Inspection & Maintenance

Exterior Maintenance | Interior Maintenance
Heating & Cooling | Appliances | Plumbing | Electrical

Electrical

The wiring in your home should meet or exceed code requirements and safety standards for the normal use of electrical appliances. Ordinarily, small appliances may be plugged into any electrical receptacle without fear of overloading a circuit. The use of a large appliance, however, or many small appliances on the same circuit may cause an overload. If a circuit breaker trips frequently, contact a licensed electrical contractor to determine whether additional wiring is needed.

Emergencies
Electrical emergencies are discussed at this link.

Circuit Breakers
Circuit breakers protect the electrical wiring and equipment in your home. They are heavy-duty switches that serve the same purpose as fuses. When a circuit is carrying more current than is safe, the breaker switches to RESET. On most breakers, the switch has to be pushed to OFF and then to ON after the circuit trips.

“Exercise” your circuit breakers at least once a year by switching the breakers OFF and then back ON again by hand. If a breaker is frozen in the ON position, it will not trip when needed. By exercising your circuit breakers, you can verify their mechanical parts move freely. Have a professional electrician replace any circuit breaker that does not switch OFF and ON properly.

Ground Fault Interrupters
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are an electrical safety device designed to prevent electrocution. They are commonly used on bathroom, kitchen, basement, garage and outdoor circuits. Electricity is cut off instantly if there is a “ground fault” or leakage of electrical current to ground (possibly passing through a human body).

A GFCI can be built into wall outlets and circuit breakers. GFCI circuit breakers are located on your circuit panel. They have an extra button marked “TEST” or “T.” An outlet GFCI looks like an ordinary wall outlet with two small buttons marked “TEST” and “RESET” or “T” and “R.” Reset a tripped GFCI as you would reset a regular circuit breaker. On an outlet GFCI, push the RESET button.

Test each GFCI once a month by pushing the TEST button. The GFCI should trip when tested. Reset the GFCI. If it does not trip or does not reset, the GFCI should be replaced by a professional electrician.

Appliance Cords
Cords on appliances and lamps are often subject to pulling and twisting that can sever the wires inside and break down the insulation. This can result in a short circuit. Periodically inspect electrical appliance cords for signs of damage. Replace - do not repair-any electrical cord with broken wires or worn insulation.