5 Unexpected Fire Hazards In Your Home by MyProperty

Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines may be over, but fire hazards may still lie inside your home. With the summer season in full swing, it is best to check which electrical appliance might need repairs or replacements. Overheating machines are one of the most common causes of fires in the home. But there are other fire hazards that you might not know about. They are quite unexpected so if you aren’t careful, you might find your house burning down in flames.

Of course, preventive measures are crucial to keeping your home safe from fires. Here are five unexpected fire hazards in your home that you might want to deal with extra care:

Laptops and Mobile Devices

Devices with lithium batteries, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, can overheat. As heat builds up, they may potentially spark up and burn. Most battery-related fires can be caused by gadgets that are left charging on flammable beds and couches. If you love to use your phone and tablets while charging, you are most likely putting your home at risk for irreparable damage. Avoid such mishaps by unplugging your devices when not in use, especially if you leave them often on your bed or couches. 

 

For laptops, it is ideal to use them on a hard flat surface such as a table. Ideally, keep your laptop’s vents away from anything that may block them. You might want to consider using a laptop stand to help cool air circulate around your laptop. By keeping your laptop well-ventilated, you’ll avoid heat build-up and prevent any fires from starting. Clean your vents when they have dust build-up. Replace any wear and tear on the charging wires to avoid sparks. Lastly, turn off your laptop after use to keep them from overheating or wearing out their batteries too quickly.

Extension Cables

Extension cables are convenient devices to let you use outlets that are too far away. However, misusing them may trigger safety risks. Here are some ways your extension cords may cause fires in your home:

 

a.) Plugging too many major appliances to extension cords for an extended time. It is best to plug devices with higher power capacity directly into the outlet. Otherwise, the extension cord might overheat, cause sparks, and burn down your home.

 

b.) Placing extension cords in enclosed spaces. When heat is trapped for a long period of time in a limited space, it can become a fire hazard. Make sure to give the device enough room. 

 

c.) Pulling the cable (not the plug) when disconnecting from the outlet. Habitually doing so will cause wear and tear in your cord and may expose the wires. To prevent the extension cord from potentially electrocuting you and causing flames, the right way to disconnect it is to pull the plug itself and do not jerk the cable.

Glass Jars

Who would have known that glass jars are also flammable items? It turned out that a jar of hazelnut spread caused a massive fire in London, United Kingdom. The flames began when the glass jar sitting on a windowsill intensified the sunlight and refracted onto the window blinds. This news might seem outlandish, but this could happen to you if you leave glass jars or vases close to a window or glass door. Ideally, keep any glass vases away from the windows in order to avoid burning down curtains, blinds, and furniture.

Dust Clumps

Besides being a threat to people with allergies, dust clumps or dust bunnies are also unusual fire hazards in your home. Accumulated dust could be clogging your air vents, fans, and electric sockets and turn into the kindling that triggers a fire in your home.

 

Clean off the dust from your exhaust fans, washing machine vents, and electrical outlets. Doing so keeps your devices from sparking up. Plus, you’ll also enjoy a cooler home by allowing better airflow inside and outside your space. 

 

Annoying Pests

Pests such as rats are perpetually annoying. Not only do they steal your food, but they also gnaw away electrical wiring that may burst in flames when left unattended. Rats may also build their nests with flammable materials such as scrap paper, fabric, and plastic. If they build their nests near a heat source, there is a chance that they’ll catch fire and spread throughout your home. 

 

To keep annoying pests at bay and prevent them from causing house fires, clean your kitchen and dining areas regularly. Sweep and dust every nook and cranny to make sure no crumbs and other food bits are left behind. Seal gaps and cracks to prevent rats and small rodents from getting inside. Doing so will keep your home safe from fires and make your house more sanitary.

 

Even though Fire Prevention Month has ended, it is crucial to keep your home safe and secure from potential fires all year-round. Check if these fire hazards are present in your home and take the necessary precautions to ensure they won’t start house fires.

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