Electrical safety plays a major role in protecting your home, family, and property from preventable hazards like electrical fires and shock risks. During Electrical Safety Month, it’s a great time for homeowners to review important electrical safety practices and follow these Electrical Safety Month tips for homeowners in Raleigh. Many of these safety devices work quietly in the background and are easy to overlook until a problem occurs. Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, GFCI outlets, and AFCI breakers play critical roles in your home’s electrical safety system, but many homeowners don’t realize they must test and maintain these devices regularly to ensure they work properly when needed most.
Smoke Detectors
These safety devices play a critical role in protecting your home and require regular maintenance. To do this you need to be sure to replace the batteries twice a year. In addition, test them monthly using the built in test button and also be sure to clean them by vacuuming the dust from the ventholes in the unit.
Also be sure to check the back of the units for a manufacturer or install date. Many people don’t know that smoke detectors do expire every 10 years. Homeowners should also test and clean their carbon monoxide detectors on a regular basis
GFCI
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are the receptacles you will find in kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outside. These devices are designed to ‘trip,’ or cut off electricity, when they detect a ground fault. By quickly shutting off power during a potential electrical shock hazard, they help protect people from serious injury.
These are recommended to be tested monthly. This can be done simply by using the “Test” button on the front and after it trips. A simple press of the “Reset” button will restore power. These should trip within .001 seconds. A specialized plug-in tester can measure the GFCI’s trip speed. If the device trips slower than the recommended time, it should be replaced.
AFCI
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) typically serve as circuit breakers in breaker panels, and electricians began installing them in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These are designed to trip in the case of an “Arc” on a circuit. These arcs can occur from loose connections, a nail/screw in a wire, a staple that is too tight, etc. All of these conditions could cause resistance which over time will lead to heat to built which could then cause property damage. These breakers have a test button on them and just
like GFCI’s these should also be tested monthly. To test these you would press the “Test” button. After it trips you just rest the breaker by turning it all the way off and back on again.
You can install GFCIs as breakers, and they function the same way as AFCI breakers. They are tested the same way. Some of these will actually have an LED light. This light may flash after the breaker is reset. This is a diagnostic light which is useful in a situation where the breaker trips on its own.
Protect Your Home with Expert Electrical Service
Regularly maintaining and testing electrical safety devices ensures they can protect your home and family. A proactive approach to electrical safety can help identify potential issues before they become larger, more costly problems. If you’re unsure whether your smoke detectors, GFCI outlets, AFCI breakers, or electrical system are functioning correctly, the licensed electricians at NCHomeElectric.com are here to help. From electrical inspections and safety upgrades to troubleshooting and repairs, our team can help keep your home safe and up to code. We proudly serve homeowners throughout the Triangle with reliable, professional electrical services.