Skip to content
Ting
  • How Ting Works
    • The Problem
  • Customer Stories
    • Ting Saves
  • Grid Safety
    • Consumer Power Quality Index
    • Grid Fault Detection
    • Live Grid Events
  • About
    • Our Story
    • In the News
    • Journal
  • Help Center
    • FAQ
    • Safety Resources
    • Service Terms
  • How to Get Ting
Ting
  • How Ting Works
    • The Problem
  • Customer Stories
    • Ting Saves
  • Grid Safety
    • Consumer Power Quality Index
    • Grid Fault Detection
    • Live Grid Events
  • About
    • Our Story
    • In the News
    • Journal
  • Help Center
    • FAQ
    • Safety Resources
    • Service Terms
  • How to Get Ting

2 Ways Extreme Cold Can Increase Fire Risk

December 20, 2022   |   News, Utility Power Grid

Originally published on 02/19/2021

During the deep freeze in early 2021 in Texas, we saw a sharp increase in home electrical fire hazards. In-home fire risk always increases during cold, extreme weather. Unfortunately, the same extreme cold weather can impact the quality of power being delivered to the home.

Texas winter storms magnified by polar vortex in February 2021 wreaked havoc on the electrical grid. Whisker Labs live video loop of power surges, sags and outages caused by weather, generation plant failures, and planned rolling blackouts.

Increased Risk From Grid Issues

The winter storms at that time were magnified by a polar vortex and wreaked havoc on the electrical grid in Texas. The above video loop during that time documents power surges, sags, and outages caused by weather, generation plant failures, and planned rolling blackouts.

Compromised power quality and utility grid faults can sometimes increase ‘in-home’ risk, including fires, appliance damage, and/or electrocution risks.

Increased Risk From Heating Devices

At the same time, increased reliance on space heater heaters, heating blankets, and other devices to stay warm stresses the home electrical system – and, collectively, the electrical grid. These devices often use significant power, increasing fire risk (click here for helpful tips to keep you safe when using these devices).

Sometimes a home electrical network is ill-prepared to handle an increased demand of this nature, leading to hazardous arcing – sometimes hidden in walls – that can lead to devastating electrical fires. In other cases, a device is not plugged in or connected correctly or is itself faulty due to age, wear, or poor design.


Fire safety involves all of us – in the home and in the community. Stay warm and stay safe!

Posted in News, Utility Power Grid
Share this

Recent Posts

  • Resetting Circuit Breakers – What Every Homeowner Should Know
  • Smoke Alarms Save Lives
  • Overview: Ting-Detected Fire Hazards
  • Safety Tips: Staying Warm with Electric Heating Devices
  • 2 Ways Extreme Cold Can Increase Fire Risk

Categories

  • Case Studies
  • Company & Product
  • Device Safety
  • Electricity 101
  • Home Safety
  • News
  • Utility Power Grid
Ting White Logo

12410 Milestone Center Dr
Germantown, MD 20876

[email protected]

  • How Ting Works
  • How to Get Ting
  • Partner Programs
  • About
  • How can we help?
  • Service Terms

Privacy

California Residents

Customer Policies

Return Policy

Stay Up to Date

Periodic news, updates & tips

© 2023 Whisker Labs Inc. - Ting. All Rights Reserved.  |  Accessibility Statement  |  Sitemap

Website by Yoko Co

×

Testing this popup

Scroll To Top