South Austin Fire Causing $60K In Damage Blamed On AC Unit

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — A faulty air conditioning unit caught fire at a South Austin home Monday afternoon, spreading into the interior of the structure and causing extensive damage.

The incident occurred at around 1:30 p.m. at 4702 Clawson Rd., according to fire officials. By the time the flames were extinguished, the blaze had caused $60,000 in damage — $40,000 to the structure and another $20,000 to its contents.

One of the firefighters battling the fire sustained a minor injury, according to fire officials, although the nature of the injury was not disclosed.

With triple digit heat in Central Texas for three weeks running, air conditioning units are getting some heavy use. But sometimes equipment malfunctions can occur and spark fires.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 7,200 home structure fires were reported involving air conditioners, fans or related equipment from 2006-10 — including 2,500 per year involving central and room air conditioners specifically and 3,000 per year involving fans.

The cause of such fires comes down to either a mechanical or electrical failure, according to NFPA. Of the AC fires that happened in the studied period, 33 percent began with a wire or cable insulation catching fire, officials found. There were three main causes for such fires:

• Overuse so the equipment heats up.
• Not properly maintaining the AC units.
• Poor electrical wiring.

Because many of us are running our AC units or fans 24/7, it's important to implement safeguards to prevent fires. The NFPA offers some helpful tips:

• Have your AC system maintained by a professional once a year.
• Change your filter monthly.
• Make sure that leaves, dirt, debris, and insects haven’t clogged your exterior unit.

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