Posts in category: Electrical

We hope you’re doing well! This month, we wanted to dive into an often overlooked but incredibly important safety feature in homes: GFCI Protection.

What is GFCI?

GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. It’s a type of electrical outlet or circuit breaker designed to protect people from electric shock, especially in areas where water and electricity are likely to come into contact, such as bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor spaces.

A GFCI outlet detects even the smallest imbalance in the electrical current (like when electricity is “leaking” through a person to the ground) and cuts off power in a fraction of a second to prevent serious injury or worse.

Why You Need GFCI Protection

Accidents can happen when water meets electricity, and a simple shock could lead to severe consequences. Here’s why GFCIs are crucial:

• Instant Protection: If a person comes into contact with electricity and water, the GFCI shuts off the power instantly to minimize the risk of injury.
• Code Requirement: Building codes require GFCI outlets in several specific areas. If your home was built or renovated before they became code-required, you may want to consider upgrading your outlets.
• Peace of Mind: Whether you’re washing dishes in the kitchen or working in the garage, GFCIs offer reassurance that you and your family are safe from electrical hazards.

Where Should GFCIs Be Installed?

GFCI outlets are most commonly found in high-risk areas such as:

• Bathrooms: Water and electricity don’t mix, especially near sinks, showers, and tubs.
• Kitchens: Areas around sinks or any place where water is in use.
• Garages & Basements: Areas with potential for water exposure.
• Outdoors: Decks, patios, and areas exposed to the elements should be protected.

Tip: If your home has older outlets, it’s a good idea to check whether they are GFCI-compliant. Upgrading to GFCI outlets can be a simple way to boost your safety!

Signs Your GFCI Outlet Needs Attention

While GFCIs are designed to last, they can still wear out or malfunction, especially GFCI’s in exterior locations. Here are some signs to watch for:

• No Power When Plugged In: If the GFCI is not working and you’ve tried resetting it, there could be an issue with the wiring or the device itself.
• Frequent Tripping: If the outlet keeps tripping, even when no obvious fault is present, it could indicate a more serious wiring problem.
• Won’t trip when tested: If the outlet does not turn off when the test button is pressed than the GFCI may no longer be providing the necessary protection.

In either case, you should replace your GFCI outlets.

How to Test Your GFCI Outlets

Testing your GFCI outlets regularly is important. Here’s how:

1. Press the “Test” Button: This simulates a ground fault and should cause the outlet to trip.
2. Press the “Reset” Button: After testing, make sure to press the “Reset” button to restore power.

Make it a habit to test your GFCIs every month!

The Bottom Line: Safety First

Electrical safety is something we often take for granted, but it’s essential for the well-being of everyone in your home. GFCIs offer critical protection against electrical shocks, so make sure your home is equipped with these life-saving outlets.

Stay safe, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need recommendations on upgrading your outlets.

Stay powered up and protected!

P.S. Want to ensure your home is up to date with safety codes? Schedule an electrical inspection today!

That third prong on your extension cord plug (and appliance cords), enables electricity to flow through the circuit and then, literally, into the ground. It makes electrical systems safer because electricity can flow into the ground rather than through you if there is a short circuit. It can prevent fires and electrical shocks.

According to electrical codes, all structures are required to have the electrical system connected to a metal grounding rod. The metal rod gets driven 8 feet into the ground (in the soil outside the house). The grounding rod must be deep in the ground because we want to make sure that there is a way for stray electricity to be dissipated into the ground.

In 1971, all electrical outlets and other electrical circuits were required to be grounded. This was a major step in the right direction for electrical safety. In addition, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) started to be required in all new construction. Eventually, GFCIs became required in all “wet locations” including garages, exterior outlets, bathrooms, kitchens and basements. GFCI outlets shut themselves off immediately if there is an electrical leak through the grounding system. GFCIs save lives!

The good news is, that the world has become safer due to better grounding systems and electrical safety devices.

For more related information click on this link:

https://safeharborinspections.com/blog/

Many people ask us what we discover to be the most common electrical issues during a  home inspection.

It’s very rare to find a home that doesn’t have a few incorrectly wired electrical outlets.  Problems such as ungrounded outlets and reversed polarity outlets are very common. Although these aren’t major electrical hazards, they should be rectified to avoid any potential shock hazards. Missing GFCI’s are also very common. GFCI’s prevent electrical shock when an appliance comes into contact with water such as a hair dryer falling into a sink or bathtub. The outlet automatically shuts off to prevent electrocution. These may seem like small issues but could actually save a life!

By the way, we recommend that you enlist the services of a licensed electrician. When it comes to electric and fire safety you can’t be too careful.

All these problems are relatively easy and inexpensive to rectify. We recommend that you have an electrician evaluate all your outlets as well as your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make modifications as needed.

Sometimes during our home inspections, we come across a wiring product called Copper-Clad aluminum wire. The core of the wire is made of aluminum, but the exterior of the wire is clad in copper. Is it safe even though it’s aluminum? Yes, it is safe and approved without modification. Because the wires are clad in copper, corrosion and oxidation do not occur like they do in typical aluminum wires. (It’s the corrosion and oxidation that causes aluminum wires to overheat).

If you are told that you have aluminum wires, they may be correct, but they may be leaving out a very important piece of information, which is, are they copper-clad. Again, copper-clad aluminum wires are safe.

If someone, (for instance an inexperienced inspector) tells you that you’re dealing with aluminum wires, ask the question, are they clad in copper? If they are clad in copper, you can save the expense of having the wires in the house modified or replaced.

For more related information click on this link:

https://safeharborinspections.com/blog/

Many houses built before 1950 originally had less than 100 Amps, which by today’s standards would be considered too low.  Fortunately, most of those electrical systems have been updated to 100 Amps or more.  Today, 100 Amps is considered okay for a smaller house, unless there are large electrical draw appliances, such as air conditioning systems, swimming pools, hot tubs, electric dryers, and electric stoves.  Often, 100 Amp electrical services get updated to 150 or 200 Amps.  If the electrical service is too low for the structure, the main circuit breaker may trip and become a nuisance and possibly an electrical hazard.

Most main electrical panels have one large circuit breaker labeled 100, 150 or 200.  Those numbers represent Amps, which means the amount of electricity the system can deliver (the total amperage should be confirmed by an electrician because it can be a bit tricky).  200 Amps provides plenty of power for small and medium sized homes.  Larger homes often have more than 200 A.

By the way, updating the system to more power provides a secondary benefit of having a brand-new electrical panel along with brand-new circuit breakers.  These new components provide a substantial benefit to the electrical system of the home.

If you are interested, all our previous newsletters are available on our website blog. Click on the following link and it will take you right to it.

https://safeharborinspections.com/blog/“

GFCI’s (the outlets with trip and reset buttons) are great safety devices, but they can cause a lot of havoc!

• If you have a GFCI powering up your garage freezer, it could trip and shut off the power to the freezer without you knowing it. Everything in your freezer could go bad. That could be a costly mistake.
• Likewise, if you have a GFCI powering up your basement bathroom sewage ejection pump, it could trip and cause an overflow wastewater in your bathroom.
• If you have basement sump pump connected to a GFCI it could trip and stop pumping the water out of your basement and cause a flood.

So, we recommend checking your important appliances to see if they are vulnerable to nuisance tripping. If they are, contact an electrician to deal with it correctly.

If you are interested, all our previous newsletters are available on our website blog. Click on the following link and it will take you right to it.

https://safeharborinspections.com/blog/”

During our inspections, sometimes we see old glass fuses. Fuses still do their job, which is to shut down the power if too much electricity is going through them. This protects the wires from overheating and possibly starting a fire. Fuses typically function well.

However, fused electrical systems do have some inherent issues.

1. Typically, fused systems are old and not capable of providing enough power. Often, fused electrical services only provide 60 Amps as opposed to 150 or 200 Amps, (typical for today’s standards). In addition, usually there are not enough circuits for today’s electrical needs.
2. When there are not enough circuits, often multiple wires get connected to a single fuse (called double tapping) which is an electrical safety concern.
3. If a fuse “blows” it must be replaced. As opposed to circuit breakers which can easily be reset (similar to a light switch).
4. Circuit breaker systems can incorporate today’s safety technology, such as GFCI’s (ground fault circuit interrupters) and AFCI’s (arc fault circuit interrupters). These newer technologies provide a substantial safety improvement.

Fused electrical systems are usually recommended to be replaced with an updated circuit breaker system. Updating the system, including bringing in more power typically costs between 1,500 and $2,000.

If you are interested, all our previous newsletters are available on our website blog. Click on the following link and it will take you right to it.

https://safeharborinspections.com/blog/”

AFCI stands for Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter. AFCI’s are designed to shut off an electrical circuit if there is a spark in that circuit.  So, if there is a loose wire causing a spark (arc), anywhere in that circuit, the power gets shut off which may prevent a fire.  Sparks can overheat wires very quickly.  All newly installed electrical systems are required to utilize these devices in main electrical circuit breaker panels or as individual outlets pretty much throughout the entire house.  (GFCI’s were originally required in bedroom circuits only) but the code has been updated.  A licensed electrician can advise you as to exactly where they are required.

AFCI’s are great safety devices and you may want to have them installed even if your home is “grandfathered”.  If you are not updating a circuit or installing new ones, AFCI’s are “grandfathered” and are not required (but they are recommended).

If you are interested, all our previous newsletters are available on our website blog. Click on the following link and it will take you right to it.

https://safeharborinspections.com/blog/

Knob and tube wiring is an outmoded form of electrical distribution in homes.  It was commonly used until about the 1940s. It gets its name from the use of white ceramic tubes used to hold a single strand of wire where it went through wood framing, and the white ceramic knobs used to hold the wiring in place.  The wires were soldered together and wrapped with exposed electrical tape without a junction box and are subject to mechanical damage.

Electricians recommend replacing it with newer conventional type wires.  None of the outlets can be 3-prong and cannot be grounded. The wires can easily be damaged and present a fire hazard.  Sometimes portions of the original knob and tube wiring is still in place and supplemented with newer style wires.  Many insurance companies will not insure a house wired with knob and tube systems.

Fortunately, as time goes on, knob and tube wires are being replaced with newer and safer wires.  As a result, we rarely see knob and tube wires anymore, but on occasion we do.  When we see knob and tube wiring, we recommend replacing it for safety reasons.

If you are interested, all our previous newsletters are available on our website blog. Click on the following link and it will take you right to it.

https://safeharborinspections.com/blog/

During our inspections we often see main electrical panels that have been recalled and are recommended to be replaced.

The main electrical panel takes the electrical power from the street and distributes it to all the circuits in the home. Each circuit is protected by a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker is intended to stop the flow of electricity before a wire inside a wall overheats and becomes a fire hazard. Obviously, the functionality of the circuit breakers is especially important to avoid a potential fire. Unfortunately, some defective and unsafe circuit breaker panels were installed in homes over the years and this presents an electrical safety hazard because the circuit breakers may not do their job and consequently start a fire.

I recommend that you look at the panel to figure out who the manufacturer is. If it’s one of the following manufacturers, contact an electrician for further evaluation and advice.

The following panels should be replaced period, end of story.

1) Federal Pacific
2) Zinsco
3) Sylvania
4) ITE/bulldog Pushmatic

Secondly, electrical panels may be unsafe just based on age. A good rule of thumb is 30 years. Usually you can locate the date of manufacture on the inside of the panel door. If you can’t get a date, we recommend calling an electrician for an evaluation. Remember, Circuit Breakers are electrical/mechanical devices which age and can become faulty over time. Faulty circuit breakers present an electrical safety concern.

Better safe than sorry!