Month: May 2020

Home Electrical Systems

What are the Main Components of Home Electrical Systems? 

If you’ve ever struggled to diagnose a power outage or other electrical issue at home, you may have needed to learn more about your home electrical system. Designed to consistently deliver power to all parts of a residence, these systems can be complex. Many homeowners aren’t aware of the layout of their home electrical systems. The professional electricians here at Piper Electric have broken down the main components of home electrical systems to aid our readers in their pursuit of better understanding the electrical issues in their homes.

Meter 

The meter is a device that tracks the amount of electricity being taken in and utilized by your home. The meter receives electrical potential from wired poles or underground transmission wires and is most often located on the home’s exterior. After it has received power, the meter may transfer the power supply to the breaker component of the home system. Reading your meter can give you critical insights into how energy efficient your home is. For example, if you notice a utility bill spike, you may want to check that your meter is not “leaking current”. To assess this, cut power to all circuits in the home via the breaker (see next section). At this point, the meter should be motionless. If it is still registering current, you have discovered a leak that will need to be assessed by a professional electrician. 

Breaker 

The breaker is responsible for separating the available power supply into individual circuits. This component is often found inside the home on an interior wall and looks like a box full of on/off switches. Each switch is responsible for delegating the available power supply to major portions of the home. During an outage, it’s always a good idea to check the breaker to see which circuits were affected, and then switch them back on. The breaker may also be accessed in the event of an electrical fire, in order to cut power to all circuits by flipping all switches to the “off” setting. 

Wires 

Home electrical systems consist of a network of current-carrying wires. These wires receive the power supply from the circuit breaker and transfer the electrical potential to a series of smaller wires which can ultimately connect to wall outlets and power your appliances. Homeowners should stay aware of the condition of their home wiring and may consult an expert to assess the health of their wiring. 

Understanding your home’s electrical system can help you stay on top of your home’s energy consumption, and trace the source of any power outage or malfunction. For complicated system issues, reach out to the pros here at Piper Electric. Our teams have the tools and credentials to get the job done safely and effectively. To learn more about your home electrical system, or general information about electrical safety and troubleshooting, visit our frequently updated blog.  

residential electric

Most Common Residential Electric Mistakes

Mistakes in residential electrical systems are one of the most common causes of fire. Fortunately, the majority of problem areas can be easily fixed if they are addressed before anything goes wrong. Our certified electricians at Piper Electric are happy to offer quick and easy assessments of the electrical infrastructure of your home, which is a great way to prevent future residential electric issues. Here are some of the most common residential electrical mistakes we see during our assessments.

Temporary Becomes Permanent

Letting the temporary become the new normal is a common source of many residential electric mishaps. When people are in a rush to find a short-term solution to a lighting or power problem, they often forget to go back later and reorganize. Extension cords should only be used for temporary power supply, and should not power appliances permanently. The same goes for lighting and wiring used for short-term jobs in residential electric. If you need to make these changes last longer, make sure that a certified electrician signs off on the setup.

Outlets and Switches

Not many people enjoy spending money to upgrade things like wiring and outlets — things that guests won’t notice. But the cost of doing so is certainly worth not having to worry about an electrical fire. It is always a good idea to take an inventory of the outlets and plugs in your home to check if any of them are damaged or out of date. Most of us use plugs and wall outlets every day, and as a result, they are one of the most common sources of electrical problems. Also check for any outlets that are loose, or ill-fitting on your walls, as this can be a source of shocks and overheating.

Overloading in Residential Electric

Despite what you might think, overloading certain areas of the home is still a common problem. Always make a point to spread out the electrical demand from appliances and electronics when possible, to ease the strain on your home’s infrastructure. These problems often overlap with temporary solutions that become permanent. You don’t have to worry about putting three or four plugs on a socket for an afternoon, but don’t let it happen for weeks or months at a time if possible.

Surge Protectors

You probably have a few surge protectors around your home, especially near expensive electronics like televisions and computers. These are important when it comes to keeping you and your possessions safe from surges. However, many people don’t know that surge protectors have a lifespan. When surge protectors trip, they lose a small amount of that lifespan. The longer you have had a protector around, the greater chance it needs to be replaced.

If you’re in the Denver metro area and believe your home’s electrical system needs inspection, or if you have any electrical-related questions, please contact our experts.