Do Toasters Cause House Fires [You'll Be Surprised]

Published on May 13th, 2023

Toasters can indeed cause house fires, and numerous incidents have occurred where people have suffered as a result of misusing their toasters. You should never forget that toasters are electrical appliances that have a heat source and can cause a fire if they are not appropriately maintained, malfunctioned, or used with inappropriate materials. It's essential to follow safety tips and reduce the risk of fires, protecting your family and home.

Toasters contain heating elements that get extremely hot when the appliance is switched on. These heating elements can ignite any flammable materials or objects around them, like flames, if an open flame is nearby. The best way to prevent this is by keeping your kitchen clean, so there is no spillage on the countertop where your toaster is located. Additionally, make sure to position your toaster on a stable surface, away from the edge or bottom of the counter, to minimize the chance of accidents.

Also, ensure that you don’t leave food items inside your toaster for too long, as this can also cause house fires when left unattended for extended periods. In case a fire does occur, it's essential to have a fire blanket, baking soda, or fire extinguisher available to smother the flames. Closing the kitchen door can also help impede the fire's spread, giving your family a better chance to escape safely.



What Percentage Of House Fires Are Caused By Toasters

Toasters are a common appliance in the home and a frequent cause of home fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), about 25 percent of toaster-related fires involve injury or death. It’s essential to know these risk factors and take the necessary precautions to ensure that you're using toasters safely in your home.

It’s probably not surprising to hear that ovens are the most significant cause of domestic appliance fires. With 8,000 starting a blaze - that’s more than over half - 53% - everything else is a relatively small number in comparison. The toaster ovens were the third-highest cause of residential appliance fires, with 1,368 accidents due to faulty equipment. Microwave ovens were the cause of 922 incorrect applications in 2019/2020.”

The good news is that most of these fires are preventable. The bad news is that they can happen at any time without warning or any signs of danger beforehand — so you should always be prepared with working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers when using appliances like toasters and microwaves in your kitchen.

How Do Toasters Actually Cause A Fire?

Toasters cause fires when they get clogged up with food particles and crumbs. When you don’t clean your toaster regularly and don’t do proper maintenance, this can cause these particles to build up inside the machine’s heating element and other parts. Toasters heat up to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Eventually, these particles will reach a temperature where they combust on their own - even if there’s no heat applied from outside sources such as an electrical outlet or pilot light.

Toasters are not precisely the most dangerous appliances in your home, but they can be a fire hazard if you’re not careful. Toasters have several potentially hazardous parts:

Heating Electric elements

Toasters use electricity to heat coils that burn bread or other foods. These coils act as a heat source and pose a risk if not properly maintained and monitored. These coils can short out and cause a fire like anything that uses electricity. In order to avoid this, one must handle them with care and ensure they remain in good working order.

Heating elements also produce sparks when they’re switched on or off, so you should never leave them unattended while they’re in use. For example, you shouldn’t walk away from the toaster while warming up your breakfast — even if you only plan to be gone for a few seconds. Staying attentive to the toaster's operation is essential for maintaining a safe kitchen environment and preserving the content of the toast.

The crumb tray

The crumb tray collects bits of food that fall onto the heating elements during toasting. If the crumb tray doesn’t have a lid covering it, crumbs may fall into the heating coils when you put bread into it or take it out of the slots. This can cause a short circuit and start a fire, disrupting the order of your kitchen routine.

The exterior casing

Eventually, these particles will reach a temperature where they combust on their own - even if there’s no heat applied from outside sources such as an electrical outlet or pilot light.

Toasters are a convenient and quick way to make toast, but you should never leave this kitchen appliance plugged in all the time. The wiring of toasters is designed to be used for a short period and then unplugged from the wall outlet. Leaving them plugged in can cause electrical fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Fire safety is a vital part of using any kitchen appliance, such as a toaster or toaster oven, to prepare your favorite content for breakfast.

It’s not a good idea to leave a toaster plugged in all the time

Toasters have a heating element that gets very hot, so if there’s no toasted bread, it can overheat and start a toaster fire. Always keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen and ensure that your appliance is positioned in ways that leave sufficient oxygen circulation around it.

Unplug toasters when it’s not in use

If you want to keep your toaster plugged in all the time, you should also buy one that has an automatic shutoff feature. That way, if there are any problems with the electrical supply or heating elements, they will automatically turn off, preventing potential toaster oven fire situations.

No, there are some safety fire hazards with certain types of toasters. The most common type of fire caused by toasters is caused by overheating of the electrical elements, and many factors can cause this.

Oven mitts or other items are placed inside the toaster.

Use a knife or sharp object on the toast rack or crumb tray.

Using excessive amounts of butter or oil on the toast causes excessive heat build-up inside the unit (especially if it’s an older model).

If you use extra butter or oil on your toast, ensure you wipe off any excess before popping it in your mouth so that none gets caught between your teeth! Be conscious of the amount of content you're adding to your toast.

Selling a house after a fire caused by a malfunctioning toaster may present challenges in attracting potential buyers due to safety and property condition concerns. However, with a proactive and transparent approach, homeowners can increase their chances of a successful sale. The do's and don'ts of selling a fire damaged house include undertaking comprehensive inspections and carrying out necessary repairs, which will instill confidence in prospective buyers. Emphasizing the implementation of cutting-edge safety measures and modern upgrades can further enhance the property's appeal. For top options for selling fire-damaged properties, a quicker and smoother transaction, entrust the process to seasoned real estate agents with expertise in marketing fire damaged homes. Communicating openly with potential buyers, providing detailed information about the incident, and showcasing the property's restored state will generate trust and interest. Sell your fire damaged home quickly and hassle-free by adopting these effective strategies.

Toasters can catch fire while they’re unplugged, but there are some essential things you need to know before you start panicking.

Toasters catch fire while unplugged because they contain an electrical heating element. The heating element gets very hot, enough to toast bread and other foods.

The heat generated by the heating element can cause the plastic casing around it to melt if you leave your toaster unplugged for long periods. When this happens, it can cause wires inside the case to short out and spark.

The best way to avoid this problem is never to leave your appliance plugged in when you aren’t using it — especially if you’re on vacation or have left town for an extended period. If you must use an appliance while traveling and can’t unplug it, turn off all circuit breakers before leaving home.

Other Things That Cause Fires

• Fans
• Dryers
• Plugin Air Fresheners
• Mice
• Toasters
• Christmas Lights
• Furnaces

• Squirrels
• Smart Meters
• Space Heaters
• Crock Pots
• Lightning
• Fireworks
• Gas Fireplaces

• Electric Blankets
• Solar Panels
• Cigarettes'
• Batteries
• LED Lights
• Candles