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Electrical Fires: Causes and Prevention

While smoking, burning candles, and cooking accidents are all common causes of apartment fires in New York City, electrical problems are also major contributors. Why is this important to landlords and superintendents? All fires are of course devastating, but fires caused by electrical issues are often legally the fault of the property owner or manager. To keep your tenants safe and to stay out of hot water when it comes to insurance and lawsuits, read on to learn the essentials of electrical fires, causes, and prevention.

Common Causes of Electrical Fires

Heat-generating devices

Devices that generate heat are naturally always at higher risk of starting fires and present greater hazards if they overheat or spark and catch flammable material, like curtains or bedding. In apartments, this includes:

• Clothes dryers
• Electric stoves and ovens
• Toasters and toaster ovens
• Countertop air fryers and pizza ovens
• Hot plates
• Coffee makers and electric tea kettles
• Hairdryers and curling irons
• Electric blankets
• Heating pads
• Portable heaters

Although in some cases, misuse of these items resulting in a fire would be considered the tenant’s fault, in many cases, the property owner is responsible. Too few outlets can result in tenants resorting to overloading power strips, which tragically caused a fire that devoured a Queens apartment building in 2021. Old appliances (see below) owned by the landlord that cause fires are also the landlord’s responsibility.

Inadequate heat is a common reason why tenants use portable heaters in colder months. The responsibility here may be shared if a fire starts, but the fact remains that the tenant wouldn’t have used the heater in the first place if they had had sufficient heat coming from their steam radiators or electric baseboards.

Old appliances

It’s not just heat-generating appliances that deserve concern. Old appliances, particularly ones that draw a large amount of power, can be prone to starting fires. Frayed wires, loose plugs, and broken internal parts can all be hazards in refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, trash compactors, microwave ovens, and water heaters.

Faulty or inadequate wiring

Many buildings in New York City have poor wiring and/or outdated electrical panels (AKA circuit breakers or fuse boxes), especially pre-war buildings that are in need of updating. Wiring problems can include:

• Gaps in wiring (“short circuits”)
• Overloaded circuits
• Old or absent insulation for wiring
• Loose connections or broken parts at switches or receptacles
• Non-grounded outlets (two-prong receptacles)
• Absence of GFI outlets in kitchens and baths
• Too few outlets for demand
• Overloaded, outdated, or recalled electrical panels

Issues with the above are often related to demands for electricity today that far exceed the supply installed decades ago before air conditioning was common and people used so many countertop appliances and large entertainment systems. Wiring and connections can become worn from continuous use, as well as from rodents, insects, and corrosion from exposure to moisture.

What are some signs that your wiring needs immediate attention?

• Circuit breaker constantly tripping
• Having an electrical panel that has been recalled
• Still using fuses
• Flickering lights
• Switches or outlets that don’t work
• Tenants experiencing sparks or shocks when using electrical items
• Smell or appearance of smoke around outlets or overhead fixtures
• Tenants unable to use multiple high-demand appliances simultaneously
• Excessive use of power strips due to inadequate number of outlets

Preventing Apartment Building Electrical Fires

Provide adequate heat

Using portable heaters isn’t just a fire hazard; they run up electrical utility bills quickly, whether you are paying or the tenant is after submetering. The solution is to make sure your units are getting enough heat that occupants don’t need to supplement it.

Regular boiler maintenance will help keep your heating system running in tip-top shape. Our partners at Calray Boilers can help you with this, and the experts at Sanitary Plumbing can assist with pipe and radiator problems that impair sufficient warmth for renters.

Replace old appliances

It’s a good investment to replace old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones that are safer. Property owners can reap multiple benefits when they do this:

• Saving money monthly if you cover electricity
• Tax credits with the federal government
• Rebates from appliance manufacturers
• Charging higher rents with updated units

Update wiring, electrical panels and other system components

Another great investment in your property is to update your electrical system to bring it into modern standards (and in some cases up to building code requirements). You may just need some small adjustments for loose connections and creating separate circuits for large appliances.

Or, your building may need a larger overhaul, including the electrical panel. While this is an expense, it’s nothing compared to the loss of your property and compromising the safety of your building’s inhabitants.

Educate tenants about fire safety

It’s vital that your building’s renters know the basics of fire safety pertaining to electricity use. Putting together a booklet for new tenants can prevent accidents that turn into disasters. Key tips include:

• Never leave heat-generating appliances unattended when in use.
• Unplug appliances, especially those that generate heat, when not in use.
• Don’t overload power strips (and use surge protectors instead).
• If portable heaters must be used, limit them to oil-filled radiators rather than infrared heaters. Keep 3 feet of space free in every direction around the heater. Don’t run the heater while sleeping or when not at home. Never use a portable heater in combination with an extension cord.
• Replace countertop appliances when they break down or if the electrical components show signs of wear.
• Report any of the signs of wiring problems listed above to the landlord or property manager.

Hopefully, your tenants won’t be forced to use power strips due to an inadequate number of outlets. However, if they must be employed while you’re in the process of upgrading your electrical system, provide complimentary surge protectors to each unit instead. These provide much greater protection against electrical fires.

Make sure smoke alarms are functioning properly

Although smoke alarms can’t obviously prevent electrical fires, they can alert occupants to the presence of a fire so it can be put out before it grows. Check smoke alarms regularly and replace batteries as needed.

While you’re at it, make sure your emergency egress signage and lighting is operating correctly too so tenants can find their way out of the building in case of an emergency. Never keep fire doors propped open, as that can increase the air supply to a fire and cause it to spread more rapidly, as what happened with the heartbreaking fire in Queens.

Not sure if you have wiring problems in your property? Need help bringing it into the 21st century? Call Bolt Electric today at 212-434-0098 for a consultation, or schedule an appointment online. You’ll sleep better knowing you’ve done everything possible to prevent electrical fires in your apartment building.