07/06/2023
How to prevent a home appliance fire
Our household appliances make our everyday lives much easier, but if not used correctly they can become a fire hazard. So how can you reduce the risk of a fire at home and keep yourself and your family safe? Keep reading to find out how you can properly use and maintain your everyday electrical appliances.
Air Fryers
Air fryers have become a must-have kitchen gadget and claim to be seven times cheaper to run than an oven. Although they may save you money on your energy bills, if not used correctly they can become a potential fire hazard. To help prevent a fire you should clean your air fryer after every use, as grease and food debris can quickly build up. You should never leave the air fryer unattended when in use and leave enough space around it so that heat can escape freely through the vents. Although you may want to cook as much food as possible, it’s important that you don’t overload the food basket, as this could also cause a fire.
Hair tools
Anyone who’s ever grazed their ear or neck with a hair styling tool knows they get hot enough to burn! Electrical beauty appliances such as hairdryers, straighteners and curling irons can reach temperatures of 235 degrees within minutes, enough to ignite nearby materials and cause a fire if left unattended. You should place tools on a stable, heat proof surface and turn them off once you’ve finished with them. Always keep out of reach of young children, especially when waiting for the appliance to cool down.
Washing machines and dryers
You may be surprised to know that a washing machine or dryer could go up in flames, but these are large electrical appliances and must be used correctly. You should never leave these appliances running when you leave the house or at night when you’re sleeping. If you did do this and these were to catch fire, the fire would have more time to develop before you were aware of it. Although you may be tempted to wash lots of clothes at once, it’s important that you don’t overload these appliances as this could start a fire. You should clean the filter in your tumble dryer after every use and be aware of any burning smells, as this would indicate that something isn’t quite right.
Electric blankets
When the weather gets cooler, an electric blanket is great to keep yourself cosy and warm. Although they’re a cost-efficient way to stay warm, they can cause a fire if not used correctly. You can use the blanket to heat up your bed but always switch it off before going to sleep. You should also check your blanket regularly for wear and tear and make sure it’s still in a good condition. Pay particular attention to the cord, cable and plug every season to make sure they’re not frayed or damaged. If there are any signs of damage, it’s always best to replace the blanket altogether. Lastly you should never buy second hand as this could compromise your safety.
Fire prevention starts with you
You might not think these appliances could start a fire in your home, but it’s always better to be safe, and take steps to prevent a fire before it happens. To fully protect your household, you should regularly test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms around your home, to make sure they’re in full working order. You can find out how to do this on our helpful resources page.
As your landlord, we insure the structure of your home, but this doesn’t include what’s in it. Your home is where you keep the possessions that mean the most to you, so you should make sure you have contents insurance in place. If the worst was to happen, a contents insurance policy could cover the cost of replacing your personal items to help put things right. You can find out more about this and how you can protect your possessions for a lower cost with Aviva, on our website.
As always, we’re here to help if you have any concerns or unanswered questions. Give us a call on 0808 168 4555 or find out how to contact us in a way that suits you below!
Tenants Contents Insurance is arranged by Aon UK Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Tenants Contents Insurance is underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. Aviva Insurance Limited, Registered in Scotland Number 2116. Registered Office: Pitheavlis, Pearth PH2 0NH. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
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