Most people probably don’t give much thought to all of the electrical cords attached to the phone chargers and appliances throughout their home, but all of these electric cords contain live wires that are wrapped in insulation.
If one of these power cords frays, those wires can become exposed and cause an electrical fire. How can you tell if an electrical cable is fraying, and what steps can you take to prevent this from causing fire and smoke damage in Springfield Missouri?
The Signs of Fraying Electric Cords
If you ever feel a slight tingle when plugging an appliance in or unplugging it, then you need to examine the power cord for fraying.
When an electrical wire deteriorates, it often blows a fuse or circuit breaker. When this happens, you’ll need to determine what overloaded that fuse or breaker. If you cannot find a damaged electrical cord or device, the problem may lie in the breaker or fuse. Call a professional electrician to find the source of the problem.
Extension cords, power strips, surge protectors, and other devices often sit on the floor where people may trip over them. Inspect any device that sits on the floor regularly to ensure it hasn’t sustained any damage. If the device frequently shuts off on its own, this could suggest a problem with the wiring in the device.
The smell of electrical smoke always requires immediate attention. This smell may linger when the appliance is unplugged or you might detect it when an item is first plugged into an outlet.
Sometimes you may not notice a smell but can see that the wall around the electrical outlet is warm or discolored. This discoloration serves as a warning sign that there is an electrical issue that may lead to fire and smoke damage.
Any flickering or lights that dim on their own need to be inspected by an electrician. This could be caused by the cord that is powering the lights breaking down over time and becoming damaged.
Preventing an Electrical Fire Resulting from Frayed Power Cords
Always take a moment to inspect electrical appliances before using them. Every appliance should have a tamper-resistant plug, and many appliances have a 3-prong grounded plug for an extra layer of protection. Any damaged power cords need to be replaced immediately.
It’s generally not a good idea to try fix a damaged section of electrical wire on your own. Fraying spreads across the power cord and the longer you use a damaged cord in this condition, the likelihood of this leading to fire and smoke damage increases.
Always inspect extension cords and power strips before using them. If they are only used occasionally, they may break down and sustain damage while in storage. The coiling and uncoiling of these power cords can cause this damage.
Avoid running any electrical cords underneath rugs or carpets or hanging them on a nail. This can cause damage to the power cords.
Never wrap a damaged power cord in electrical tape on your own. If you wish to keep the device, then have a professional electrician properly repair the cord before using it again.
The Dangers of Damaged Electrical Cords
Frayed wires lead to electricity being exposed. When exposed wires come into contact with someone, the risk of an electric shock increases significantly. If bare wires are exposed, there’s a higher risk of electrocution.
Electrical wires that lack proper insulation are more susceptible to moisture damage. The wires that become frayed can short-circuit. When that happens, someone could get shocked.
When plugging a frayed cord into an outlet, a person might get shocked if they touch the frayed area and a portion of the metal appliance simultaneously. When they insert the electric plug into the outlet, they complete the circuit leading to this shock.
If the worst does happen and a fire occurs as a result of a frayed cord, call 911 immediately. Ensure all family members and pets are out of the home and allow the professionals to deal with the fire. Never attempt to reenter the home until the fire is out and fire officials say it is safe.
When the time comes to repair the fire and smoke damage from an electrical fire, call the fire remediation experts at PuroClean Certified Restoration. Our technicians can restore your home to how it was before the fire.
Our crews are certified and trained in all the latest fire restoration techniques, so you can feel confident we will do the job right and your home will be back to normal.