3 Ways To Protect Against Appliance Related Fire Hazards

According to Consumer Reports, roughly half of all appliance-related fires are caused by misuse, while the remaining 50% are actually caused by the appliances themselves.

To help protect you, your home, and your family from disaster, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can protect yourself against the latter cause of appliance related fire hazards.

1. Find out about manufacturer recalls: Once a year—or when you move into a new home with pre-existing appliances or buy a used unit—you should check the manufacturer’s web site for recall information. You can also browse the Consumer Product Safety Commissions Safer Products web site as well, to see what issues people may have had with your appliance make.

2. Inspect your power cords: Check your cords for frays, bites (if you have naughty pets), or other tears. Never run your electrical cords under carpeting where it can catch fire. And if a cord seems damaged, replace it immediately.

3. Make sure your appliances match your electrical capacity: If you have an older home but newer appliances, you may want to upgrade your electrical. Older electrical systems may strain when trying to run newer, more powerful appliances, thus causing overheating and a fire risk.