Electricity is an important part of your home’s daily operations. Whether you’re watching your favorite TV show, using your heating or cooling system or charging your laptop, you’re relying on your home’s electrical system to power your home, when and how you need it. Understanding the basics of your home electrical system helps you keep it properly maintained and in safe working condition.

Your home receives electricity from a service head using a series of outdoor power lines or an underground connection. A standard service head uses two 120-volt wires and one neutral wire. These wires provide power to lights and smaller appliances around your home. However, larger appliances require a 240- volt. The 240-volt, created using 120-volt wires and a neutral wire, power home appliances such as water heaters and clothes washers.

Outside your home where electricity enters is an electric meter. Electric meters measure the amount of electricity your home uses. Your home’s electricity company monitors the meter and it also receives protection by law. Furthermore, tampering with the meter in any way is both illegal and dangerous.

Grounding is the necessary process for connecting your home electrical system to the earth using a wire. Additionally, grounding helps prevent against electrical shock and electrocution by using a ground rod that provides a third path for electricity to travel during a short circuit or overload. Furthermore, grounding helps protect any electrician working on your home electrical system and any appliances connected to it.

Electrical Service Panel

Every home has an electrical service panel. An electrical service panel is the main dispersion receptacle for distributing electricity to switches, outlets and appliances throughout your home. Additionally, it’s supplied with breakers and fuses that shut off power to the circuits in cases of electrical failure. Use an electrical service panel to restore the flow when the power is shut off to your home or to shut off the power before beginning any electrical work or projects.

Fuses and Circuit Breakers

All electrical service panels come with fuses and circuit breakers. These protect the wires in a circuit from overheating and starting a fire. As a general rule, older service panels utilize fuses while newer systems use circuit breakers. While fuses must be replaced when they blow, “tripped” circuit breakers are reset to resume function once the issues are fixed. Tripped breakers are likely a sign of too many plugged-in appliances overloading the circuit. This problem requires immediate attention.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)

AFCIS are protective devices that replace traditional circuit breakers in the electrical service panel. Additionally, they provide increased protection against other fire hazards called arc faults. Arc faults are hazardous electrical issues caused by broken, overheated and overextended electrical wires or devices. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Healthy Homes Report states that the absence of AFCIs is among the top residential safety hazards correlating with electrical burns and other fire-related incidents. In fact, AFCIs have proven to be so effective that the National Electrical Code requires them for  protection of almost every circuit in a home since 2008. Without AFCIs, arc faults aren’t usually noticed until it’s too late.

Electrical Outlets and Associated Receptacles

For most homeowners, your electrical outlets are where you’re interacting with your home electrical system on a day-to-day basis.

Polarized and Grounded Outlets

Since the 1920s, most homes use polarized outlets with two vertical slots of differing sizes. These outliers are designed for making it difficult for plugs to be inserted in the wrong way. Combined with polarized plugs, these outlets add protection by directing the electrical current.

Grounded outlets contain a hole for the grounding conductor and two vertical slots with the circle slot connecting to a ground wire. Installing ground outlets is required for all modern homes. Without them, your home is missing important safety features. Consult your electricians at United Electrical Contractors for updating your home.

Tamper Resistant Receptacles (TRRs)

TRRs look like traditional wall outlets but contain added internal shutter mechanisms. This helps prevent children and other susceptible people from sticking any objects into the receptacle and suffering shock or burns. Unlike plastic covers, TRRs provide immediate and on-going protection. The 2008 version of the National Electrical Code, requires TRRs  in all new home installations.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)

Since their inception in 1970, GFCIs are responsible for saving thousands of lives and drastically increasing the number of home electrocution occurrences. GFCIs are electrical safety devices that trip electrical circuits when they notice current flow leakage. They prevent deadly shock for those in the path of dangerous currents by immediately shutting off power to the circuit. Since 2008, the National Electrical Code requires GFCIs in all kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outdoor spaces. Additionally, GFCIs require testing at least once a month to ensure they are working properly.

Extension Cords

Extension cords are a simple way to provide power to your home where you want it. However, not using them right can be extremely dangerous and possibly deadly. Here are some safety cord extension tips to keep in mind:

  • Make sure your extension cords are rated for indoor use and match or surpass the power needs of the electrical device or appliance requiring power.
  • Always inspect cords for damage before use. Watch for torn or frayed plugs and loose wires and connections. Never use a code that seems overly hot to the touch.
  • Never run extension cords through walls or ceilings. The cord can overheat and cause a fire. Additionally, never staple them to a wall or baseboard.
  • Keep extension cords away from high-traffic areas like doorways or walkways where they become a tripping hazard.

Electricity is a useful and excellent home tool. However, it can be confusing to understand the basics of your home electrical system. While they don’t usually require much maintenance, if you live in an older home or if you’re experiencing signs of wiring damage such as lights flickering, warm outlets, constantly tripping circuit breakers or you’re noticing sparks, it might be time for a home electrical system upgrade. Michigan homeowners in need of upgraded electrical wiring or maintenance to your home electrical system can contact United Electrical Contractors at 517-484-8805. We’re here for all of your residential electrical needs!

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