The main factors indicating a TV malfunction are named: it may catch fire

“The TV exploded in an apartment in the Fili-Davydkovo area. There were people inside at the time, including a 67-year-old paralyzed man. After the explosion, a fire started and personal belongings and furniture caught fire. One person was injured and was hospitalized.”

“Fire in an apartment on Marshal Zakharov Street in the south of Moscow. The reason was that the old TV exploded. The pensioner had been using a CRT TV (with a cathode ray tube) since the 90s – AVT.). After a long period of use, I installed the kinescope. Today during dinner, a woman turned on an old electrical appliance and it suddenly exploded, causing a fire.”

It is noteworthy how the incident against Marshal Zakharov, which went viral on Telegram channels with the wording “explosion of an old TV,” was commented on by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations: “In fact: the TV started smoking, its owner bought it recently. The 70-year-old woman was alone in the apartment. She turned on the TV and went into the kitchen. At this time thick smoke began to pour out. The woman called the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry firefighters. Personal belongings, furniture and suspended ceilings were on fire. Firefighters from the department extinguished the fire.”

And these are just a couple of recent examples of emergencies from news reports that can scare anyone, since even modern televisions can smoke, not to mention “old” ones. True, as for the “explosions” of televisions, the relevant services assured us: “The explosions are not realistic at all, there is short circuit and crackling, at most the lamp cracks.”

“When I was training at the training center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations five years ago, we extinguished the TV in the apartment at the training complex,” rescuer-firefighter from Tatarstan Rashit told MK. – From my experience, I know that most often the cause is problems with electrical wiring. For example, the only household appliance I turn off is the kettle when we leave the house, but my wife also unplugs the TV from the socket, and that’s right. Kettles, in fact, often catch fire, so it’s not for nothing that many people don’t trust them in this regard.

My colleague said that more than once they went to fires that were caused by fires on televisions, moreover, modern models. A TV fire is most often caused by network overvoltage. A break in the neutral wire in 3-phase networks is dangerous. In this case, instead of 220 volts, there will be 380 volts in the sockets, so the switched-on equipment lights up. A break may occur due to rust in the contacts, or would-be electricians during repairs will disconnect the neutral wire for a short time (even for a few seconds).

Modern TVs have protection against power surges, but this is still not a 100% guarantee.

Overheating of equipment can also lead to an emergency. The fact is that computers, for example, have powerful fans for cooling, but a TV does not, so it is important not to lean the TV close to the wall and not to block the ventilation holes.

Even when the TV is turned off, there is voltage. Therefore, as a safety measure, we recommend that you unplug it from the power supply if you go away for a long time. It would be a good idea to occasionally vacuum the TV openings to remove accumulated dust. In case, God forbid, there is a fire, first unplug the TV and only then fill it, being on the side, so that if the screen shatters into fragments, they will not injure you.

Old TVs are especially fire hazardous. And there are a number of reasons for this, which MK was told about by the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in Moscow,

“Firstly, old TVs have outdated electrical components and wires, which over time can wear out, overheat or even short out, which can lead to a fire,” explains Senior Inspector of the Department for Organization of Supervisory and Preventive Activities of the UNPR of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in Moscow Alexander Krasnichenko. “In addition, they often have ventilation holes that can become clogged with dust. This can cause insufficient airflow for cooling and overheating of electronic components. Some older TVs may also have problems with the insulation of the wires, which can lead to a short circuit and ultimately a fire.

Here are other risk factors. The first is grid overload: older TVs may consume more energy than modern models. If the network cannot handle this load, it can lead to overloads and wire fires.

Second, some users may install TVs on inappropriate surfaces, such as materials that are easily flammable or near flammable objects. This creates an increased risk of fire.

The third is cable damage. The use of long old cables, especially those that stretch through doorways or are mechanically damaged, can lead to damage to the integrity of the insulation and the creation of short circuits. And if the TV has a faulty power cord, this can also lead to overheating and fire.

The fourth risk factor: poor-quality repairs, during which low-grade or defective components may be used, which can also lead to malfunctions and, as a result, a fire.

Fifth: If the body of an old TV is damaged or worn out, dust and other components can enter it, which can cause overheating and fire.

To summarize, the risk of fire can be avoided if: firstly, monitor the condition and carry out regular maintenance of televisions (especially old ones) and other household appliances, secondly, install televisions on suitable surfaces; thirdly, avoid using extension cords and overloading the electrical network; fourthly, when leaving the apartment, it is advisable to disconnect all household appliances from the power supply (pull out the plugs from the sockets). And if any signs of malfunction appear, such as, for example, strange sounds or smells, you should immediately turn off the TV and contact a specialist to check its operation and repair it.