Precautions in House Wiring Circuits

Inspections

• Many fires and other electrical-related problems can be avoided by having regular inspections of your house wiring circuits. To determine when your home was last inspected, check the door and cover of the home's electric panel, circuit breaker box or fuse box, which should have a date and signature of the electrician who last serviced the house. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends inspection if your home has not been inspected for 10 or more years and it experiences electrical problems. Homes that have not been inspected in more than 40 years must be inspected as soon as possible because the risks for electrical failure greatly increase regardless of the presence of electrical problems.

Appliance Power Budgets

• Exceeding the recommended power budgets for appliances can overload electrical circuits and cause a power outage. To avoid this problem, add the total number of watts for the different appliances that you’ll use simultaneously on the same branch circuit. Most branch circuits can carry up to 1,500 watts, though kitchen circuits typically hold up to 2,000 watts. Each appliance has a nameplate near its electrical wire, and the nameplate lists the amount of watts the appliance uses.

Basic Maintenance

• Regular maintenance of your house wiring circuits is essential for safety and proper function. Examine electrical wires regularly to check for damage, corrosion and deterioration. Wires can become damaged due to moisture, pests, misuse and simply old age. Check the home for loose plugs, switches, bulbs and wires. Address problems such as flickering lights, burning odors, sparking, overheating and buzzing before they become more serious issues.

Fire Safety

• Fire safety is perhaps the most important precautionary element of home electrical systems. Even new homes with recently installed wiring circuits can malfunction, leading to electrical fires. Having a professional test fire alarms ensures they are installed properly and function properly. Check local building codes to determine whether or not your home is compliant in terms of fire extinguishers, sprinklers and other anti-fire components, and make changes as needed to comply to the codes.