The electrician warned about the risk of fires due to errors in the use of equipment in the spring

In the spring, when the heating season is coming to an end and daylight hours are increasing, many expect to reduce energy bills. However, it is during this period that people more often begin to do minor repairs on their own and "optimize" household expenses, which often leads to dangerous experiments with electrical wiring. On March 6, an electrician from the Profi service told Izvestia about the most common causes of fires in residential buildings.<url>" by Danil Pugachev.

According to the expert, most of the spring fires are not related to weather conditions, but to an overload of the electrical network and improper operation of equipment. One of the most common mistakes is using cheap extension cords and tees to connect powerful household appliances.

"In spring, many people use an electric kettle, a microwave, a washing machine at the same time, and pumping equipment or power tools in dachas. At the same time, few people look at the permissible load. As a result, the wires begin to heat up, the insulation melts, and when in contact with flammable materials, this can lead to a fire," Pugachev warned.

The expert noted that thin extension cords and low-quality cables are particularly dangerous. If the wire heats up and becomes warm to the touch, this is already a sign of overload. Under normal load, a serviceable cable should not heat up.

The specialist called the constant overload of one outlet another problem. In old residential buildings, especially in panel high-rise buildings of the 1970s and 1980s, electrical wiring was not initially designed for a modern number of household appliances.

"In spring, power tools for repairs or cleaning are often added to the usual appliances. When several powerful devices are connected to one outlet at once, there is a risk of heating and sparking. If the socket goes dark, cracks, or there is a burning smell, it needs to be changed, rather than trying to "squeeze" the contacts with a screwdriver every year," he explained.

In addition, the number of self-made connections is increasing, especially in private homes and cottages. According to him, trying to save on the services of a master, people often twist wires or install circuit breakers of higher power so that they do not knock out during the operation of power tools. However, such actions can be dangerous.: The machine is designed to protect the wiring from overheating, and when installing a more powerful device, the wiring may ignite before the protection is activated. Pugachev emphasized that the circuit breaker should be selected strictly in accordance with the cable cross-section.

Electric heaters, which continue to be used on cool nights, also pose an additional risk in the off-season. According to the electrician, the danger is posed by old appliances without a thermostat, with damaged cords or traces of repair.

"You can't cover heaters with clothes, put them close to curtains and furniture. It is also dangerous to leave them on at night unless it is provided by the manufacturer. And it is absolutely forbidden to connect a powerful heater through a thin extension cord," he recalled.

The expert called the lack of safety shutdown devices (RCD) and serviceable automatic machines another common problem. Such devices help to prevent short circuits and electric shocks, especially in conditions of high humidity.

According to the expert, it is possible to reduce energy costs in safe ways. For example, replace incandescent bulbs with LED ones. They consume seven to ten times less electricity and hardly heat up. This reduces the load on the wiring and reduces electricity bills.

He also recommends that the load be evenly distributed over different power lines and that several powerful appliances not be connected to the same outlet group at the same time. If additional heating is needed, it is better to choose modern models with a thermostat that automatically turn off after heating the room.

In an interview with Izvestia on February 23, Georgy Tsereteli, head of new product development at Ippon, named three main criteria to be guided by when choosing an electric generator for a home. First of all, you need to determine which devices you plan to connect and how much total power they require. The second important aspect is battery life. Tsereteli noted that the needs may vary significantly depending on the usage scenario.

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