There's nothing sexy about an arc fault circuit interrupter—but it may save your prized home from going up in flames. Faulty wiring or damaged appliance cords can lead to "arcing," a major cause of house fires. Traditional circuit breakers sometimes don't detect arcing, but arc fault circuit interrupters do. They stop the flow of electricity in a fraction of a second, before a fire can start. Make sure your house has one.
You'll find more valuable tips in the booklet "Fire Safety in Historic Buildings," available at www.preservationbooks.org.