Outside of the tragedy of deaths, electrical fires also cost millions of euros in property damage every year. These figures are frustrating when you take into account that most of the common instances of electrical fires are completely preventable. In today’s blog, we’re going to outline the most common types of property fires and outline how they can be prevented.

Faulty Power Sockets
One of the major causes of electrical fires comes from a property’s power sockets. Loosely fitted power sockets or overloaded power sockets pose a serious fire risk. The warning signs everyone should be aware of when it comes to power sockets is listening for a sizzling sound when an appliance is plugged in. If the appliance's plug is hot to the touch after being in the power socket that is a major red flag. Commercial buildings usually have Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters which detect faults with power sockets. For homeowners we recommend contacting an electrician if you notice any of the following issues with your socket:

- A sizzling sound coming from a power socket
- The smell of melting plastic
- Burn marks on the outside of the socket
- Heat on the socket or around the socket
- Noticeable heat on appliance plugs

Old House Wiring System
Electrical fires due to out of date wiring are more common in properties over 25 years old. These fires can be due to the wiring not being installed correctly or the electrical system not being built to deal with the increased capacity. The best way to prevent house wiring system fires is to hire an electrician if your home or business property is more than 25 years old. An electrician should access the electrical system and if there is a danger of a fire may recommend basic updates or a full electrical house rewiring.

Misused or overloaded Extension Cords
Overloaded extension cords are a particular problem around Christmas time. When extension cords are overloaded they can become hot and can be dangerous. To prevent extension cord fires never overload an extension system. Never add an extension plug system to another extension cord as this can be very dangerous.

The above are just some of the reasons for electrical fires. However, if you have any concerns about your home or business's electrical system call Alert Electrical immediately. We offer everything from electrical house rewiring to fuse box replacements.

The more practically minded individuals may consider updating their heating system or even consider installing insulation.
There are multitudes of things to change, refine and update in a home but updating a fuse box is often overlooked. This can be a mistake, especially in older properties. At best, old, out-of-date fuse boxes can be incredibly inefficient, costing the property owner hundreds in their annual energy bills. At worst an old fuse box may be a fire hazard and could pose a significant danger to the property's occupants. This of course poses the question, when exactly should you replace your fuse box?
To answer this question, we’ll start by defining what a fuse board is.

What is a fuse box and what does it do?
Fuse boxes, sometimes referred to as fuse boards or electricity boards are systems that funnel electricity into the property. All electrical power in a building is passed through the fuse board.
A fuse box is made up of residual current devices, which control different parts of the property. A residual current device detects the amount of electricity entering the property and cuts it off immediately if there is a power surge. This is a safety feature to prevent injury or fires.

When is the best time to replace a fuse box?
When considering a fuse board replacement, it's best to consider what your electrical capacity needs are. Outside of replacing fuse boards that are old or damaged, sometimes even relatively new fuse boards may need to be replaced if the electrical needs of the property have changed.
If you regularly face blackouts or power surges that “trip” the electrical system in your home, you likely require a new fuse box.

How long does a fuse box replacement take?
Many factors need to be taken into account when discussing a fuse board replacement timeline. Of course, the skill and the experience of the electrician will be a factor in how long the job takes. All Alert Electrical electricians have years of experience and complete all jobs quickly and to the highest of professional standards.
The overall condition of the fuse board will also affect the time it takes to upgrade. Older fuse boards will likely require a much more comprehensive change and update.
As a very rough rule of thumb. A fuse board replacement can take anywhere from two to five hours.

How Much does a fuse board replacement cost
Much like the difficulties in calculating the time it takes to replace a fuse board, calculating the cost is also dependant on some variables. If other important electrical issues need to be addressed during the fuse box replacement, these issues will affect the cost. If the wiring isn’t up to standard on your fuse board this will also need to be addressed and will likely affect the overall cost.
The good news is that Alert Electrical always offer competitive, no-obligation quotes before any work is carried out, so clients know exactly what they are spending.

Still not sure if you need a fuse board replacement? See our fuse board page or give our Dublin electricians a call today.