Safeguard Your Family & Home With Circuit Interrupters – Part 1

Two key electrical upgrades will improve your home and your family’s safety are installing two circuit interrupters. This article will cover the fundamentals regarding both circuit interrupters for homeowners to understand.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)

AFCIs protect homes and their occupants from electrical fires. When the AFCI detects an arc, it cuts power from the circuit. Arcing can be caused by damaged, defective, or worn wiring. Damp or loose connections or improper wiring can also cause arcs. Modern AFCIs can distinguish between dangerous arc faults and normal arches caused by switches, dimmers, and fluorescent lights.

Installing AFCIs can strengthen fire safety, especially for homes with outdated and faulty wiring. The National Electric Code (NEC) states that installing AFCIs on circuits providing power to living rooms, bedrooms, and other shared living spaces is required for newly built homes.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

GFCIs protect people from electric shocks caused by ground faults and leak currents. A GFCI constantly monitors the electrical current in the circuit and immediately cuts the power after detecting a sudden spike or energy loss. For newly built homes and specific kinds of remodels, local code requires the installation of GFCI receptacles in kitchens, garages, bathrooms, crawlspaces, outdoor outlets, and unfinished basements.

In residential locations where there is a chance of electrical contact with water or the ground, GFCIs should be installed. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) research discovered that GFCIs reduced about 70% of electrocutions. Moreover, GFCIs and circuit breakers are available within an electrical panel, providing ground fault protection to applicable circuits inside a home.

Part 2 will cover AFCI Locations, GFCI Locations, and Maintenance and Testing.

Electrical Peace of Mind

Providing professional electricians since 1988 in Maryland, Cook Electric is the company you can rely on for all your electrical service needs. For knowledgeable, fair, honest, reliable, and conscientious service, call Cook Electric today at (410) 266-9040. We will be happy to help you.