Knowing how to prevent attic fires is essential since more than 10,000 of the yearly house fires in the United States start in the attic. The result is an average of 35 deaths and more than $440,000 of property damage each year. By taking a few precautions, you can help ensure a disaster like this won’t happen to your home and family.
Here’s a look at some of the most common causes of attic fires, as well as our tips to help prevent them from happening.
Causes of Attic Fires
The most common cause of attic fires is an electrical malfunction. An overloaded circuit can cause a spark if the breaker fails to trip. Open insulation in the attic can easily catch fire and spread quickly.
Other common reasons an attic might start on fire include a malfunction with the heating unit or a natural disaster like a lightning strike or a falling tree. Most attics are not equipped with fire alarms, so they might burn for quite a while before they are noticed. They are often visible from outside before they can be identified inside of the home.
You Can Prevent Attic Fires
Since they are such a common and disastrous occurrence, it’s essential that you take the proper steps to prevent attic fires. Take the following precautions to help keep your home and family safe:
- Keep your attic clean and regularly remove excess lint and debris.
- Don’t store fire hazards in the attic like cardboard boxes and anything else that can easily catch fire. Never store materials like batteries, chemicals, and flammable liquids in the attic since they could easily combust if a fire did start.
- Take care not to overload circuits by limiting the number of cords you have plugged into a single outlet or power strip.
- Keep your vents clean and clear so air can flow freely through them, and consider having your air ducts cleaned every few years.
- Check your roof regularly, especially after storms, and make sure it’s not leaking. Water leaking in through your roof can damage the electrical system and start a fire. If you notice a leak, contact a professional right away to repair it.
- Have your HVAC system inspected and serviced regularly to ensure it’s functioning properly.
- Call an electrician to check your home for faulty wiring and fire hazards.
- Check the insulation in your attic. The right kind of attic insulation will help prevent a fire from spreading if it does start.
Black Diamond Water Damage & Disaster Restoration Can HelpAt Black Diamond Water Damage & Disaster Restoration we genuinely hope you take the proper precautions to prevent attic fires. But if disaster does strike, we’re here to help. Our expert team of disaster restoration specialists will be there every step of the way to help with smoke and fire damage and to restore your home back to its previous condition. We offer 24/7 emergency services, mold remediation, storm damage repair, and more in Murray, Utah, and other cities across the Salt Lake and Utah valleys. Give us a call today for all of your disaster restoration needs!
