Avoid Commonly Broken Codes During Electrical Repair in Trumbull, CT by Consulting a Residential Electrician
The National Electrical Code (NEC) serves as the guide for electrical design, wiring, installation and equipment for a residential electrician in Trumbull, CT and the rest of the country. Electric work by design is not an easy job, and there are often a few common codes that are broken when homeowners take on DIY electrical repair projects.
Always provide easy access to control panel
Anything can happen with your electricity at any time, which means that your control panel or breaker box needs to be unobstructed at all times. With control panels that are located in the basement, it is very easy to begin to use the area around it as storage, and over time a lot of things will get piled up in front of the panel area, blocking access. Whether you need to reset a circuit or a professional is in your home doing electrical repair, you will eventually need access to this area. Because of this, the NEC has specified that there needs to be a space surrounding your panel that is at least 30” wide, 3’ deep and 6’ 8” high.
Make sure the demands and wiring match
It is also a necessity for you to have enough outlet receptacles in your home. The amount of technology and electronic devices that we have at our disposal now is far more than what was used at the turn of the century, when many of the homes we live in today were built. Making sure that you have enough outlets to handle the energy demands for your home is needed to prevent dangerous overloading of circuits that could start a fire. Similarly, using wiring for lighting that has a higher rating than what your home has the capabilities for can cause your system to run hot, posing a dangerous fire risk. Making sure your home can handle all of your electricity needs will also reduce the need to rely on extension cords, making your home much safer overall for everyone.
Use correct covers on outdoor outlets
Electrical outlets that are outside have guidelines for safety, too, and it is especially important to adhere to them, as electricity that is outside is exposed to a different set of conditions. Since outside outlets will constantly be exposed to wet conditions, it is imperative to have an in-use cover, commonly referred to as a bubble cover, that allows you to fully cover the outlet when a cord is plugged in. This ensures that cords that are plugged in for extended periods of time, such as those that power Christmas lights or all-day landscaping projects, will always be protected and won’t be exposed to water, mitigating the risks that come along with wet weather and electricity.
To make sure that all of your electrical repairs are in compliance with all of the NEC guidelines, consult with a residential electrician in Trumbull, CT. The electricians at New England Electrical Contracting, Inc. are both skilled and knowledgeable, and have experience with these common issues and much more. Give us a call for all of your residential and commercial electrical needs today.