HOT ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES AND SWITCHES CAN KILL!!

Every day in the U.S. 150 homes will start on fire because of electrical issues. Wiring and electrical components have a life expectancy that does not always equal the life cycle of the building. Vibration, fatigue, overloading and age can cause the loosening of electrical connections. Even a simple installation error, such as insufficient tightening of screw terminals or poor splicing connections can produce abnormal heat build-up behind walls, potentially leading to catastrophic fires and death.  

Contributing factors that lead to overheating and glowing connections are:

• Incorrectly installed wiring
• Damaged areas on insulated wiring
• Loose splicing wire connections
• Damaged receptacles
• Glowing electrical connections were identified in the 1970s by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards as a causative factor leading to fires in wall outlets.

Outlets: They may be warning you-

• Check to make sure outlet and switch plates are not unusually hot to the touch. If they are, unplug cords and do not use the switches. Have a licensed electrician perform an electrical inspection as soon as possible.
• Discoloration and darkening around outlets and switch cover plates are signs of potential problems.
• No wiring should be exposed from behind outlet and switch cover plates. Replace missing, cracked or broken cover plates.

• Electrical fires are a leading cause of home fires in the United States, accounting for nearly 54,000 each year.  These fires cause more than 500 deaths, 1400 injuries, and $1.4 billion in property damage annually. Electrical problems pose an even greater threat in older homes.  
• 81 percent of all civilian fire deaths occurred in residences.
• Fifteen percent of residential building electrical fires start in bedrooms
• Studies indicate that a disproportionate number of home electrical fires occur in structures 40 or more years old.

In an effort to address this serious problem, PlugGrip products made the addition of heat sensitive facings to its PlugGrip and SwitchGrip hand tools in 2007.

Guidelines provided by the NETA (InterNational Electrical Testing Association) say that when the difference in temperature between similar components under similar loading exceeds 27 ° F, immediate repairs should be made.

NETA recommends the same action be taken when the temperature for a component and ambient air exceeds 72 ° F. Check your outlets today!