fire – Able Electrical Contracting

Jun

OLD SMOKE DETECTORS JUST AREN’T WORTH IT!

A recent call came from a house the fire department had just left. A 60 year old switch (pictured below) had overheated and begun to burn. The homeowner smelled something and called the fire department. If she had not been home, it could have been very bad.

She was perplexed because the smoke detector didn’t do its job. Pushing the test button sounded the horn but it had lost its ability to detect smoke a long time ago. Ten years is what manufacturers recommend for the life of a detector. They aren’t trying to sell more detectors, they’re trying to save lives!

Pushing the test button and hearing the horn on a 10+ year old detector only means the horn works. That is no guarantee it will detect smoke.

Newer detectors are available with a ten year battery. That means no yearly batteries to replace. After 10 years, simply buy a new detector. That is the safest investment for any home.

-Frank

Apr

Why Replace Old Lights, Switches, Etc.?

As an electrician I am always taking mental note of the electrical integrity of the homes I am called to service.

blog light Electricity is a modern convenience so taken for granted, that the hidden dangers of age related deterioration can be overlooked. Recently while working in a customer’s storage room I turned on a light. Within just a few minutes I detected a burning smell eventually traced to the fixture pictured at right. The exterior shell is porcelain which can’t burn and appears fine. However, the electrical failure had taken place in the interior components which had deteriorated with age. The fire hazard occurs when the light is left on for an extended period. Sparking melts wires and ignites flammable items nearby.

Another case in point is the burnt-out thermostat pictured below. A recent service call showed me something I had never seen before. Over the phone the customer claimed that a fire had been started by a faulty thermostat. I politely informed him that was doubtful, since thermostats operate at a mere 24 volts in comparison to the 120 volts of a standard switch or receptacle. Upon arriving I saw the 24 volt thermostat which had overheated and ignited the carpet below. Fortunately the customer was home, 20151016_105114 (800x450) smelled the odor and called the fire department. No doubt the house would have been a loss had he been absent. This was another case of electrical components failing with age.

Replacing old light fixtures, switches and receptacles is a wise move to minimize the risk of a home fire.

~Frank

Jan

Safer Living at Home

My habit is to point out safety issues I see as I work in people’s homes. Often the issues aren’t even electrical, so I have nothing to gain. These are things I’ve gleaned from my interactions with fire and EMT professionals. Some are common sense.

A stairway with little or no light is an inconvenience that with time becomes a real hazard. Adding lighting can reduce the likelihood of serious injury.
Newer electrical products on the market make life easier and safer. Receptacle/night lights can replace standard receptacles in hallways and bath. The LED light operates automatically, has a 10 year life and makes navigating at night less of a challenge.
Outside and inside lighting should be sufficient to clearly see where you are walking. Older homes often fall short in this regard. Consulting with a lighting professional on proper light choices beats the big box stores.
Approximately 50% of homes I work in have inoperable/inadequate smoke detectors. With newer smoke/carbon monoxide detectors that have a 10 year battery life, things can’t get much easier.
Sixty year old refrigerators (as cold as when Momma bought it) experience wire insulation failure. The failure is unseen until it is too late. I was at a home where a fire caused by an old fridge caused a man to lose his life. And no, his smoke detectors weren’t working. All electrical products have a “service life”. After that its protection is degraded. An assessment of your electrical system by Able Electric can make it safer living at home.

~Frank