Are Your Electronics a Fire Hazard? 4 Charging Mistakes to Avoid
Last year the theme for Fire Prevention Week was ‘Charge into Fire Safety’
This year the theme is ‘Safe Charging is a Superpower’
The National Fire Prevention Agency has now pushed fire safety for charging and electric fires for two years in a row now.
Clearly electric fires are becoming a bigger problem.
To help you become safer in your home let’s dive into 4 common charging incidents (and how you can stop them)
Number 1 - Unsafe phone charging
We all charge our phones at night (unless you bought the newest smart phone within the last 12 days).
And far too many of us charge our phones in quite an unsafe manner.
It happens very often that people charge their phones on their bed while they sleep.
The problem is that if the battery overheats, your bed can catch on fire very quickly.
The safest way to charge your phone is to place it on a nearby table.
Many phones also have a smart charging option in the settings. This mode doesn’t charge continually. It will charge most of the way and then stop. Before your alarm, it will finish charging.
Number 2 - EV Charging mistakes
EV charging fires are becoming more common because EV’s are becoming more common.
If you plan on charging your car at home, we highly recommend having an electrician install the correct charger.
Some people try using an extension cord with an adapter from a home outlet to their car.
This not only charges super slowly, but also poses a big risk for fire.
You have now plugged your home to a car battery. Not a great idea if you don’t have the charger installed correctly.
Number 3 - Electric scooters & bikes
Another unsafe type of charging is with the new electric scooters and bikes.
These are super fun to ride, but can cause a home fire if they aren’t cared for properly.
It’s an interesting difference for charging these safely.
You should never store them outside, because excessive water can damage the electronics and make them more likely to malfunction.
But on the other hand, you should never charge them in your home.
The high heat that is generated when charging can cause a fire if there are easily combustible materials nearby (things like carpet or furniture).
The best place to store e-bikes and scooters is in a garage because it’s protected from the rain, but safer to charge them in.
Seems obvious, but it’s not something most people are thinking about.
Number 4 - Only purchase UL listed products
The UL listing is important certification for all electronic products.
There are many certification companies that are all considered ‘UL Listed’.
These include:
- UL itself
- SGS
- ETL
- Etc…
Products that are not UL listed are not certified to be safe.
You should check every electronic device you are purchasing for some type of safety certification. These products should be listed and certified, not just tested.
Safe charging will protect your home from fires
For NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week we hope you all can learn some way to make your home safer from fires.
The entire month of October is also National Fire Safety Month so stay tuned for more content on our blog around fire safety.
If you use social media, follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get more fire safety tips.
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