| A home's electrical system is routinely inspected | | | | panels. These interrupters are the single greatest |
| at the time of purchase, in fact, usually more than | | | | protection against electrical fires in walls. They are |
| once. The seller usually has their home inspected | | | | highly recommended for fire protection in homes |
| prior to putting it on the market to avoid | | | | with older wiring. The 2008 National Electric Code |
| complications further along in the transaction, | | | | (NEC) requires AFCI breakers for circuits leading |
| namely when the buyer is applying for a | | | | to bedroom, living room and family room. |
| mortgage. Likewise, it's also common for a buyer | | | | Most state electrical codes require 100-amp |
| to hire their own inspector before placing a bid on | | | | electrical service but older homes were built when |
| the property. | | | | energy requirements were far less and 60 amps |
| These two inspections are in anticipation of a final | | | | were sufficient. Owners of homes built more than |
| inspection by the lender prior to granting the | | | | 20 years ago should hire an electrician to help |
| buyer a loan. No house can be mortgaged that | | | | evaluate power demands required by |
| does not meet state and local building codes. | | | | contemporary appliances and electronic equipment. |
| Furthermore, homeowner insurance hinges on | | | | The electrician will use a meter to determine if |
| compliance with federal, state and local codes, | | | | the home's usage is over 75 percent of the |
| which include standards for electrical wiring. By the | | | | system's amperage. If not, the present system is |
| time a homeowner moves into a new residence, | | | | adequate; otherwise you might consider upgrading |
| it has passed several inspections and measured up | | | | to a higher amp system. The age of an electrical |
| to safety standards. A new homeowner, having | | | | system is not important, only the amount of |
| obtained a mortgage and purchased insurance for | | | | power needed to service the household is a |
| the dwelling, can rest assured their electrical wiring | | | | factor. A 50-year-old, 60 amp electrical system is |
| is 'up to code,' even in a 100-year-old home. | | | | perfectly fine if energy consumption averages, |
| Electrical codes aside, the owner of an older home | | | | for example, around 60%. |
| is wise to replace or upgrade an outdated | | | | One indication of a wiring problem is flickering lights |
| electrical system that was installed more than | | | | for no reason at all. It's normal for lights to |
| twenty years ago. Modern technology, on one | | | | occasionally flicker at the beginning of a heavy |
| hand, has greatly increased the energy load on old | | | | energy pull, or during the cycling of a clothing iron, |
| electrical systems, while at the same time | | | | but if this isn't the reason, consult a licensed |
| providing new features to enhance safety, | | | | electrician. Other warning signs of major electrical |
| improve efficiency and cut energy costs. A | | | | problems are outlets or receptacles that have |
| professional electrician can test and evaluate the | | | | burn marks or are hot to the touch. These issues |
| electrical system's breaker panel, receptacles and | | | | need to be addressed immediately and should not |
| switches and make necessary repairs and | | | | be ignored. |
| upgrades to enhance overall performance and | | | | A wise homeowner recognizes that electrical |
| prevent major, costly repairs in the future. | | | | work is serious business which should not be |
| A common electrical upgrade involves installing | | | | treated casually by the do-it-yourselfer trying to |
| ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) on | | | | keep down repair costs. Electricity is dangerous. In |
| receptacles and arc fault circuit interrupters | | | | the United States, there are hundreds of deaths |
| (AFCIs) on breakers. In new construction, GFCI | | | | every year among non-professionals who |
| receptacles are required by code where electricity | | | | attempt electrical installation and repair. Electrical |
| and water are in close proximity, as in the | | | | and fire safety officials warn that one |
| bathroom, kitchen, garage, swimming pool area, | | | | misconnected wire can be deadly. The average |
| crawl-space, unfinished basement, or on exterior | | | | homeowner without electrical training or |
| outlets. The Electrical Safety Council estimates | | | | experience is advised to hire a licensed |
| GFCIs have reduced electrocutions in the U.S. by | | | | professional to work on components of an |
| 70 percent. AFCIs, installed near standard circuit | | | | electrical system. |
| breakers, can be retrofitted into existing electrical | | | | |