Electrical System Upgrades for a Safer Home | Anderson Electric
admin • January 29, 2018

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Most people don’t think much about their electrical systems unless they start to act up in some way. Even if your electrical system isn’t posing some sort of threat to your health or home efficiency, though, it might be a good idea to have a look at some ways that you can improve it. If you’re in the market for some upgrades to improve your home’s electrical system, have a look below.

Knob and Tube Elimination

Knob and tube wiring has been out of vogue for close to a century, and for good reason. This method of wiring was invented before the development and use of wiring insulation, which makes it a significantly riskier option. If you’re using knob and tube wiring in your household, you have a much higher chance of issues like house fires developing. Make sure you have your knob and tube wiring purged from your home and replaced with modern wiring if you want your system to be as safe and efficient as possible.

GFCI and AFCI Outlets

The two most dangerous problems you can run into with electrical issues are fires and electrocution. Both are caused by electrical current traveling in ways that it’s not supposed to. One way that you can actually stop this from happening is by upgrading your outlets.

GFCI outlets (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) are designed to monitor the current running through them at all times. As soon as the current flowing through the outlet starts to behave in a way it shouldn’t be, though (like flowing into a person) the outlet will cut off all electricity. It does this so quickly that there is not enough time for the person to absorb a harmful amount of electricity.

AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets provide the same level of protection as GFCI outlets. The only difference is that AFCI outlets are used to monitor the state of the electrical system inside the walls. This is to detect any instances of short-circuiting, and shut down the flow before it can cause further damage.

New Electrical Panels

The whole purpose of an electrical panel is to make sure that any overloaded circuits are shut down before any damage is done. This is a vital part of keeping your electrical system safe and functioning properly. However, you should know that electrical panels are no more immune to problems than any other part of your home. It’s important that you have a professional take a look at your electrical panel every year or two, and upgrade it as necessary. Otherwise, you might not notice a malfunction with your panel until it causes a more serious issue. If it’s been a while since you’ve had your electrical panel examined, contact a professional as soon as possible and have them take a look at your system.

Anderson Electric Corp offers a full range of electrical services. If you need an electrician in Nutley, NJ , contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts. We’ll make sure that you get whatever electrical upgrades you need.  

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