Loose Receptacles, Outlets, and Switches Cause Fire

If electricity isn’t being transported through wires, receptacles, or electrical components efficiently heat will build up which could result in a fire. It is important to ensure that all electrical components are in good working order and property secured. Any amount of unintended movement can cause damage to electrical components that is so small it might not be visible to the naked eye, but the outcome is still a fire hazard.

Understanding Electricity

It is easy to think of an electrical system as a highway and the electrons traveling though that system as cars. Cars on a real highway slow down for traffic jams, damaged roads, or missing bridges. Cars on the electron highway do no such thing which is why resistance in wires or loose connections result in these hypothetical electron cars bashing into each other and careening off the wire trying to jump the gap. This creates hot spots in the wire or electrical arcing which is when electricity jumps from one electrical conductor to another.

Why Components Overheat

Every time an electrical receptacle is wiggled the union between the receptacle and the wire is ever so slightly bent which results in metal fatigue. This is the same as converting a 12-lane highway to a 4-lane highway and still forcing the same number of electron cars to pass through at the same speed. As the receptacle is in use or not in use the metal components will expand and contract which can make the issue worse. Ultimately this movement along with the expansion and contraction of metal components can cause screws to back out thus loosening their grip on the wire. When a screw backs out this causes arcing which is effectively the same as a car trying to jump a gap when a bridge is out. Arcing always results in overheat and fire hazards.

How to Fix Loose Power Outlets

There is something that can be done! Any time that you notice a receptacle or switch is loose you can tighten the receptacle or switch. If you don’t feel comfortable performing this work, then you can hire an electrician to perform the work for you. When components in your electrical system are hand-tight and free of movement, your system will operate as it was intended and keep you and your family safe for years to come.