Faulty electrics are one of the leading causes of house fires — and they almost always give warning signs first. Knowing what to watch for, and getting ahead of it, is some of the cheapest insurance you can buy for your home.
The warning signs you should never ignore
- Warm or discoloured plug sockets
- A burning or fishy smell near outlets or the DB board
- Flickering lights or dimming when appliances start
- Breakers that trip repeatedly
- Buzzing from switches or the distribution board
- Scorch marks around sockets or switches
Any of these means stop using that circuit and get it inspected.
Your DB board is often the ignition point
An old, overloaded or loosely-wired distribution board is a classic fire origin: loose connections overheat, and missing or failed earth-leakage and breaker protection means faults are not cut off in time. Upgrading an aged board with correct protection is one of the highest-impact safety steps you can take.
Smoke detectors give you time
Many electrical fires smoulder in walls and ceilings before they break out. Interlinked smoke detectors near bedrooms and living areas give the early warning that saves lives — increasingly expected in rentals and complexes too.
Reduce the risk today
Fit smoke detectors, stop overloading sockets and extension leads, replace damaged cables and hot old halogen downlights, and book an electrical safety inspection or Certificate of Compliance. We will assess your home's specific risks.