Fire Hazards in Your Home That You May Not Be Aware of
When we hear about a home going up in flames, we often gasp, “How did it start?” or “What set it off?”. The answers are often scarce but the assumptions and conjecture run aplenty. The bottom line, however, remains that tragedy has struck.
Unfortunately, most people are more at risk of home fires than they imagine. It is not that you may be doing anything egregiously wrong. Rather, it is likely that you have made some small oversights which, if not corrected, could be the spark that sets off the flame.
Read on as we list such fire hazards that may be lurking in your home and what you can do to get rid of them.
Non Waterproof Lighting
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Lighting up your porch, pool, or landscape adds an undeniable charm to your home. In some cases, it may even make your home safer by deterring burglars and some wild creatures. However, such lighting is exposed to lots of factors that can cause wear and tear. This, coupled with exposure to water, mist, or snow can all cause the lighting circuit to malfunction.
Waterproof lighting is well-insulated and can, therefore, handle exposure to different vagaries of weather. They would be a much safer option that could serve you for a long time with little maintenance. Moreover, in terms of aesthetics, models like the RGBW addressable LED strip, offer lots of dynamic features such as colored lighting and special effects.
Low-Quality Plastics
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Did you know that some types of plastics are more combustible than others?
Consequently, if you have any substandard house fittings such as sockets or extension cords, they could be a disaster waiting to happen. Items such as plastic chairs or toys should also be kept away from direct sunlight or areas like your kitchen.
Naturally, it would be impractical to ask you to get rid of all your plastic. So, instead, strive to invest in high-quality plastics from reputable manufacturers. They tend to use high-standard procedures whether they are injection molding chair units or electrical components to achieve better plastic product quality.
Outdated Appliances
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Electric appliances are designed to suit the recommended electrical standards of the time. As a result, when such standards are reviewed, appliance manufacturers equally update their designs to make them safer.
The problem with outdated appliances is that while they may be serving you diligently and even handed down through generations, they are not up to code. Some of the most common features include the lack of protective features against surges, overheating, and an inability to self-regulate their hearing elements.
As a result, if the power supply in your home surges or if the appliance overheats, it could start a fire. Worst still, some electrical fires may not necessarily burst into a flame but could begin by wreaking havoc through your home’s electrical wiring network.
Suffice to say, in this case, old is not exactly gold. Upgrade your appliances when you can.
Old Insulation
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Different types of insulation have different sure ratings based on their flammability. However, even those that are considered more flammable are quite safe to use because they are treated with fire retardants.
However, over time, the protective layer of the fire retardant could deteriorate and leave your insulation vulnerable to fire. This is especially risky when it comes to insulation solutions such as cellulose and spray foam which have plastic components in them. Not only would they accelerate any accidental fires but they would also release highly toxic fumes while at it.
The trick here is to either upgrade to an insulation solution with a higher fire rating or be diligent about maintaining the one you currently have. Consult an expert for such maintenance checks as they would be better placed to catch any faults and recommend a suitable way forward.
Fire Accelerants
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A fire accelerant is any material or substance that would make an ongoing fire burn faster or more intensely. Every home has lots of them. They include cooking oil, cooking gas, alcohol-based products, and plastics.
Be wary of other less known culprits too like oxygen tanks and ammunition. Oxygen feeds fires while ammunition like bullets contain gunpowder which burns quite rapidly but releases combustible gases. Aside from protecting their guns, this is also why some people choose to make their gun safes fireproof.
As a rule of thumb, endeavor to store such products as far away from any heat or electrical outlets as possible. In the event of a fire, try to toss them out or distance yourself from them as well.
Conclusion
We all crave safety but sometimes, amidst all the bustle of life, it is easy to forget to keep up with all the safety measures we should be taking. Now that you know of these risks, try to do better. Set quarterly reminders to review such hazards if you need to. It is a much cheaper and less devastating option compared to putting out a fire.
