lot of opportunity for a failure. A simple mistake like using a bulb with too high wattage could cause a fire. Always check the maximum recommended bulb wattage on any lighting fixture or lamp. Another common mistake is letting cloth or paper over a lampshade. When the material heats up and ignites, it can catch fire.  

As electrical parts age, the wire insulation inside chars, the connections corrode and the light bulb sockets don’t hold the bulbs as securely. 

Fluorescent Bulbs 

Although not common, sometimes you find compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) giving off a strong odor, or even smoking. But there have been very few reports of CFL fixtures catching fire. This smoke emitted from the components, however,  can leave a bad smell or marks on the ceiling. The plastic components might buckle, but not ignite.

A better solution is to replace all the fluorescent fixtures with LED technology. LED lights produce light at a lower temperature, so they are even less likely to catch fire. If you install and use them correctly the risk of an electrical fire should be practically zero.

Restoration 1 of McDonough has a thorough and proven fire damage restoration process to clean up your fire-damaged home. Make your first phone call to us as soon as you are safe; fire damage cleanup professionals are available 24/7 to handle your disaster.   

Our technicians will relieve your stress by evaluating the structural integrity of your structure before cleaning up. We will remove all damaged components, like flooring, to prevent the collection of soot, dust, or contaminants. Beyond cleaning the materials, we will also combat microbial and other airborne contaminants.