Don’t be shocked! May is National Electrical Safety Month, and our Ting Fire Safety Team has offered their best electrical safety tips based on years of experience in preventing fires in homes.
We rely on electricity in our homes every day – from turning on the lights, brewing coffee, keeping our appliances running, charging devices; the list goes on. Most homes have a few miles of wiring behind walls and ceilings with hundreds of connection points to keep everything running.
Much of your home’s electrical infrastructure is hidden from plain sight, so fire prevention starts with you!
But I have Ting, why do I need safety tips? Ting is statistically proven to prevent ~80% of electrical fires, significantly reducing electrical fire risk in homes. However, Ting alone cannot eliminate 100% of electrical fire risks. Your safety is our priority. If you have questions, especially if you suspect an electrical risk in your home, please contact us immediately.
With nearly 10,000 electrical fire hazards detected & mitigated, our Ting Fire Safety Team is well-versed in electrical safety. Every day, our expert Fire Safety Engineers analyze data to detect fire hazards and work closely with customers and electricians to resolve various dangerous situations from failing outlets, faulty appliances, and damaged power equipment.
For Electrical Safety Month this May, we asked our Fire Safety experts:
Given your experience, what would be your top electrical safety tip for homeowners?
Here’s what they had to say to help keep your family & home safe:
“Keep your electrical equipment up to date.
We see a ton of fire hazards with old and/or retrofitted electrical equipment. If you see an old, cracked outlet, or an electrical panel in rough shape, it’s best to proactively get these replaced before they become a deeper issue and affect other parts of your home.”
– Patrick G., Fire Safety Engineer
If you own an older home, your electrical equipment may not be up to date, code compliant, and fully functional. Older electrical systems often aren’t designed to meet today’s power demands to support modern technology such as microwaves, refrigerators, dryers, hot water heaters, and smart devices. ESFI recommends that you have an electrical system inspection conducted if your home is 40 years old or older.
CUSTOMER STORY
– James in Huntsville, AL
“Ting notified me of voltage variations outside acceptable limits. They arranged for a local electrician who found heat damage in the circuit breaker panel. The panel was 58 years old and the consensus of several contractors was that the panel would need to be replaced. After replacement, dimming of the lights no longer occurred when heaters, fans, or other electrical items powered on.”
“Don’t dismiss symptoms of an electrical hazard.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry – call an electrician or ask us if Ting is detecting anything abnormal.”
– Gabrielle J., Fire Safety Engineer
Trust your senses. If an appliance or device generates a spark, a buzzing or crackling noise, a burning odor, a whisp of smoke, or doesn’t seem to be operating properly – immediately discontinue use and unplug it. Then, contact your electrician and our Fire Safety Team.
“Ensure that electrical appliances, devices, and outlets are kept away from water sources.
This extends to outlets and devices on the exterior walls of the home.”
– Sabrina J., Fire Safety Engineer
Water and electricity don’t mix. Never use electrical appliances such as chargers, radios, hairdryers, garden tools, and the like near water, such as a sink, bathtub, pool or wet surface – and never outside during wet weather. In the case of flooding or leaks, ESFI recommends that any water-damaged electrical equipment should be immediately evaluated by a qualified electrician.
CUSTOMER STORY
– Eric in Concord, CA
“It has been a very wet winter and Ting identified arcing related to water damage. They worked with me to identify the specific circuit and an outlet receiving water from a window leak. This led to replacing the outlet and the burned circuit breakers from arcing in the sub-panel. Ting was great to work with and we avoided more serious damage to my home.”
“Discuss unusual electrical activity like flickering lights with neighbors.
If they’re experiencing similar issues, it could point to a larger-scale utility issue that needs addressing. Being vigilant and proactive about such signs can help prevent potential electrical hazards.”
– Nick C., Fire Safety Engineer
You may not be the only one experiencing outages or unreliable power! It’s worth a quick chat with your neighbors or posting in a neighborhood social media group to check if anyone in your area is experiencing these issues too. If they are, it could mean an equipment malfunction that needs to be fixed on the street-level (such as a transformer or power line) by your utility provider.
“Question everything – an outlet seems loose, a breaker keeps tripping…
Electrical arcing is complex and can happen over extended periods of time. We get so many homeowners that say, ‘it’s always been like that’ or ‘I got Ting to confirm when I thought something was wrong’ and we guide them to a resolution.”
– Ray C., Director of Fire Safety Operations
Don’t postpone taking action when it comes to strange electrical behavior. Something as harmless as flickering lights or appliances that have “always acted up” could be warning signs of an electrical fire hazard forming. You should approach your home’s electrical system with a healthy dose of caution and be proactive, not reactive.
CUSTOMER STORY
– Maria in Kalamazoo, MI
“I had been experiencing flickering lights in my home for over a year but could not find the problem. Within a few days of plugging in the Ting sensor, I received a notice of a fire hazard coming from the utility side of my electrical service. Ultimately, the ground in my electric hub at the street was damaged and there was electrical arcing. The serviceman said it was a dangerous situation and we are lucky it was repaired before a major fire occurred. We are so thankful for Ting.”
“Have an electrician inspect the electrical system in your home to prevent failures.
Electrical systems naturally have a longer life span than other systems found in homes. Preventative maintenance is always cheaper than emergency repairs.”
– Brandon L., Fire Operations Specialist
It’s crucial to understand the state of your home’s electrical system. According to ESFI, an electrician should inspect your home if:
- Your home is 40 years old or older
- You’re moving into a previously owned home
- Your home has undergone a major renovation
- You have added major new appliances in the last 10 years
“Change the batteries in your smoke alarms once a year.
And look at the date on the back of them. Smoke alarms have an expiration date of 10 years from manufacturing so parts don’t fail. If something does happen in your electrical system, make sure you live through it.”
– Bucky K., Master Electrician
Preventing fires is the best way to stay safe. But prevention is not always possible and Ting does not replace the need for smoke detectors. If a fire ignites, your best defense against injury and loss of life is smoke alarms. All smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Additionally, if you have battery-operated smoke alarms, replace the batteries annually. If you have hardwired smoke alarms, check if they have a sealed 10-year backup battery or replace the battery annually.
Don’t Forget Ting!
Of course, our list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Ting! Ting has been proven to reliably prevent 80% of all electrical fires in homes. Life gets busy and it can be difficult to remember to inspect and monitor all your home’s electrical equipment. And even if you are diligent, a hazard can still develop silently and unseen. With a Ting sensor plugged in, you can enjoy the peace of mind that if an electrical fire hazard begins to develop, it can be detected, you’ll be alerted, and our Fire Safety Team will help remediate it.
Electrical safety isn’t just for May – it’s a lifelong responsibility as a homeowner that helps keep your family, belongings, and property safe.
Be diligent, be proactive, and trust your senses.
A big thank you to our dedicated Fire Safety Engineers for their commitment to safety and compassion for our Ting community. We couldn’t do it without you!