Solving The Common Electrical Wiring Problems At Home
http://www.articlezone.com/Solving-The-Common-Electrical-Wiring-Problems-At-Home/a354_1
AI Editor
By AI Editor
Published on 12/5/2007
Do you feel safe about your home’s electrical
condition? Ensure that you’re living in a safe zone by improving and solving
common home wiring problems.
Do you feel safe about your home’s electrical
condition? Ensure that you’re living in a safe zone by improving and solving
common home wiring problems. Solving The Common Electrical Wiring Problems At Home
A great way of improving the home is making sure that its electrical wirings are not antiquated. Many houses have wirings that are out of date, which in turn strains to supply a household’s ever-increasing collections of “electricity-hungry” appliances, electronics, and lighting. Most electrical circuits in older homes were not really designed to fuel lots of the modern-day gadgets. Thus, a good home improvement project would be to solve the most common electrical wiring problems in your homes.
Overlamping
Overlamping means that the light fixtures have bulbs that have higher wattage than what the fixture has been designed for. The danger level for this type of problem is high. The intense heat of the bulb may melt or scorch insulations and sockets on the wires of the fixtures, increasing the hazards of “arcing”. Arcing is the sparks jumping through air from a wire to another, and being the main cause for electrical fires. This problem can be solved by staying within the listed limit of the wattage on light fixtures. Unmarked and older fixtures only use 60-watt or smaller bulbs.
Very few outlets
When a home has very few outlets, the end-result is always heavy reliance on power strips and extension cords. You can make these safer way by making sure that you only use “heavy-duty” extension cords with 14-gauge or even thicker. Undersized cords often overheat and catch fire of the loads become very heavy.
A good way to improve this electrical problem is by adding more outlets. You can hire an electrician to do this. If you have the DIY skills then you can opt to do it yourself. This home improvement task will require cutting holes in ceilings and walls in order to snake the electrical wirings. Several electricians patch the holes, while other will leave the patching work to you.
Overwired panel
An overwired panel has more circuits than it is rated to hold. This can be due to lots of single-pole breakers being replaced with two-circuit breakers in a single slot. Adding a subpanel that has some more extra slots can solve this problem. If a major home improvement is being planned, then replacing the panel with bigger model is recommended.
Backstabbed wires
This means that in newer receptacles and switches, the wires are pushed in the back that makes it more likely to become loose, compared to those that are anchored around a screw terminal. You may want to check on any backstabbed connections through removing the receptacle or switch from the outlet box. If you find a backstabbed wire, then it’s likely that there are others. Release these wires and fasten them to appropriate terminals in the receptacle.
No GFCIs
When there are no GFCIs, there is an increased hazard of electrocution in areas that are wet, such as kitchens and baths. Replace any old receptacle with GFCIs. This is typically an easy task that can be done by the homeowner himself. Electricians will charge approximately $20 for every outlet if you hire one.
Uncovered “Junction Box”
Since a junction box holds the splices to where wires connect to one another, if it’s uncovered, one can inadvertently damage these wires or even get a shock. It would be wise to spend a couple of cents to get a new cover, as well as properly install it with its provided screws.
The electrical wirings of a home are very important in securing a household’s safety. Good electrical conditions will ensure a better and safer home environment. If this is not the case, then it’s time to make a vital home improvement by solving the most common electrical problems of your home.
Overlamping
Overlamping means that the light fixtures have bulbs that have higher wattage than what the fixture has been designed for. The danger level for this type of problem is high. The intense heat of the bulb may melt or scorch insulations and sockets on the wires of the fixtures, increasing the hazards of “arcing”. Arcing is the sparks jumping through air from a wire to another, and being the main cause for electrical fires. This problem can be solved by staying within the listed limit of the wattage on light fixtures. Unmarked and older fixtures only use 60-watt or smaller bulbs.
Very few outlets
When a home has very few outlets, the end-result is always heavy reliance on power strips and extension cords. You can make these safer way by making sure that you only use “heavy-duty” extension cords with 14-gauge or even thicker. Undersized cords often overheat and catch fire of the loads become very heavy.
A good way to improve this electrical problem is by adding more outlets. You can hire an electrician to do this. If you have the DIY skills then you can opt to do it yourself. This home improvement task will require cutting holes in ceilings and walls in order to snake the electrical wirings. Several electricians patch the holes, while other will leave the patching work to you.
Overwired panel
An overwired panel has more circuits than it is rated to hold. This can be due to lots of single-pole breakers being replaced with two-circuit breakers in a single slot. Adding a subpanel that has some more extra slots can solve this problem. If a major home improvement is being planned, then replacing the panel with bigger model is recommended.
Backstabbed wires
This means that in newer receptacles and switches, the wires are pushed in the back that makes it more likely to become loose, compared to those that are anchored around a screw terminal. You may want to check on any backstabbed connections through removing the receptacle or switch from the outlet box. If you find a backstabbed wire, then it’s likely that there are others. Release these wires and fasten them to appropriate terminals in the receptacle.
No GFCIs
When there are no GFCIs, there is an increased hazard of electrocution in areas that are wet, such as kitchens and baths. Replace any old receptacle with GFCIs. This is typically an easy task that can be done by the homeowner himself. Electricians will charge approximately $20 for every outlet if you hire one.
Uncovered “Junction Box”
Since a junction box holds the splices to where wires connect to one another, if it’s uncovered, one can inadvertently damage these wires or even get a shock. It would be wise to spend a couple of cents to get a new cover, as well as properly install it with its provided screws.
The electrical wirings of a home are very important in securing a household’s safety. Good electrical conditions will ensure a better and safer home environment. If this is not the case, then it’s time to make a vital home improvement by solving the most common electrical problems of your home.