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As cable fires are often hidden behind plaster, it is very difficult to detect them before it is too late. Many fires in Germany can therefore be traced back to electrical causes. We tell you which signs indicate a cable fire and how you can prevent it.
How to recognize a cable fire
Although a cable fire is rarely recognized directly, there are still signs that give you an indication of a cable fire. You should definitely take these seriously to avoid serious consequences.
- For example, pay attention to whether you can hear crackling noises or see sparks when switching electrical appliances or lights on and off.
- A spark simply when connecting appliances to the socket can also be an indication of a cable fire.
- A cable fire can cause your fuse to pop out constantly. This is because the fuse protects the power lines by switching off when overloaded by too high a voltage for a long time to prevent further damage.
- It can also cause loose contacts in electrical appliances.
- Disturbances in the TV picture that you cannot otherwise explain may also be due to a cable fire.
The correct way to deal with cable fires
If your suspicion of a cable fire is confirmed, contact an electrician immediately.
- Depending on whether the fire has already started, the top priority is to get people in the immediate vicinity to safety and alert the fire department.
- In future, you can prevent a cable fire by avoiding excessive voltage loads, which can be caused by cheap electrical appliances, for example. Look out for the CE mark of conformity or the internationally valid ÖVE mark of conformity.
- Check yourself or hire an electrician regularly to check the insulation of electrical cables.
Damaged insulation increases the risk of a cable fire. - For safety reasons, do not leave running electrical appliances such as a dryer or washing machine unattended.
- If an electrical appliance is slightly damaged, do not plug it into a socket, but rather have it repaired first.
