In any case, protecting the electrical connections at your home inside a junction box with a cover, is the best bet to prevent a home fire. They may have been left open by a do it yourself home owner or left without covers by an electrician from many years ago, before electrical codes and city inspectors became more stringent. In many cases the open junction boxes have been without covers for many decades and multiple home owners without incident. Most connections are in the homes attic, where insulation and other building materials can become flammable.įinding open junction boxes and electrical connections that are not inside junction boxes, are one of the most common problems a home inspector will find. Electrical connections outside of junction boxes that become loose and arc, can create a house fire. First, the code requires you to have a fan junction box, and it keeps sparks from causing a fire. There may be a cable clamp, use the screwdriver to loosen the clamp and pull out the wires. Go to the attic and locate the ceiling fan/junction box. If the connection is inside a junction box, the risk of a house fire is substantially low. The junction box is attached to a beam or joist in the ceiling.
If the connected wires become loose, arcing/sparks between the wires becomes likely. Electrical connections made improperly can be vulnerable to sparking and creating a fire.
