Most Overlooked Electrical Fire Hazards in Your Home

Electricity is the lifeblood of our homes. Everything from phones and refrigerators to air conditioners run on batteries or AC power. But as useful as electricity is, it will always carry a certain level of danger.

Some dangers are obvious, like an outlet shooting sparks or a power supply line that falls in a storm. But others are more subtle and can go unnoticed for years, not doing immediate damage but still posing a threat to your home and loved ones.

With the help of two certified home inspectors, we’ve assembled a list of commonly overlooked fire hazards and how you can guard against them.

Lack of GFCI Protection

Mike Powell, the owner of Red Flag Home Inspection in Tampa, Florida, finds a lack of proper Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection to be a regularly unnoticed hazard. “A risk that’s easy to overlook,” he says, “is unprotected outlets in wet areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces.” Without properly installed GFCIs, says Powell, “you could be at risk for electric shock.”

To see if you’re protected, look for an outlet with GFCI testing buttons or a sticker stating that it’s GFCI-protected. The stickers are used when a single GFCI outlet protects several other outlets on the same circuit or when the GFCI protection is in the breaker panel itself.

Note that the mere absence of GFCIs isn’t a code violation. “GFCI weren’t even required before the mid-’70s,” says Powell. Like many outdated items, you may not be technically required to update your GFCI protection until you perform other upgrades or repairs.

Overloaded Circuits

Greg DeAvila is a former Division Chief Officer with the Oceanside Fire Department in California. After retirement, he became an owner of Pillar to Post Home Inspectors. One of the most common issues he sees is overloaded circuits.

“Plugging too many devices into a single outlet can cause overheating and potentially start a fire,” DeAvila says. “Using long extension cords for appliances can also lead to overheating.”

Red Flag’s Powell agrees, noting that overloading circuits with too many devices can pose a fire risk. And it’s not just the number of devices on a single outlet. Another danger comes when well-intentioned homeowners take improper steps to remedy the issue.

“Many homeowners mistakenly rely on power strips and extension cords as a permanent solution,” says Powell, “or some may add extra outlets into existing lines.” Another common mistake is upgrading a 15 amp breaker to 20 amps without ensuring the wire in the circuit can handle the load. (See how to properly fix a breaker that keeps popping.)

Instead of short-term fixes, says Powell, focus on distributing devices across outlets and avoiding overloading outlets with excessive power strips. Take the time to make sure you don’t overload your circuits, and you can rest easier knowing that your home is a little safer.

Closet Incandescent Bulbs

Although less common in the age of LEDs, another potential fire hazard is an exposed incandescent light bulb touching flammable materials. In older homes, it was common for closets to be lit by a single, exposed incandescent bulb, usually on a pull-string. The problem is that these closets often had stacks of sweaters and piles of boxes, any of which could easily come in direct contact with the bulb.

Under normal circumstances, a 60-watt incandescent light bulb doesn’t produce enough heat to be a fire risk. But in a tight, enclosed space where heat can’t escape, it essentially turns that space into a tiny oven, generating more than enough heat to melt or ignite nearby materials.

Per the 2020 National Electric Code (NEC), modern homes cannot have exposed incandescent bulbs in closets. To defend against this threat, upgrade any existing bare bulbs to an LED closet light replacement.

Improperly-sized Extension Cords

A common issue for DIYers is that undersized extension cords can overheat when used to power some power tools. Use an extension cord that can handle the power demands of the heaviest tool that will be using it.

I’ve been guilty of this one myself. I was on a job site and needed to make several cuts on a table saw. I convinced myself I didn’t need to hike back out to my truck and grab the right power cord. After all, there was what looked like a perfectly usable lightweight cord close at hand. But when I ran my job site saw through that undersized extension cord, it immediately began to overheat. Even worse, I did this with a 50-foot cord still so tightly wound that the heat couldn’t escape. I didn’t notice any problems until I started packing up, grabbed the cord, and immediately dropped it. It was blazing hot, and I could smell the overheated plastic.

It was an absolutely foolish thing to do, and I’m lucky I walked away with just a scare. Don’t be like me – use the right extension cord for the job.

Exposed Electrical Parts

DeAvila suggests homeowners and renters watch for exposed electrical parts over time. “Open sections of electrical panels or exposed wires can lead to accidental contact and electric shock,” he says.

This particular risk is often combined with another failure. Properly sealed outlet boxes and covers limit the risk of a spark or loose wire. If the electrical parts are exposed, a small spark can lead to serious danger.

This combination is often found in faulty appliances. “Damaged or malfunctioning appliances can cause electrical fires or shocks,” DeAvila says.

Worn Insulation

The metal core of electrical wiring is wrapped in one or more layers of protective insulation. If that insulation cracks, is cut, or otherwise wears out, that wire section is no longer safe for household use. This is true for any kind of wire, from power cords to the wires that run inside a house’s walls.

A good example is knob and tube wiring. This once-popular way to wire a home isn’t inherently dangerous, but the fabric sleeve that encases the wires is prone to failure. Phased out during the 1930s, knob and tube is still found in older homes. On old knob and tube wiring, the insulation has often fallen away, leaving the dangerous inner wire exposed to the home’s environment— or anyone who happens to touch it.

DeAvila points out that the same is true of any type of worn insulation. “Worn or frayed wires can expose live electrical parts, increasing the risk of electric shock or fire.” This is particularly common on extension or power cords. “Immediately replace any frayed or damaged cords to prevent exposure to live wires,” DeAvila says.

About the Experts

• Greg DeAvila is an owner of Pillar to Post Home Inspectors in the Phoenix/Mesa Arizona area. He is also a retired Division Chief Officer, with more than thirty years of service with the Oceanside Fire Department in California. DeAvila was involved in community risk reduction and recognizing unsafe issues in building construction, managing training programs in building construction, roof construction and commercial and residential mechanical systems. DeAvila grew up working in a family construction business.
• Mike Powell is a Professional Engineer and Certified Home Inspector, and the Owner/Trainer at Red Flag Home Inspection based in Tampa, Florida. He has been a Forensic Engineer (engineer determining cause and origin of failure) for buildings and building components for over 20 years, mostly in a residential setting.

Sources Used

• NFPA 78: Guide on Electrical Inspections
• Knob-and-Tube Wiring, by Nick Gromicko, CMI and Kenton Shepard, International Association of Certified Home Inspectors