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Home Safety Learned
Common Sense |
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Volume 1, Number 2 http://www.KeyInsp.com March 6, 2010 |
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Electricity – the invisible workhorse by Ken Schutter The electricity we have in our homes is something we mostly take for granted except when the power goes out during a storm. It is one of those “out-of-sight out-of-mind” things that we make use of daily. It is there all the time behind the walls of our room just waiting to be set loose. And the nice thing is that through the years devices have come along to let this electricity loose in a controlled, useful and safe way. But that is true only if these devices are installed and used in a proper manner. Also these devices need to be routinely checked to make sure they are still working as they were initially intended and they need to be replaced promptly and correctly when they are not. So lets start from the beginning. The power utility company supplies the electricity that you use in your house. Your house is connected to this power supply by either overhead power line cables or underground cables. These cables attach to a main disconnect switch which is located in an electrical panel in your house. The electricity that is allowed to pass through this main switch then gets distributed to additional switches. These switches distribute the electricity to cables called circuits that take the electricity to different locations in the house. These switches are typically in the form of fuses or circuit breakers. And the purpose of these switches is to prevent too much electricity from getting into the cables and causing damage to the house or its contents |
. The locations that the electricity goes to for use are electrical outlets in walls, lights in the walls or ceilings or directly to major systems like a furnace or water heater. So it is important for these switches to work properly. It’s a good idea to know where these switches and electrical disconnect panels are located so that they can be accessed in an emergency. Many people don’t understand the importance of having access to these switches or electrical panels. This is obvious by the way they store things in front of them. Clearance in front of these panels should be 3 feet deep minimum and 30 inches wide. Also you don’t want these panels located in clothes closets or bathrooms. You also want the area lit so you can see the switching devices. Electrical disconnect panels typically contain fuses or circuit breakers. Electrical main fuse panels have a main disconnect called a fuse block which has a ring on the front of it for pulling the block out of the panel to turn off the power or to replace the fuses inside of it. An electrical main circuit breaker panel has a breaker identified as the main breaker which has a lever that turns off the power when it is switched. There are variations of these installations and it is best to have an electrician identify what you have and how to turn the power off safely. More
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Getting a home inspection is one way to evaluate the safe conditions of a home. Get Key Inspected! |
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Copyright 2010 Key Building Inspections, LLC Address questions to: KeyBuildingInspections@gmail.com |
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The information contained in this newsletter is provided solely for informational and/or educational purposes. Key Building Inspections, LLC disclaims any and all liability associated with the use and/or provision of this information. Reliance upon the information or advice is at the risk of the relying party. The information contained herein may be changed from time to time without notification and there may be occasions when referenced Internet sites are no longer present or current |
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