The home electrical system consists of various components that enable the safe delivery of energy to different sections and appliances in the household. Even though the system may appear complex, it is important for the homeowner to understand a few basics.

This would help you when things do not work or there is an emergency that requires turning off circuits or the entire installation. In addition, an understanding of the home electrical system will help the owner respond to questions from prospective buyers.

All the electrical circuits in the house originate from the main breaker panel. The panel is usually inside the house and near to the power entry point. However, the panel can also be far, and especially when in a multi-family structure.

The rating of the panel determines the number of circuits and power that the home electrical system can support. Some older homes have been using the 100 Amp service, smaller installations use a 60 Amp service while newer and larger houses are built with 200 amps to accommodate the increased number of electrical and electronic equipment commonly used in a modern household.

Different loads require the correct size of cables and breakers that can handle the current without heating up. For example, an air conditioner requires a 30 amp circuit while a kitchen may use two 20 amp circuits.

If there is a fault, such as a short circuit or overload, the breaker trips and cuts off the power to the affected circuit, hence preventing further damage that could lead to fire. Before resetting the breaker, you should first ask an electrician to check and rectify the problem.

A home electrical system consists of different individual circuits originating from the main breaker panel. The wires from the panel run to the rooms to supply the outlets, lights, and hand wired appliances. In most cases, several rooms may share the same circuits such that all the lights in the house are on one breaker, outlets on another breaker, etc.

Some dedicated circuits from the main breaker may go directly to the hard-wired appliances and nowhere else. Equipment such as the electric water heaters, furnaces, and air conditioners are usually installed on their own. Other hard-wired devices include the smoke alarms, which may also have battery backups so they will work even when there is a power outage or a fire interrupts the home electrical system.

Grounding is an essential protective feature that must be installed in all home electrical systems. It provides a path for the electrical current arising from faults that make the exposed metallic parts to become live and dangerous.

The ground connects all the exposed metallic parts to the earth mass through a third wire in the power cord to the equipment. This provides a low electrical resistance path for the current, hence, making the parts safe to the touch even in the event of a malfunction.

maintenance and repairs.

With winter almost upon us, many homeowners are thinking about upgrading or even replacing their heating system. If you are one of those homeowners, you’ve probably already discovered the myriad of heating system options available to you. The sheer number of choices can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Let’s take a look at the advantage of new furnace installation.

The number one reason that furnaces remain the most popular heating system in the country is that of versatility. Furnaces come in a staggering number of variations, sizes, fuel types, and energy ratings. The most popular fuel type, natural gas, is accessible in most populated areas of the country. If you happen to live in one of the few areas it is not available, you can still use wood, oil, or propane.

Because of the popularity of furnaces, you can always find an HVAC company that has experience in servicing them. Replacement parts are also fairly easy to find, which can spare you days or weeks without heat while waiting for a part to be delivered. This also cuts down on the expense of maintenance and repairs. Those who use more specialized systems, like radiant heat and heat pumps, may not be so lucky.

Another aspect of their versatility is how easily furnaces interface with the rest of your home systems. Duct work that is already in place for air conditioning can serve the heating system just as well. Radiant systems, on the other hand, require extensive pipework be laid throughout the house for their exclusive use.

Finally, one of the best aspects of a furnace heating system is its speed. A furnace will start to provide heat almost as soon as it is turned on. Other systems like installing a new heating system in your home.