Every year, there are thousands of home fires reported across the country that are caused by faulty air conditioning units. Only in 2010, there were 7,400 AC related fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. All these fires result in dozens of deaths every year, plus they represent millions of dollars lost in property damage. Therefore, we need to make sure we keep our air conditioning units regularly checked so that we can prevent an unfortunate event. Also, learning about the different causes of AC unit fires will allow us to stay alert and keep an eye open, quickly identifying any serious malfunction our unit presents.
First of all, one of the most common causes of AC unit fires has to do with the kind of materials we might have near the system. For example, if we have outdoor units, we need to make sure we keep the area clean of debris and other flammable materials such as paper, leaves and debris, even gasoline. When the area of our AC is not clean, this increases the risk of it catching fire, which would almost certainly extend to the rest of your property. Therefore, remember to clean your unit and the surrounding area as often as possible in order to prevent it from catching on fire.
Keeping the area of your AC unit can prevent having an accident, but this isn’t enough, unfortunately. We need to make sure that we are keeping the actual unit clean and in good shape, too. When we don’t clean our air conditioner often enough, it accumulates dirt and dust particles inside its vents, filters, coils, and fins. As a result, the dirt and dust end up blocking normal airflow, which causes our unit to malfunction, eventually overheating and causing a fire inside your house. The best way to avoid this is to clean our AC unit regularly, keeping it in good shape, and ensuring it doesn’t become a hazard for our family.
Not only we have to clean our units and the area around them, but we also need to make sure we give them regular maintenance to avoid malfunctions and identify any faulty parts of the equipment. For example, if the fan of our unit suddenly stopped working and we didn’t notice on time, our AC unit would end up overheating, which could result in a fire. The best way to avoid this kind of situations is by hiring a team of professionals that can do regular check-ups on our equipment, ensuring it works properly and keeping our home safe and protected.
If you have had your AC unit for more than a year without a check-up or an inspection, your house might be at risk of a fire. Instead of risking it, we recommend you have your equipment checked. Get in touch with us, and we guarantee the best service possible, provided by a team of certified professionals. Don’t leave it in hands of amateurs, and give us a call now.