Is Your Residential Electric System Up to Code?

Did you know that home electrical malfunctions cause an estimated 51,000 fires each year? Your home wiring is responsible for carrying power to your lights, appliances, heating, and more. So, having your home wiring and circuit panel in good condition is critical not only to your comfort but to your safety as well.

Wiring that isn’t working properly can lead to your power tripping, painful electrical shocks, and deadly electrical fires. So, keep reading to find out which signs to look out for that will tell you if your residential electric system is up to code.

Your Circuit Keep Tripping

If you find that your circuit breakers are constantly tripping, that might be a sign that your home’s electric demand is too great for your electrical wiring. It might be time to get a home inspector to conduct an electrical home inspection. The inspector will be able to tell you if your wiring is up to code or if you need to have work done.

Can You Find GFCI Outlets?

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets are safety measures that prevent electrical shocks in areas that have a high moisture content. These outlets need to be present in bathrooms, laundry rooms, outdoors, and in any other area that is near a water source. If you do not have these outlets or if you can’t find them, you need to get an electrician to install them immediately to ensure you stay safe and compliant.

When Was Your Home Built?

During the 1960s and 70s, there was a copper shortage, which lead to aluminum wiring being used instead of copper. While aluminum carries electrical current just as well as copper, aluminum wiring isn’t considered code-compliant since it is susceptible to weather-based expansion and contraction.

If your home was built during this time period or you suspect you have aluminum wiring, it might be time to get your home electrical wiring redone.

Has Your House Been Remodeled?

If your house has been remodeled or had additions built on, you’ll need to check for wire splices. Wires are spliced when:

• a light fixture or outlet gets added
• wires get expended
• wires get reconnected

However, splices are illegal if they’re done outside of a junction box. If you have illegal splices you can hire an electrician to either run new wires or make the splice within the junction box.

Check Your Residential Electric System to Be Safe

Knowing whether your residential electric system is up to code is critical when you are a homeowner (if you’re renting you should also check!). Faulty wiring not only makes your life uncomfortable since you have to constantly reset your circuit breaker, but it is also extremely dangerous. So be smart and make sure your system is as safe as can be.

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