Around 54% of household fires in the year ending March 2024 were caused by domestic appliances.
That's according to analysis by Churchill Home Insurance which highlighted that Fire and Rescue Services in England were called out to over 23,000 fires in homes that year, around 12,000 of which were caused by electric appliances.
Some of the worst offenders are cooking appliances, with tumble dryers and washing machines also giving cause for concern. Fires caused by battery chargers are also on the rise, with the number reported having more than doubled in the last four years.
Of course, electrical appliances and technological gadgets are a key part of modern life. So, how can we stay connected while reducing the risk to our homes?
Sarah Khan, Head of Churchill Home Insurance, said: “We encourage our policyholders to regularly maintain some of the most used kitchen appliances, such as a washing machine and tumble dryer and potentially consider looking at professionally cleaning items such as an oven, to help reduce the risk of them catching fire. It is also important to consider what you leave plugged in and turned on, especially overnight.”
Key electrical hazards to watch out for:
- Hot plugs and sockets: if your plugs or sockets have scorch marks or feel hot to the touch, unplug them and check them for any loose wiring or faults. Blown fuses can also lead to dangers, so make sure you stay on top of any broken plugs.
- Badly-wired plugs: It sounds simple, but if the coloured wires are sticking out of a plug or are exposed, water and dirt could get inside, or the wires could be pulled. Change any loose plugs or tighten them up. If you’re not confident doing it, call a professional.
- Fraying power leads: The outer covering of a power lead should never be damaged. If it is, replace your cable or lead immediately. This can commonly happen to phone charger cables, so keep an eye on them. If you’re repairing any plugs, make sure you don’t expose any wires.
- Repaired power leads: Repairing a power lead isn’t always a safe, viable option. If a lead is split or frayed, you shouldn’t tape over it or use a previously repaired lead. Taping cables together allows moisture to get in, putting the cable at risk of causing a fire. It's far safer to buy a new appliance or a new lead.
- Cables in dangerous places: Don’t leave power leads in places where they can be tripped over. Make sure they aren’t near water, or too close to the cooker top. Also, keep young children and pets away from wires that they could be tempted to pull or chew.
- Lightbulbs: Don’t use a lightbulb with a wattage that’s too high for the lamp. Lighting appliances should state which wattage you should be using.
- Water near electrics: Cables and plugs should never get wet, so keep drinks away from electrical appliances. Not only is spilling your morning coffee a downer, but it could be really dangerous.
- Toasters: Keep your toaster clean and away from anything that could easily fall into it. If something gets stuck inside your toaster, it can lay on the elements and catch alight. Regularly cleaning out the crumb tray will also help reduce the risk of fire.
Where possible, turn off as many electricals as you can at night. This also applies if you’re going away for an extended period of time.
Fire hazards from sockets
Sockets and extension leads can be a major fire hazard. If too many appliances get power from one socket, it can overheat and catch fire.
Here are some tips and advice on how to avoid overloading sockets, from Electrical Safety First:
- It’s safer to use an inline extension lead, rather than a cube type.
- Never plug another extension lead into the one you’re using. This is called ‘daisy chaining’ and it means one outlet is providing excessive power, which can cause the outlet to overload and start a fire.
- Make sure that any appliances or chargers you plug in aren’t higher than the extension lead's rating. Together, they shouldn’t add up to more than 13 AMP (3,000 watts). Never plug in more than one appliance that uses a lot of energy, as this can cause fires.
- If you need to use an extension lead outdoors, make sure it’s waterproof and has the correct rating.
You can also stay safe by carrying out regular checks on your plugs, sockets, devices and appliances.
In an emergency
If there’s a fire, call 999 and get everyone out of the house and to a safe place. Don’t go back into your property, and don’t try to save any of your possessions. That’s what home insurance is for.
We’re here to help after a fire
If you need to make a claim after a fire, you'll find all the help you need right here.
Source: Home Office Fire statistics data tables, available at GOV.UK. Updated: 25 July, 2024.
