Electrical Maintenance and Upgrades

Page 1 of 2 ( 1 2 )

For a safer home, each electrical circuit should be labeled and protected against arcing or leaking current at the box and at the outlet. A home's electrical system is prone to wear and tear. Regular testing and evaluation of receptacles, switches, and breakers can prevent dangerous situations down the road. Electrical Upgrades—GFCI's and AFCI's There are two electrical upgrades that should be installed to protect your home—ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI's). GFCI's protect against electrical shock caused by ground faults or leaking electrical current. These devices monitor the current in a circuit and interrupt or stop the flow of power to that circuit if a spike or loss of power is detected. A GFCI receptacle is the most common type of GFCI. In new construction, these are required by code in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, on outdoor outlets, and in crawlspaces or unfinished basements. "Anywhere there is the chance of contact with water or the ground, there should be a GFCI," says Brett Brenner, president of the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). "It's estimated that GFCI's accounted for roughly a 70 percent reduction in electrocutions," he says. GFCI's are also available as circuit breakers installed in the panel, giving ground fault protection to designated circuits in the home. Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI's) protect a home against electrical fires. ACFI's protect against fire-causing arcing much like GFCI's protect against stray current. When an arc is detected, power to the circuit is interrupted. Arcing can be caused by any number of factors, including damaged or worn wires, incorrect wiring, and loose or wet connections. Newer AFCI's are able to distinguish between dangerous arc faults and normal arcing caused by fluorescent lighting and some dimmers and switches. "AFCI's give great fire protection to homes with older wiring," says Mike Holt, licensed electrician, electrical inspector, instructor, and founder of Mike Holt Enterprises, providers of educational resources to those in the electrical profession and related fields. Currently, the National Electric Code (N.E.C.) requires AFCI breakers for circuits providing power to bedrooms in new construction. The updated 2008 N.E.C. will include common rooms like the living and family rooms. The cost for an AFCI breaker varies by manufacturer, but consumers can expect to pay around $30-$35 apiece. Never overload an electrical outlet. Too much demand on a single outlet can cause a fire hazard, so avoid extension cords and loaded surge protectors, too. Some old homes were designed to run off less power than the modern home. Most states have a 100 amp minimum requirement. Homes running under that service could consider an upgrade to bring them to between 100 and 200 amps, which could run upwards of $2000. Homeowners should evaluate their power demands first. "A homeowner can have an electrician test the system with an amp meter while all the big loads are on," says Holt. "If the draw is over 75-80 percent of the service size, you might consider an upgrade. Otherwise you should be fine." Routine Maintenance and Testing Both GFCI's and AFCI's come with test switches and should be tested every thirty days. Homeowners should also make routine checks of their receptacles and switches. Loose receptacles and switches should be addressed. Burn marks around outlets and receptacles indicate a dangerous problem that should be addressed immediately. Any receptacle that appears to glow while in use is a serious sign of a problem. "Receptacles that are hot to the touch are a big problem," says Brenner. If a homeowner feels a tingle or similar sensation when touching something metal inside or outside the home, it can be a sign of leakage, and should be identified and fixed immediately.

...Continued - Page 1 of 2 ( 1 2 )
Next Page >