As Homes Age Electrical Fires Increase

Older Homes at Greater Risk to Electrical Fire

ARLINGTON, Va., July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Hazards commonly

found in older homes are increasingly causing fires and fatalities in the

United States. Home electrical problems account for nearly 55,000 home

fires every year. These fires cause over 500 deaths, injure more than 1,400

people, and account for $1.4 billion in property damage. Older homes are at

even greater risk of fire. A report released today by the Fire Protection

Research Foundation highlights the fact that aging homes in the United

States can be protected by taking a few simple steps and by bringing

electrical components up to date.

The report closely examined the electrical systems of 30 older homes in

the U.S. – documenting potentially hazardous conditions in those homes. The

study showed that real dangers can exist and often remain hidden in the

electrical systems of older homes. The vast majority of those hazards were

caused by improper installation and maintenance and a failure to meet

proven safety provisions found in the National Electrical Code(R) (NEC(R)).

Some of the specific problems identified in the report included poorly done

electrical repairs, worn out wiring devices, and misuse of extension cords.

The potential for hazardous electrical conditions is increasing as

Americans put more and more of a burden on the electrical systems in older

homes. According to the US Census Bureau, half of the homes in the United

States were built before 1973. These homes and electrical systems were

built before many of the appliances and electronics that we use today

became common. This includes more than a third of US homes which were built

before hair dryers or electric can openers were even invented.

“As each year goes by Americans are using more energy in their homes,”

says Brett Brenner, President of the Electrical Safety Foundation

International (ESFI). “Many homes and electrical systems in the US are

simply being overburdened leading to fires, deaths, and injuries.”

As a result of the report, the Foundation strongly encourages

homeowners to have their homes’ electrical systems thoroughly inspected by

qualified electricians, ensuring that all electrical work in the home meets

the safety provisions in the NEC(R).

“When people buy a home, they have no idea what kind of electrical work

has been done in the past or if that work was done by someone qualified to

perform the task,” notes Brenner. “But today’s report clearly found that

Americans can take steps to prevent many of these electrical fires from

occurring.”

This month, ESFI is providing consumers with a checklist which will

allow consumers to identify electrical dangers commonly found in each room

of their home. ESFI will also be educating owners of older homes on newer

fire prevention technology such as Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs).

These advanced electronic circuit breakers detect dangerous conditions in a

home’s wiring and cut off power to the circuit before a fire develops.

More information and resources relating to electrical safety in older

homes can be found at

http://www.electrical-safety.org

. The complete Fire

Protection Research Foundation’s report can be found at

http://www.homewiringsafety.com

.

SOURCE Electrical Safety Foundation International

BE PREPARED

FAMILY FIRE SAFETY PLAN  

Install Smoke Detectors. Change batteries once a year. Replace Smoke Detectors every 10 years.

OUR FAMILY’S MEETING PLACE IS:

Tips For a Successful Drill;

The entire family should practice your escape plan together at least twice a year.

SIMULATE A REAL SITUATION – Place family members in rooms with the doors closed. Turn on a radio or TV to mimic real living conditions.

USE YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR TO BEGIN THE DRILL – Hit the test button on your Smoke Detector and start the drill. Confirm everyone can hear it.

IDENTIFY TWO WAYS OUT OF EVERY ROOM – Make sure everyone has a planned Secondary Exit from their bedroom.

MEET AT THE MEETING PLACE – Did everyone make it? If YES, everyone gets a high-five. If NOT, discuss what went wrong and try the drill again.

MAKE PLANS TO CALL 911 – Make sure you have a plan to call 911 from a neighbor’s house once everyone is at the Meeting Place and accounted for.

BE PREPARED

DEVELOP YOUR ESCAPE

Draw a floor plan of your home, making two ways out of every room. Don’t forget to include windows in your escape plan.

If windows or doors have security bars, make sure they have quick-release mechanisms so they can be opened quickly.

Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits. Find two ways out of every room, especially bedrooms.

Install smoke detectors throughout your home. Place at least one on every floor and/or outside every sleeping area.

Check to make sure smoke detectors work. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least twice a year.

Establish a safe meeting place for your family outside the home.

Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.

Practice your escape plan with your entire family at least twice a year.

PRACTICE YOUR ESCAPE

Test all doors before you open them. If a door is cool, open it slowly.

Doors will feel warm around the cracks if a fire is present.

Never open a warm door. Seal the cracks with a wet towel and either find another way out or wait for the fire department to arrive.

Don’t waste time with unnecessary items such a wallet, keys or laptop computer. Get out as fast as possible.

Never try to fight a fire by yourself. Leave the firefighting to the professionals.

Use a portable fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing.

Close all doors behind you as you leave. This will help slow the spread of fire.

If smoke is present during your escape, crawl as low as possible below the smoke. Stay low and go.

If you live in a two-story home or apartment, escape ladders may be necessary.

Get out first. Call the fire department from a neighbor’s home or from your cell phone after you have gotten safely out of the home.

GET OUT AND STAY OUT!

Compliments of Mister Sparky

CALL: 281-316-0500 or 409-737-1646 or 888-8-SPARKY

©2009 Clockwork Home Services, Inc.

Fire Safety Checklist

Kitchen and Cooking Safety

Yes ___ No ___

Do you stay in the kitchen when food is cooking on the stove?

Yes ___ No ___

Are pot handles turned inward so they can’t be bumped off or overturned?

Yes ___ No ___

Do you make sure that kitchen towels, pot holders and other things that can burn are kept away from the stove?

Yes ___ No___

Is a fire extinguisher kept within reach?

Heating Safety

Yes ___ No___

Do you have your furnace and chimney professionally serviced each year?

Yes ___ No ___

Do you keep space heaters at least three feet away from things that could catch fire, such as furniture, curtains and papers?

Yes ___ No ___

Does your fireplace have a sturdy screen to catch sparks?

Smoke Alarms

Yes ___ No ___

Are smoke alarms installed on each floor and near all sleeping areas?

Yes ___ No ___

Do you test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure they are working properly?

Yes ___ No ___

Do you change the batteries in your smoke alarms once per year?

Yes ___ No ___

Have you replaced smoke alarms that are at least 10 years old?

More Fire Safety

Yes ___ No ___

Does your family practice a home fire escape plan regularly, both at day and night?

Yes ___ No ___

Are you careful not to leave burning candles unattended?

Yes ___ No ___

Are you careful not to overload electrical outlets, extension cords and power strips?

Yes ___ No ___

Do you check all wires and cords for damage and cover all unused electrical outlets?

For more information, we recommend the following websites;  www.firepreventionweek.org     and   www.nfpa.org

Call: 281-316-0500, 409-737-1646 or 888-8-SPARKY

www.mistersparky.com

©2009 Clockwork Home Services, Inc.

A lack of electrical outlets isn’t just a pain-it’s a safety concern! Overloaded power strips and misused extension cords cause thousands of fires and hundreds of injuries each year. Don’t risk your home or family’s safety. Instead, have additional outlets added… either inside or outside your home. Power your home the way you’ve always wanted!

If you menton this newsletter, Mister Sparky will come to your home and give you a FREE estimate on adding outlets to any room in your home! Give us a call at 281-622-4587 or 409-765-1770 for more information or to schedule an appointment today!

Before

Does your Galveston area home have an old style fuse panel?  Do you need more circuits? Do you need more power service into your house? Do you need more outlets in the kitchen? Your home may be in need of a service panel upgrade.

A service panel upgrade can help you take advantage of today’s more efficient, safer circuit breaker panels than older technology. These circuit breakers protect every device in the house.  Whether it is a large appliance, a hair dryer, or the kitchen disposal. If needed, Ground-Fault Circuit Breakers and Arc-Fault Circuit Breakers are incorporated.

Also, a replacement panel using today’s technology can help your home be safer, be more insurable, and increase the resale value.

After

Call us at Mister Sparky/West End Electric today:
Will Downey, Master Electrician
Mister Sparky/West End Electric
(281) 622-4587
(409) 765-1770

• Strange sounds from the attic
• Can’t get electricity back on
• House without power after a brand new baby’s at home
• Strange, smoke smell
• Pool pump won’t work
• No power to the boat lift
• Garage door won’t open
• Power surges have fried household electronics

Whether it is new construction, remodeling, power upgrade service, or you want to use electricity more efficiently, Mister Sparky/West End Electric can do the job. We are your FULL SERVICE electrical company.

We are specialists in the electrical trade and are dedicated to making your home safer. Our technicians are highly efficient in their work and the price of every job is stated to the client before any of the work is performed. Call us any time, any day for your electrical needs.

Will Downey, Master Electrician
Mister Sparky/West End Electric
(281) 622-4587
(409) 765-1770