Appliances have become an essential part of everyone’s day-to-day life, and it’s hard to imagine completing your daily tasks without them. While they bring in added convenience and make chores easier, they increase the risk of fire. At least 25,000 electrical fires occur in the United States each year, as per the U.S. Fire Administration. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to avoid this devastating situation.  

Here are tips from a fire damage restoration expert for ensuring the safety of your appliances.

Inspect and Maintain Your Appliances Regularly

Make it a habit to check your appliances and electrical systems from time to time. Have you noticed that some light switches are hot to the touch? Are there flickering lights in your living space or outlets that aren’t working? If so, contact a professional immediately and have the issues fixed. It’s the same for faulty appliances or devices that create sparks or give you shocks when turned on. 

Know the Right Location for Your Electronics

Restoration experts would agree that proper appliance placement significantly reduces the risk of fire. Make sure you don’t place electrical appliances in areas where they can potentially get wet. Furniture, towels, curtains and other flammable items must be at least 3 feet away from your appliances. Avoid placing rugs or carpets beneath electronics for added safety. It’s also a good idea to put appliances away from high-traffic parts of your home. 

Provide Sufficient Power Supply

You shouldn’t plug too many appliances into a single outlet, extension cord or power strip. It’s always safer to use power strips made with internal overload protection because they shut down when overloaded. Before plugging in appliances, check if your outlet can handle their electrical load requirements. For your safety, choose heavy-duty extension cords for powering your devices. 

For superior fire and water damage restoration services, choose Special Touch Restoration. Call us at (256) 330-4822 (North Alabama) or (251) 512-1424 (South Alabama). You may also complete our contact form to request a free estimate.