How to Keep Your Homes Safe From Electrical-Related Fires
Located on the southeastern coast of Australia, the city of Sydney is home to one of the most important ports in the South Pacific. Sydney is also Australia’s largest city with a 2018 registered population of 5.23 million people. Sydney is best known for its iconic Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sydney is also among the top 10 livable cities according to the latest Mercer Survey.
Residents of Sydney are happy with the quality of life that they are getting living within the city. However, most Sydney homeowners have little to no knowledge of how their home’s electrical system is working and rely on an electrician in Sydney every time they encounter an electrical problem in their homes. While it is recommended to hire a professional electrician to work with a home’s electrical wiring in Australia, the ability of homeowners to identify electrical problems is also important.
Understanding the ins and outs of the electrical system of a home may be a complicated task, especially if you do not have an electrical background. However, homeowners need to understand at least how to identify if their home’s wiring system is faulty by observing these three common electrical devices.
Fuses. A fuse is an electrical component that provides protection when there is an overload in an electric circuit. A fuse is made up of a metal strip that melts when there is too much flow of current that passes through it. When the strip melts, the circuit becomes incomplete and stops the flow of electricity.
When a fuse blows in a home, it can easily be replaced. However, if the fuse repeatedly blows after being replaced, then there is something wrong with your wiring system. The same thing goes for circuit breakers which function similarly to fuses. Circuit breakers will trip every time an overload of current is detected. Circuits are considered overloaded if the total load exceeds its ampere capacity. For example, a 15-amp circuit only has the capacity for loads up to 1,800 watts and will overload if the current exceeds that number. However, fuses trip faster than circuit breakers. Fuses are also less expensive to install initially. However, suppose both your fuses and circuit breakers are blowing up or tripping regularly. In that case, you have a broader electrical problem that needs to be dealt with by a certified electrician in Sydney.
Light Bulbs. Most homes are fitted with light bulb sockets that are designed for 60-watt light bulbs. However, many homeowners fit 100-watt bulbs in them since they fit the same. What homeowners don’t realise is that 100-watt bulbs generate more heat than the contact points of 60-watt sockets may not be able to cope with. When these sockets become extremely hot, the light fixtures may cause fire damage to your home. It is important to make sure that the wattage of the bulbs you want to be installed in your homes match their corresponding sockets. An electrician in Sydney can be hired to check and change all your lighting fixtures.
Power Outlets. It is common for many households to overload their power outlets. Double adaptors, extension cords, and power boards attached to an outlet increases the risk of overloading the circuitry of the outlets. It is therefore important to have a circuit breaker attached to power outlets that are used heavily inside the house. Power outlets used for appliances that use up large amounts of electricity such as air conditioning units must have their circuit breakers.
Taking care of these three common electrical devices within your home is enough to ensure that your home is safe from fires caused by electrical fires. It is recommended to have your electrical wiring inspected by a licensed electrician in Sydney once as soon as you observe electrical disturbances.
Written by Carmel Issac