By John Caywood, Neighborhood Code Enforcement Administrator

Is leaving the stove on or a malfunctioning furnace the leading cause of house fires? Not really. Electrical issues are the cause of many house fires that Neighborhood Code responds to when called out by the Fort Wayne Fire Department. A lot of what Neighborhood Code Officers see is faulty wiring that was either improperly installed or undersized for the current usage.

While electrical problems don't always reveal themselves until a fire occurs, sometimes there are signs of impending danger. Frequent tripping of breakers, cords that are hot to the touch, "ozone" smells, and black soot on outlet covers are just a few of the signs that may indicate a dangerous electrical problem.

The electrical systems of older homes are not designed for today's digital age. Home entertainment is a great example of this. The television of the 70's has been replaced by the plasma screen TV, a DVR/DVD player, surround sound, gaming systems, and cable/internet equipment. It doesn't take much to heat up wiring in the walls when all this equipment is running at once on the same circuit.

There are steps that can be taken if you are seeing any of the signs listed in this article. First, have a licensed electrician inspect your wiring. Ask whether you are overloading any circuits. Ask if you have any "knob and tube" wiring in your attic that is covered with cellulose insulation. Have the electrician replace any wiring that cannot handle current usage.

Don't ignore the warning signs of faulty electrical service. Too often Code Officers deal with owners and tenants staring at the burned-out shell of a house that would have been standing for the lack of a safe electrical system.