Construction & Contractors Articles
Becoming a homeowner is an exciting achievement for most families. Unfortunately, along with the keys, new homeowners also receive the responsibility of properly maintaining the home and all of its systems, including the all-important electrical system. If you are a new homeowner, or planning to be one soon, the following information will help you use your home's electrical system safely and recognize potentially dangerous issues before they cause injury to a family member or damage to the home.
The Problem with Older Wiring
Unlike just a few years ago, each member of today's average family is likely to have several electronic gadgets of their own, including tablets, smart phones and music and gaming components. When added to the electricity usage already required for the home's major appliances and lighting needs, this increased usage can quickly overload older or faulty electrical systems. If an overload occurs, the electronics can be damaged and the home can be at risk for an electrical fire.
While any home can be at risk for electrical overload if the wiring is insufficient or damaged in some way, homes built prior to 1940 face an increased risk. This is because knob and tube or other inadequate wiring may have been used, and these are not considered to be safe or adequate for the electrical demand of the modern home and family. In addition, newer homes built from the mid 60s through the early 70s may also be at risk of an electrical fire if aluminum wiring was used due to the wire's potential to degrade or allow electrical connections to loosen.
Common Electrical Usage Mistakes to Avoid
Even if your electrical system is properly sized for your home and in good condition, improper usage can still create an increased risk of having an electrical fire or causing damage to the system itself. Some common usage mistakes include:
Periodic Inspections are the Key to a Safe Home Electrical System
Even if no electrical issues were noted in your home inspection when you purchased the home, it is still wise to have an independent home electrical system inspection done by a reputable, licensed electrician to check for rodent or weather damage, defects in the materials or workmanship and potential hazards, such as an overloading issue. In addition, it is wise to book this type of inspection after any home renovation project that involves the electrical system and whenever installing a large electrical appliance, such as a clothes dryer, kitchen range, oven, water heater or HVAC component.
You can click here for info on contacting an electrician to inspect your home.
Share21 August 2015
Hello, my name is Ginny Tillerson. Welcome to my site. I am here to talk about the use of reclaimed wood in construction projects. Reclaimed wood has a beautiful finish that is difficult to recreate using new materials. Every project created with the reclaimed materials has a unique look and feel. On this site, I will explore the various ways contractors use reclaimed wood for their projects. I will also talk about the tools and practices used to build new creations from reclaimed hardwood materials. Please come by my website on a regular basis to learn about this impressive material. Thanks.