Electric fires make you shudder at the very thought of them. They cause huge damage to human lives and property. They are predominantly caused due to improper wiring and short circuits due to failure of insulation in the building. An electrician could be hired to check for leaks in the wiring and do a complete check of electric wiring in your home. He would perform a complete check and also recommend you how to avoid any accident and also give you tips for maintenance to increase the life of the equipments.
Homes and other buildings age very soon and with the addition of the loading the wiring scheme becomes outdated and could be prone to an electric fire very much. To avoid all this, hire an electrician and ask him to perform a complete inspection if your home has not been inspected for quite some time say 10 years.
Circuit breakers are an area of big concern to your home. If you are using the wrong one, they might get heated up very soon and also take longer duration to cool down. Check the amperage in your home. Please check that the circuit breaker used is sufficiently graded for the possible fault current that might flow in the system.
Electric cords are potential sources of electric shocks. A cord left unattended might be worn out and also cause potential threats. They should never be put inside a rug or carpet as they create heavier damage. It is not advisable to remove a prong from a 3-terminal cord. It is being provided to prevent shocks and protect the personnel. People also tend to misuse extension cords often. If they are also left unattended, they turn out to be source of risk.
Plug outlets are also points prone to short circuits. A plug outlet is prone more usage due to plugging and unplugging by people at home. The insulation might have been worn out and it is better to replace it from time to time. A loose connection heats the outlet and increased heat can cause melting or fire.
Hiring an electrician to perform periodic checks shall definitely prevent untoward incidents and protect your home against serious damage. An electrician might be well versed in this and would be able to point out areas which are prone to shocks and suggest suitable replacements.