A house fire can put you and your loved ones in danger; it can also completely destroy your home and the possessions inside it. The good news is that there are actions you can take to dramatically reduce the chance of a fire occurring in your property.

Have your electrical devices tested

Nowadays, most households own a wide range of electrical goods, including everything from games consoles, computers and kitchen appliances, to televisions, DVD players, lamps, portable heaters and hairdryers. Before being sold, these products are put through rigorous testing, to ensure that they are safe to use.

However, over time, everyday wear and tear, along with exposure to heat and moisture can result in deterioration; the wiring in a device may become frayed, or a fault may occur in the circuitry. When this happens, there is a serious risk of the device in question causing an electrical fire, particularly if it is placed on or near a combustible material, such curtains, rugs or paper.

You can reduce the likelihood of this type of fire happening, simply by having the electrical products in your home inspected by a qualified electrician on a regular basis. This inspection process is known as 'testing and tagging', and consists of appliances being visually examined for defects, before having their polarity, insulation resistance and earth continuity tested. Test and tag services are available in virtually every town and city, and are a worthwhile investment for anyone who wants to reduce the risk of electrical fires in their home.

Install smoke alarms

A smoke alarm is one of the most effective items you can use to detect and prevent the spread of a fire in your house. It should be positioned on the ceiling, as hot smoke always rises initially, before it starts to circulate around a room. As such, installing the alarm on the ceiling will allow its sensor chamber to detect smoke at the earliest possible stage of a fire.

Some homeowners choose not to put smoke alarms in every room of their home, preferring instead to simply install a couple in their hallways and landings. However, as mentioned above, electrical fires can be caused by faulty appliances. With this in mind, it's worth putting additional smoke alarms in the rooms of your property where you keep multiple electrical goods (such as in your home office or living room), as there is a greater risk of a fire breaking out in these areas.

Your smoke alarms should be tested every week or so; you can do this by simply pushing the device's test button and waiting for the alarm to start ringing. They should also be wiped with a cloth once every few months, to remove particles of dirt and dust (these could interfere with the sensor's functionality) and have their batteries changed annually.