Fire alert: Overloaded electrical outlets put you at risk
Posted 09-04-2015 at 07:28 AM by DavidRaonic
More fires occur during the cooler months than at any other time during the year. Why? People often overlook many potential fire hazards that exist in their home. And, one of these is overloading extension cords and electrical outlets.
So before you go ahead and plug appliances and devices into your outlets or power bars, make sure you know how much they can withstand.
“Overloading electrical outlets is a common occurrence during the holiday season in particular,” says Wayne Ross, an insurance expert with Aviva Canada. “People are often so consumed with putting up all their holiday decorations that they overlook fire hazards.”
The good news is that you can easily reduce the risk by following a few simple tips:
• Check cords before use: Always check cords for damage before using them. If they are damaged, they could spark and cause a fire.
• Invest in a high quality power bar: If you are going to use a number of appliances and devices and plug them into a power bar to share power, invest in a power bar that can handle the load.
• Don't run cords under carpets or rugs: Doing this could cause damage to the cord and spark a fire in the rug.
• Use the appropriate exterior cords: Make sure that all extension cords you use outside are weatherproofed and suitable for their intended use.
• Use ULC certified cords: Ensure that all extension cords are Underwriters Laboratory Canada certified.
So before you go ahead and plug appliances and devices into your outlets or power bars, make sure you know how much they can withstand.
“Overloading electrical outlets is a common occurrence during the holiday season in particular,” says Wayne Ross, an insurance expert with Aviva Canada. “People are often so consumed with putting up all their holiday decorations that they overlook fire hazards.”
The good news is that you can easily reduce the risk by following a few simple tips:
• Check cords before use: Always check cords for damage before using them. If they are damaged, they could spark and cause a fire.
• Invest in a high quality power bar: If you are going to use a number of appliances and devices and plug them into a power bar to share power, invest in a power bar that can handle the load.
• Don't run cords under carpets or rugs: Doing this could cause damage to the cord and spark a fire in the rug.
• Use the appropriate exterior cords: Make sure that all extension cords you use outside are weatherproofed and suitable for their intended use.
• Use ULC certified cords: Ensure that all extension cords are Underwriters Laboratory Canada certified.
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