Between 1994 and 1998, more than 900 people died in residential fires in which electrical problems were a contributing factor. During the summer months, electricity demands pick up with increased use of air conditioning and other cooling units.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that residents protect their homes from electrical problems by having wiring systems inspected. Homes more than 40 years old are especially recommended for inspection.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Electrical Safety Foundation International encourage homeowners to have an electrical inspection conducted for homes 40 years and older, for homes 10 years and older with major renovations or new appliances added, or that have been resold; learn the potential hazards posed by aluminum wiring systems and contact CPSC if your home is among the 2 million built with aluminum wiring between the late 1960s and early 1970s; and consider installing arc fault circuit interrupters in place of ordinary circuit breakers, especially if your home is more than 40 years old. Arc fault circuit interrupters are new technology designed to prevent electrical fires by sensing unseen electrical arcing. Arc fault circuit interrupters are particularly important where wiring may have degraded with age.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission also provided these additional safety tips
To read a Consumer Product Safety Commission news release, click here.