5 Bad Habits That Can Start a House Fire

Stop! Drop! And quit those nasty homeowner habits! There are things you're
doing (and not doing) that will increase your home's risk of
catching fire. To keep your home (and family) protected from possible house fires, make
sure you're putting a stop to these bad habits:

1. Falling Victim to Excess Lint – Dryer Lint is one of the most flammable things that exist within your
   home. Unfortunately, it can build up in different areas inside and outside
   of this heating-creating appliance. Make sure you empty the lint trap
   after each load of laundry, while also clearing the dryer vent, exhaust
   duct, and inside of the frame multiple times per year.
2. Mismatching Your Bulbs – Just because there's a light socket, doesn’t mean you can throw
   in any old bulb! If you wind up putting a light bulb in that exceeds the
   wattage of the socket, you're just asking for an electrical fire to start!
3. Connecting Extension Cords – Extension cords should never be connected together and should only be
   used for short periods of time. Connecting too many together and using
   them each and every day can increase their risk of overheating, thus causing
   house fires. If you need to use an extension cord that often, contact
   an electrician to install a new outlet in the desired location.
4. Ignoring Your Dusting Duties – Homeowners should be dusting their homes on a weekly basis to improve
   indoor air quality and efficiency of systems. HVAC and electrical systems
   are oftentimes magnets for dust and should be cleared on a regular basis.
   This will help decrease the chances of house fires while also improving
   their efficiency.
5. Being Your Own Electrician – Nothing is more dangerous than repairing your own electrical system. Electric
   shock and possible fires can occur during installation or repair of electrical
   lines and receptacles – as well as later down the road if they were improperly
   installed. Hiring a professional electrician will save you money in inevitable
   repairs and re-installation in the near future.

House fires can start in an instant, so it's up to you to keep your
home's risk at a minimum. When you need a professional electrician
to inspect, repair or install something in your home's electrical
system, contact Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (717) 207-9952.

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