According to many meteorologists, California is on its way to one of the hottest summers it has ever had. As a result, there are safety officers out there wondering if there are going to be serious injuries as a result. Not only do hotter temperatures increase the chance of fires, but the elderly who don’t have air conditioning can be at risk. In fact, even if a person does have an air conditioner, they could be at risk if they’re using a window air conditioner known for causing burn injuries.
Read on to learn about some of the potential dangers this summer and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you’re in need of a free legal consultation. Remember that drowning accidents and many other accidents are on the rise in summer months.
Overusing an air conditioner can lead to an increased fire risk
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) there are serious fire risks associated with using an air conditioner. They state that when an AC unit overheats, it’s capable of bursting into flames without warning. They also state that on average 20 people die every year as a result of fires caused by window AC units. That’s in addition to the 150+ injuries and more than $80 million in property damage they do.
Most people are not surprised to learn that the most common time for fires is during June, July, and August. In fact, in the past decade about 20% of house fires were the result of an AC unit catching on fire or otherwise being defective.
Tips for preventing your AC unit from catching on fire
The NFPA has offered a few tips to help lower the chance that a person’s AC catches on fire. The first tip is to have AC units checked twice a year. This should include before the AC is turned on for the summer and once in the middle of the summer. By repairing minor issues, you can be avoiding big, deadly problems in the future.
They also recommend that homeowners simply look at their AC to see if it’s been safely installed. Is it touching anything combustible? Are leaves clogging it up? Is there debris? Just using common sense can help prevent many AC fires.
Finally, the NFPA recom
