Overloaded electrical circuits are often considered a common cause of house fires. This can be a particular problem in older homes where the original wiring was not designed to meet modern technological demands. Is your home bristling with power strips and extension cords? Do the lights dim whenever you turn on the hairdryer? You might be at increased risk of a fire which could endanger your family and lead to a costly claim on your CA home insurance. There are a few ways you may be able to ease the load on your circuits and make your home safer, including:• Stagger the use of larger appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines so you are not using them all at the same time. Where possible use your clothes dryer at night when there are no other appliances running. This could potentially even save you money on your electricity bill.• Unplug appliances when not in use.• Check where the different electrical circuits are in your home and take care to only plug one large appliance into each at the same time.• Make sure you have correctly fitted fuses and circuit breakers and they are the appropriate size for use in your system.• Have your wiring checked by an electrician.Try to avoid using power strips and extension cords and unplug immediately if they appear damaged or start to feel hot. Keeping your home as safe as possible is important for your family’s wellbeing. As an added bonus not needing to claim on your CA home insurance may help keep your premiums down in the future.