Avoiding Electrical Fires During Winter

Mister Sparky Electrician Houston shows how an electrical repair issue can cause an electrical outlet fire.

It’s obviously no coincidence that more electrical problems, especially electrical fires, occur during the colder, winter months. In fact, it’s estimated that over 28,000 house fires ignite in the U.S. each year because of electrical issues – with most of these occurring in December, January, and February.

A majority of these sometimes-fatal catastrophes can be attributed to faulty electrical systems, as well as common unawareness about the dangers of using space heaters and other heating devices improperly. It really comes down to one simple reminder: plug it straight into the wall! Avoid using extension cords for not only portable heaters, but for any appliance in your home.

As colder temperatures become more frequent, homeowners will resort to space heaters as a means to keep a room warm while trying to avoid a high utility bill, using an extension cord to move the heater around to different areas of the house. Because a typical space heater consumes between 750 and 1,000 watts, oftentimes they will cause extension cords to melt and spark before the circuit breaker can trip.

Out of all of the reported heating-related fires from 2007-2011, space heaters accounted for a total of one-third (33%). Not only that, but four out of five (81%) deaths, more than two-thirds (70%) of injuries, and half (51%) of the property damage were also attributed to this lack of safe home electrical practices.

The correlation between electrical fires and home heating definitely deserves your attention, and is something Mister Sparky electricians want to dramatically decrease. Be conscious of any potential electrical hazards and take the proper precautions to ensure that there is no possibility of a fire ever starting.

If you need extra outlets installed, faulty wiring checked, or just want peace of mind that all of your electrical systems are functioning the way they should, give us a call at 281-907-8418 today. Stay warm!

View all of our Blog Posts

On Time Guarantee

We’re Here Whenever You Need Us
“We’re on time you’ll see or your electrical repair is free”. We back our superior electrical service with not only integrity, transparency, and dependability, but also our On Time Guarantee. We understand your time is valuable which is why we guarantee we will be there when you call.

When you need expert electrician services in Houston or surrounding areas, just give us a call at 281-907-8418 or click here to book your appointment online so we can send a Mister Sparky technician to help you as soon as possible.

Red Carpet Treatment

The Respect you Deserve
Our technicians understand the value of being neat and considerate while working in your personal space, which is reflected in how we leave your home after solving eletrical issues.

Mister Sparky protects your home while he’s working: he slips on shoe covers (“floor savers”) and will even go the extra mile and roll out a red carpet to protect your flooring from dirt, scuffing, and scratches. Work completed, he vacuums the area to ensure that he leaves your home as clean or cleaner, than he found it.

Starched White Shirt

The Mister Sparky Standard
Because of Mister Sparky’s commitment to excellent service, we believe in hiring only the most professional and knowledgeable Houston Electricians. This means that in addition to technical excellence, all Mister Sparky electricians must uphold our Starched White Shirt standard for conduct and professionalism.

You can easily recognize a Mister Sparky electrician by his clean-cut, freshly shaven appearance and his signature starched white shirt and gray pants.

Need Electrical Service?

Contact the experts at Mister Sparky.

Call us at 281-907-8418!

Read More of Our Articles

View other articles.