Fall Safety Tip: Don’t Overload Your Electrical Circuits

Published on September 22, 2022

With school back in session, there are likely more of us plugging in our electronic devices at school, home, and work. As the weather gets cooler, heaters are also coming on again. This uptick in power use could lead to inappropriate use of multi-plug adapters and extension cords - common fire code violations often seen in businesses. These hazards become even greater in homes, since fire inspections are not done in private homes.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, at least 47,000 home fires in the U.S. are caused by electrical malfunctions every year. These fires lead to more than 400 deaths, 1,500 injuries and more than $1.4 billion in property damage. Overloaded electrical circuits are a major cause of homes fires. Help lower your risk of electrical fires by not overloading outlets, power strips and extension cords.

How do you know your circuits are overloaded? Here are some warning signs:

Flickering, blinking or dimming light
Circuits frequently trip or fuses are blown
Warm or discolored outlet plates
Crackling, sizzling or buzzing from outlets
Burning odor from outlet or wall switch
Mild shock from appliances, outlets or switches

Here’s how you can help prevent electrical overloads:

Never use extension cords or multi-plug converters for appliances - major appliances should be plugged directly into an outlet, and only one appliance per outlet
Replace worn and frayed cords and extension cords
Replace outlets that move when plugging items in - this indicates connection problems and can result in electrical shorts or arching in wall spaces
Relying on extension cords could mean you have too few outlets - contact a qualified electrician to inspect your home and add new outlets
Remember: power strips only add more spots to plug into, they don’t change the amount of power received from the outlet

Find more fire safety tips from Kirkland Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau.