5 of the Most Common Residential Electrical Code Violations

1. 5 of the Most Common Residential Electrical Code Violations Though there are plenty of projects around the house that most handy homeowners can tackle on their own, most electrical projects should be handled by licensed electricians. This is because many homeowners and DIYers are not aware of the local electrical code and they may find themselves in violation – and that can be more expensive than hiring an electrician in the first place. Here are the five most common residential electrical code violations. #1 – Installing New Light Fixtures with Old Wiring Believe it or not, the wires made before 1987 are much different than the wires made today, and there’s a reason for this: today’s lighting technology is much different than it was over 30 years ago. Older wires can handle temperatures of up to 140 degrees, but some of today’s new light fixtures run at 194 degrees. This is an incredibly common code violation and one that many homeowners aren’t even aware of. If your wiring was installed before 1987, contact an electrician for help with installing new lights. #2 – Overcrowding Holes The holes through which wiring passes in your home are 7/8” in diameter, and while this is plenty of room, many homeowners try to pass too many wires through these tiny spaces instead of creating new spaces for wiring where necessary. Think of it like this: the more wires you crowd into a single hole, the more heat that will be produced in that tiny area. This is a serious fire hazard, and that’s why it’s a code violation. Unfortunately, it’s still a common one, too. #3 – Installing the Wrong Circuit Breaker Though you can find guidelines for buying a circuit breaker online, many homeowners tend to “go big” and buy a breaker that they think will serve the purpose at hand. What they don’t know is that there are two major types of circuit breakers in their breaker boxes: standard and arc fault. A standard circuit breaker does very little to prevent fires and should only be used on circuits with large appliances. Arc fault circuit breakers are great for everyday living spaces like living rooms and bedrooms; these are better for fire prevention. #4 – A Lack of Ground Fault Interrupters A ground fault interrupter (GFI) is a simple piece of technology built into electrical outlets in rooms that contain both water/moisture and small appliances – namely bathrooms and kitchens. You can also buy breakers for your electrical panel that are equipped with GFI technology and designed to immediately interrupt power to those parts of the home in the event of a short or overload. Using these two things in combination provides incredible protection and failing to use them as needed is a serious code violation, as well. #5 – Problems with Outdoor Receptacle Covers Many homeowners have outdoor outlets/receptacles designed to allow them to expand their living space outdoors onto a patio or a porch. Though these are incredibly convenient, even something as simple as installing the wrong cover on your receptacle can cause a serious issue, and here’s why: typical flat outdoor receptacle covers are great when there’s nothing plugged into the outlets. If only one outlet is in use, the other isn’t covered, and that can pose a problem if you use an extension cord for a long period of time. Replace any flat outdoor receptacle covers with in-use covers, especially if the receptacle is exposed to rain or in another area where it is likely to get wet. As you can see, these five common electrical code violations are relatively simple things, but they can lead to devastating house fires and injuries. If you are unsure whether your home is up to code, contact your local professional electricians today for an inspection.