Are you a first-time homeowner? If so, congratulations!
Buying a house is one of the most exciting events in life. After all, this is the place that you will likely call home for many years, raise a family, and experience a full range of ups and downs.
When it comes to home upkeep, nothing is more important or confusing than dealing with wiring. That’s why this article takes a look a home electrical wiring and common issues you’re going to eventually be faced with.
Keep reading to get the inside scoop on tips that will make coping with new home construction issues much easier.
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
Different Types of Electrical Wire and Cable
Learning to understand electrical cable can be confusing to the uninitiated homeowner.
Most residential wiring is either 12-gauge or 14-gauge. The size used in your home will depend on the amperage of the circuit the wiring is connected to. Larger appliances such as electric heaters, electric dryers, electric stoves, and central air units will typically require 6, 8, or 10-gauge wire.
Electric cable is classified by two numbers. For example, 14-2. The first number is used to denote the conductor’s gauge, while the second number denotes the number of conductors located inside the cable.
The outer sheath color coding is also important. The sheath colors include black, orange, yellow, white, and gray. Each of the colors denotes a specific amperage rating for the circuit.
It’s also important to note that not all electrical cable is color-coded. Believe it or not, the color-coding system wasn’t started until 2001 and is still voluntary. This means that wiring in older homes isn’t color-coded.
Installing an Electrical Outlet
This one of the most common and basic types of home wiring projects. Installing an electrical outlet is important during remodels as well as home repairs, or when simply wanting to add an outlet to an existing room.
This is a relatively DIY project as long as you have the right tools and a bit of know-how. The key is to focus on safety. Never tackle this job without first understanding how to cut the power, as well as a basic understanding of wall wiring.
When in doubt about your personal abilities, never hesitate to hire a professional electrician for this task. After all, they will know exactly how to get the job done quickly and safely.
Here’s where to find a trusted electrician.
Installing a Dishwasher
Your new home might come equipped with a number of modern conveniences, but not everything. For example, you might discover that there’s not a dishwasher in the kitchen. Fortunately, a dishwasher is surprisingly simple to install.
This is another common DIY project that requires a few basic tools and a minimum amount of determination. The key to successfully installing a dishwasher is to remember to hook up the wiring, along with the water and drain lines. Thus you’d be wise to select a location near the kitchen sink.
Placing it near the sink will save time and money because you won’t have to worry about dealing with any plumbing issues.
Protecting Your Fuse Box
The fuse box in the power hub of your home. This is the location of every circuit breaker that controls the distribution of electricity throughout every room of the house.
Before moving into your new home, have an electrician inspect your fuse box to make sure that none of the fuses has been overloaded with a higher amperage than it’s designed to handle. Because a fuse that’s overloaded can overheat and cause a fire.
You’ll also want to make sure that it’s clear of insulation, which can also ignite, resulting in potential fire damage to your home.
Home Electrical Tools
When you buy a new home, it’s a good idea to buy a few tools that are specifically designed for dealing with electrical issues.
Home electrical tools include flex bits for drilling holes in tight spaces, and glow rods are used for fishing your wire through an eyelet.
Glow rods are also used as a snake tool that will help pull a wire through a hole. As the name suggests, this tool glows in the dark, making it easy to get the job done even when you’re working in a dark space.
Overlamping
This is a common electrical problem that occurs when a light fixture has a bulb installed with a wattage that’s too high for the fixture. This is actually a code violation and can result in an electrical fire or at least melted wires.
The solution to this potential problem is to always install bulbs with the proper wattage in every light fixture in your home. This is especially true for older fixtures. A good rule of thumb is to always install bulbs that are 60-watt or smaller.
Flickering Lights When the Wind is Blowing
This problem is typically the result of frayed wiring where the overhead cables from the powerline come into your house, causing a short whenever the wind moves the cables.
This is a dangerous issue and can easily cause a fire. The solution is to immediately contact your electric utility company to have them change the Weatherhead. They will typically do this for no charge.
A Guide to New Home Wiring Every Homeowner Should Know
Owning a home is a major responsibility and requires constant upkeep. Fortunately, this guide to new home wiring will help you stay safe and enjoy your home for many years to come.
Keep scrolling to discover more great home repair and remodeling tips on our blog!
