Managing Your Home's Systems - Electrical

Electrical Systems

CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND GFCIs
Know the location of the breaker panel; it includes a main shut-off that controls all electrical power to the home. Individual breakers control the separate circuits. Each breaker is marked to help you identify which breaker is connected to a specified area in your home, or major appliance. Should a power failure occur in any part of your home, check the breakers in the main panel box. Circuit breakers have three main positions: “on,” “off” and “tripped.” When a breaker is “tripped,” it must first be turned “off,” then “on” or service will not be restored.

Check each circuit breaker every six months. Snap the breaker “off” by pushing the lever all the way to the “off” position and then switch it back to “on.” If you have trouble resetting any breakers, mark them, and next time you call an electrician have him/her bring the right size of replacement.

CAUTION: Do not trip the breakers for air conditioning or heat pump equipment while the equipment is running.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt Services (GFCI) are especially sensitive breakers designed to protect electrical outlets in locations where significant shock hazards exist. Typically, the bathroom, garage, and exterior breakers will trip quickly when a slight leakage of current to ground is detected. You may well find that you have no power to any or all of these outlets after an especially heavy rain or steamy shower. If the power is off at such an outlet simply push the “reset” button on the device. You may find the device itself right at the outlet or it may be located within the main distribution panel. Test GFCI devices every month. These
devices are more sophisticated than regular breakers and are more prone to failure, so push that test button once a month. The reset button should pop out and the power should be restored when you push the reset button. If the power is not restored, or if the power does not go off when you push the test button, call an electrician to replace the device.

If you lose the electrical power in your home, check the main circuit breaker in the distribution panel. If it has snapped “off,” push it farther into the “off” position, then snap it back to “on.” If the main breaker is in the “on” position, call the power company and ask how long it will be until power is restored. If the power company confirms that the power is out in your area, do not open the panel. Avoid using candles, especially if there are small children in the home. This is a very easy way to start a fire. Use flashlights. Keep the refrigerator closed, and if the power company expects an extensive delay in restoring power, ask them where you can obtain some dry ice to put in your refrigerator. If the weather is extremely cold and you expect to be without power for an extended period of time, it’s probably a good idea to use the fireplace for greater comfort. Also, take precautions to prevent freezing pipes too.

SMOKE ALARMS
Many of the new homes we build will contain smoke alarms that are wired into the electrical system of the home. There is some wisdom to having a back up to the hard-wired smoke alarm. Install battery operated smoke alarms so in the event of electrical failure, your family will be protected. If your alarms have test buttons on them, check the devices by pushing the buttons at least once a month.

Some smoke alarms go off when a little smoke comes from kitchen cooking equipment or even after a steamy shower. Usually fanning the device with a towel or piece of paper will cause air to circulate through it and it will stop the alarm. If a device proves to be routinely troublesome in this manner, try replacing it with a new device or relocating the device. Do not disable or disconnect smoke detectors. They have saved lives, many, many times and should always be considered an important part of your family’s protection system.

EXTENSION CORDS
The electrical outlets in your new home have been carefully placed so that you should not need extension cords inside your home. About the only place you might want to use extension cords would be outside. If you find yourself regularly using extension cords inside the house, something is amiss. You may be trying to service too many appliances from a single outlet or you may be using things like closet lights etc. which were never intended to be used in your home. If you actually do find yourself using short extension cords, that should be a signal that you really need to install more conveniently placed outlets. Short-term use (as at Christmas time) is a bit different, but even then you must be careful not to “overload.”

If you use outside extension cords to deliver power to tools or appliances make sure that the extension cord is at least as thick as the power cord from the tool or appliance. Thinner cords will often overheat. Absolutely never allow extension cords to pass through walls or floors or beneath carpeting.