Seven Sneaky Fire Hazards in Your Home

Grandma’s Electronics 

Those darling hand-painted milk glass lamps are often seen as the perfect cottage-core accessory. But before you start decking your house out with collectible Fentons and Gone with the Wind lamps, you need to be aware of something: they are massive fire hazards. The wiring from the 1800s is not the same as the wiring from 2025. Even the wiring from the 60s is vastly different. Old wiring is a major concern when it comes to fire hazards. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have your antique lamps or retro electronics. But it does mean that there are certain safety precautions to take when you’re using vintage electronics. If you have retro electronics, they should be turned off when you leave the house and/or go to sleep. You’ll also need to pay attention to their temperature as electronics that run hot can be more likely to catch fire. 

The Tank of Gas 

A lot of people store a tank of gas in their garage. After all, there’s nothing worse than finally summoning up the motivation to mow your lawn only to realize that you also need to take a trip down to the gas station. Having a tank of gas in your garage, while convenient, may not be the safest thing. There are certain conditions under which it may actually be unsafe for you to store a tank of gas. For example, if you live in a condo or town home, it may not be a good idea to have a tank of gas stored in your home. If you decide you must have a tank of gas stored on your property, you should research the proper safety guidelines to follow when storing gas on your property. 

Last Year’s Fireworks 

Fireworks are expensive. Aside from taxes, one of the worst parts of adulthood may be paying for the fireworks yourself. It’s no wonder many adults are tempted to keep some left-over fireworks for the next spectacle, but this can be extremely dangerous. In many locations, it is only legal to set off fireworks in July and January, meaning that you could have extremely flammable explosives in your home for six months out of the year—not necessarily safe. It’s important to remember that fireworks do have a shelf life and, in some locations, it may be illegal to store fireworks. 

The Burnt-on Casserole 

If you’ve got burnt on heaven-only-knows-what in your oven, you’re not alone. However, you should know that built up food residue can be a fire hazard, especially if you cook food at high temperatures and/or make frequent use of the broiler. While some sources recommend cleaning your oven every three to six months, that may not be enough for some. If you’re baking frequently, or if you use your oven often, you may need to deep clean it as frequently as once per month. Those who cook fatty foods, casseroles, and foods that are prone to splatter may wish to clean their oven frequently—especially if those are cooked on a regular basis. 

Octopus Wiring 

Octopus wiring refers to the practice of jamming as many extension cords and outlet extenders as possible into a single socket. Not only can this cause shorts, it can also cause fires. Those who live in older homes are much more likely to engage in this practice simply because older homes have fewer sockets since there were fewer electronics and less demand for outlets. Unfortunately, the older your home is, the more dangerous this is—especially if you live in a century home with knob and tube wiring or other outdated wiring.  

Clutter by the Water Heater 

Water heaters can catch fire due to clutter around the water heater. Not only should you keep the area around water heaters free of clutter, you should also keep the area free from flammable materials. Water heaters aren’t typically stored in the living room. Instead, they’re tucked away in closets, basements, laundry rooms, etc.—places where people commonly store cleaners (that are generally very flammable). If you have a hot water heater, it’s important to be mindful of what you’re storing in the area, as well as it’s proximity to the water heater.   

Lint and Pet Hair 

If you have pets, their hair is probably already the bane of your existence, even if it hasn’t caused a house fire. However, pet hair and lint can absolutely cause a house fire under the right conditions, and it all starts with your dryer. Even if you don’t have pets, you should still clean out the lint in your dryer, as built-up lint can cause a dryer to catch fire. 

When You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’ve sustained injury in a fire due to another person’s negligence, it may be a good idea to contact a personal injury attorney, especially if questions remain regarding the cause of the fire. In some cases, house fires can be caused by faulty wiring, products with manufacturing defects, design defects, and/or marketing defects. A personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact Moxie Law Group today for a free consultation.