The 5 Outlet Habits That Start House Fires Years Later

Comments · 82

• DM

  @dmacsong09 · 1 day ago

  Great information, thank you!  I am a DIYer.  Electrical work around the house has been minimal because of the extreme repeat for electricity and my ignorance of it.  Lately I have decided to concentrate on learning and surfed YouTube for the more knowledgeable.  My house was built in 1997.  What I have found thus far is one) loose outlets and plates etc. 2) original electrical installation used back stabbing 3) light switches and outside/ inside light fixtures that are not grounded with a ground wire.  3 I have one outlet that when breaker is turned off, it still leaks an electrical current on the ground.   I am beginning to upgrade these areas using proper techniques I learned from professional electricians and knowledgeable Handy Man’s.

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• AM

  @AmandaMuu · 9 days ago

  1930, I think. It's the middle of the night when I'm watching this so I'm not going to wake up my father and brothers to ask. I'm autistic so they keep the paperwork from my house because they're the ones who keep up with the maintenance and get the repair companies when something goes wrong

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• DG

  @DGonzales-yu4dw · 9 days ago

  Thank you!!!!

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• RO

  @RoofingGrowthHub · 5 days ago

  Wow, I’ve definitely done some of these without thinking about the risk. Which one of these habits is the biggest red flag in your experience?

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• WA

  @Walt-Brennan · 13 days ago

  I reveal how a loose connection can generate heat for years without tripping a working breaker in The Brennan Files: <a href="https://walt-brennan.netlify.app/">https://walt-brennan.netlify.app/</a>

• LA

  @lawrenceadkins2924 · 4 days ago

  Great information about the purpose of arc-fault circuit protection. As an electrician, I had no idea that afci breakers detect arcs arising from loose terminations on outlets. &nbsp;I was taught the protection was to detect arcs arising from children sticking scissors into the outlets.

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• DG

  @DGonzales-yu4dw · 9 days ago

  2010 ... going to do these observations immediately

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• MI

  @Milosz_Ostrow · 7 days ago

  I&apos;ve stayed in hotel rooms where the outlets are so worn out and loose that I can&apos;t be sure the USB charger will maintain contact long enough while I&apos;m sleeping to finish charging my phone. &nbsp;It&apos;s a wonder that they don&apos;t have more electrical fires.

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• LI

  @lindafreeman2240 · 8 days ago

  There was a hole in my water heater in panel outside. &nbsp;Soon after, bees took up residence. &nbsp;A few days ago the water heater was gone. &nbsp;Soon after that, 10 or so spaces away a trailer blew up and also burned 2 trailers next to it. &nbsp;At the same time as the explosion, my electricity turned off. &nbsp;A chemist and his wife gave me this trailer. &nbsp;It was something the landlord dragged in. &nbsp;Wife remodeled the inside and husband painted the roof. &nbsp; GFI on bathroom is flush; buttons are flush so can&apos;t test by pressing black button.

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• RA

  @ralphbaran · 2 weeks ago

  This life-saving information shows us that fires from space heaters could have really been caused by a worn outlet, or back-stabbed wiring. He showed how upgrading to AFCI breakers can reduce electrical fires &amp; I&apos;ve already installed some. I hope everyone heeds this sensible fire prevention info. The leaves on the trees in the fall even declare a warning: &nbsp;They&apos;re colored like fire.

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• MA

  @macmorgan6685 · 4 days ago

  My sister kept blowing her circuit breaker for the bathroom- double sink, 2 USB outlets. She also complained about both outlets not working and shower light out. She had plugged a 1600watt heater into one outlet, and a hairdryer into the other and both USBs tripped. She never knew how to reset them or what caused the problem until I told her.

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• GE

  @GeorgeAlien-m2i · 1 day ago

  1860, first addition 1940, second addition 2025

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