Types of Electrical Outlets in Homes

You’ll find two main types of electrical outlets in the United States – the Type A and the Type B. The Type A is the traditional 2-prong outlet used to provide 120 volts of electricity. While you are likely to find a Type A outlet in an older home, especially those built before the 70′s, it has generally been phased out and is no longer installed. The Type B outlet was used to replace the Type A outlet. This familiar outlet requires the use of three prongs – two flat blades, like the Type A, along with a round grounding pin. One of the blades is wider than the other to ensure the plugs are inserted properly.

There are, of course, different variations on the Type B outlet and wiring. Most notable is the GFCI outlet, which is commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens to provide added protection. GFCI receptacles are commonly placed on their own circuits – so your bathroom and living room will not share circuits.

Protecting Your Children from Electrical Hazards

We all know how curious children can be when it comes to any object in the home. Your job is to teach them, at a young age, what is appropriate and what is not in terms of outlets and electricity in general.

Start by taking a look around your home. Identify all of the outlets and their placement and note which ones are not in use. Add safety caps to any unused outlets in your home. This will benefit you in two ways. Your child won’t be tempted to place his fingers or any other item in the outlet, and you’ll also help to prevent drafts in your home.

Your next step is to set a good example. Children learn by watching and if they see you treating power cords and outlets carelessly, they’ll simply imitate your behavior. Try not to work with your wiring or outlets while your young children are around. If this can’t be helped, make sure you are always unplugging cords properly at the base and not by yanking them from the wall – a technique that can cause damage in more ways than one.

Talk to your children about asking for help whenever they want to use a toy or appliance that calls for the use of electricity. Teach your child to ask for help so that you can remove safety caps and plug in the toys yourself – and make sure you are the one who unplugs them after play as well. Make sure your child sees you replacing the safety cap and explain that they are there to keep everyone safe.

Children are bound to test the boundaries you place for them in all aspects of life, but make sure they know how dangerous an electrical outlet can be if not treated properly. In this case, it’s better to take a firm stance than it would be to allow your child to learn from his mistakes.

Wiring Codes

Electrical wiring codes seem like a pain, but they were created to help protect both you and your home. The codes, first established in 1891 in New York state, were put in place to ensure that the right type of wiring is used in each area. This reduces the risk of a malfunction or surge in your electrical system – one that could cause damage like electrocution or fire.

Electrical Wiring Color Codes

Electrical wiring comes in different colors for a reason. Each color tells us something specific about the wire and what it is used for. The most common colors are black, red, blue, yellow, green, and bare copper.

• Black wires indicate that a wire is hot. They usually lead to outlets and switches.
• Red wires also indicate a hot connection. They’re commonly used with appliances that require a 220 volt connection. They can often be found connected to ceiling fans or hardwired alarms like smoke detectors.
• Yellow wires and blue wires are also used for hot connections, but they are used in switches that have three or four-way connections. You’ll often see these connected to lights and fans.
• Bare copper and green wires are usually used to create safe connections during grounding.

There are a few exceptions to the wire color rules. White wires, for example, often indicate something is neutral, but they can also be used as hot wires where an additional is needed. If you use a wire for something other than it’s normal, color-coded purpose you should mark it with a piece of colored electrical tape so that it matches the normal coding.

Aluminum Wiring is Outdated

Older homes were wired with aluminum wiring but today’s codes call for copper wiring. Sadly, many homes built during the Vietnam War timeframe used aluminum because copper was being used by the military. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates, on average, that a home with aluminum wiring has a 50x higher risk of developing a fire hazard issue. If that’s not a reason for an electrical upgrade, we don’t know what is.

Downed Wires are Still Energized

Do not assume that a power line is de-engergized simply because it is down or because the power in your house has gone out. They might be without energy, but they may still be holding a low level of energy. There is also no way of knowing if the power will suddenly kick back on. Your best bet is to stay away from downed wires until the pros arrive on the scene.

Rewiring a Home is a Huge Project

We’re often asked why rewiring the entire electrical system in a home is so expensive. Sadly, if you need your entire house rewired your electrical contractor will have to open up all of your walls in order to get to the old wires, replace them, and reconnect them to your outlets and switches. They they, of course, have to put your home back together again. You can save yourself some cash if you rewire your home during a remodeling project, but if you don’t have one planned and don’t have the budget for a total re-wire, you can help yourself out by making upgrades here and there so that you don’t end up subjecting yourself to a fire hazard.

Electrical wiring can be tricky and messy, but with a talented commercial, residential electrical contractor or electrician on your side you can’t go wrong. Never make an assumption when it comes to your household electrical wiring. Call a pro and get the right answers the first time.

If you are a business owner, your licensed electrician has probably made it very clear that your commercial CFL bulbs must be recycled by law.  This is because of the amounts of mercury used in these bulbs.  Often, residential CFL consumers aren’t as well educated about the dangers of simply throwing CFL bulbs away.

CFL Bulbs and Mercury

Every single CFL light bulb you use contains approximately 5 milligrams of mercury. According to MSNBC and Stanford University studies, 5 milligrams of mercury is enough to destroy more than 6 thousand gallons of our drinking water. That’s a tiny bit of mercury and a whole lot of water. Mercury is incredibly toxic and can easily form itself to its environment, whether it is in water, air, or dirt.

Safely Recycling Your CFL Bulbs

The first thing you need to do when removing your burnt-out CFL bulbs from your appliances is to ensure they don’t break. The EPA suggests making sure you are grasping the cooled bulb at the base because grabbing it by the bulb may cause the seal to break.

Once the bulb is removed, it should be stored in a way that will prevent breakage. Your local hardware store may have a container you can take home or you can place the bulb back in its original packaging (or in the packaging of its replacement). You can then take the bulbs to a facility that collects CFLs for recycling.

Not sure where to take your bulbs? Check with your local construction and household good stores, like Lowes or Home Depot. If that doesn’t work, ask your municipality if they have collection times for hazardous wastes. You may have to hold onto the bulbs for a little while, but they won’t end up in landfills.

Ask your licensed electrician if he knows where you can take your old CFLs for recycling, too. He or she may be able to direct you or may have a recycling program of his own. No matter what you do, don’t throw those bulbs in the garbage. The convenience simply isn’t worth the risk.

Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb.

Thomas Edison was about 50 years too late to be credited with the invention of lightbulb itself.  Bulbs, and the electrical lighting of them, had been in use for about that long. While he was working on his own theories, a British inventor known as Joseph Swan beat him to the punch in that regard as well – by a single year. It is believed that Edison took Swan’s rough designs, which were published in a science journal, and attempted to improve upon them. At the end of the day, Swan sued Edison for copyright infringement, won the patent, and ended up being named a partner in Edison’s company.

Why does electricity shock the body?

Electricity is electricity, so why does it cause that incredibly uncomfortable shock when we come into contact with it? Your body has its own electrical system which is controlled by your nervous system. The second problem is that water is a great conductor for electricity and – you guessed it – your body is mostly made up of water. While the average person experiences a little bit of static shock because the nerves on the surface are affected, a larger shock will be carried through the body, all the while causing major nerve interruptions, muscle twitching or even worse problems like interruptions to the heart or death. 

Fresh Air in Your Home

The air in your home is affected by a wide variety of factors. Wood burning stoves add toxins from the burning soot. Water heaters and gas furnaces also produce exhaust and waste. Running your oven (and maybe burning a meal) can create smoky conditions that make it difficult to breathe. Sometimes opening a window simply isn’t enough to circulate the bad air out and bring fresh air in, especially during the cold winter months. You may want to consider having an air exchanger installed.

What is an Air Exchanger?

Air exchangers offer homeowners a great method for bringing fresh, warm air into the home during the colder months. Also known as heat-recovery ventilators, these tools pull cool outside air into the home, flush it through a filter to ensure it is clean, warm it up in the exchanger, and then force it through your home’s duct system.

Not only will your family enjoy healthier air but you will save on your winter heating costs as well. The ventilating system warms the air it is bringing in from the outside, so your heater won’t have to work any harder. The warm air inside your home is used to heat the air coming in, so you aren’t using extra energy or electricity during the heating process.

Talk to your electrical contractor about the possibility of having an air exchanger installed in your home. You may want to install the exchanger alone or have it installed in conjunction with a whole house fan, great for regulating temperatures and removing moisture from the home.  The more efficient your heating and cooling systems, the less you’ll ultimately end up spending.

Purchase a Power Generator

Not everyone needs to have a power generator, but if you live in an area where power outages are frequent they are definitely worth considering. You should also have a power generator on hand if anyone in your home suffers from a medical condition that requires the use of electrically powered equipment. Make sure the fuel tank is full, put some extra fuel in storage, practice starting the generator, and run it for at least 10 minutes per month to make sure it is functioning properly.

Battery Operated Backup Lighting Systems

Battery operated backup systems are incredible for use during a long-term power outage. Some are plugged into outlets and others are hard-wired into your home’s electrical lighting system. Either way, the electricity in your home keeps the battery charged. If the power goes out, the fully-charged battery will turn on your alternate lighting system automatically, ensuring you’re never in danger in the dark. You don’t have to have emergency lights throughout your entire house. Make sure they’re placed strategically so that you can see to get down a flight of stairs and find your exit points.

Gathering the Basics

While power is important, there are other things to consider as well. Make sure you have an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and non-perishable food on hand as well. You won’t want to open your fridge or freezer as doing so will make it harder to preserve your food until the power comes on again.

Make sure you talk to your licensed electricians about the possibility of getting a generator or installing backup lights in your home. It’s always better to be safe than sorry – especially when dealing with mother nature.

Check Your Flooring

Many homes, especially older homes, were originally built with wood flooring. There was a sudden surge in the sale of carpeting and – bam! – everyone covered their gorgeous hard wood floors with rugs. Take a peek beneath the rugs you have down on your floor now. Do you have hardwood flooring lurking under the padding? If so, redoing your flooring may be as simple as pulling up your rugs and refinishing the surface of what is below. If you don’t have wood flooring beneath, there are many inexpensive, snap together options you can consider as well.

Install Recessed Lighting

Does your living room or dining area seem cramped and cold? Consider removing your existing electrical lighting structures and installing some recessed lighting instead. The closer together your lights are, the brighter the room will be. Spacing them further apart, or having them wired so that they don’t all turn on together, will create a softer ambiance. You’ll be amazed at the difference a change in lighting can make.

Make a Charitable Donation

If you are completely remodeling a room, like a bathroom or kitchen, consider calling Habitat for Humanity. They’ll come in, take your old fixtures to use in their new projects, and give you a receipt so that you can write off the value as a donation at tax time. You’ll not only get the tax credit, but you won’t have to spend as much money on dumpsters and heavy trash removal, either.

Ditch the Brand Names

Are you considering high-quality flooring, carpeting, or window installation services? There are tons of lesser-known companies and brands that will give you the exact same quality of material for a fraction of the price. Want mahogany flooring? Forget it. Install a look-alike and no one will know the difference (unless they ask, and you tell). Your home will look just as great and you’ll save a ton of cash.

It doesn’t matter if you’re making one or two changes, like recessed lighting and flooring, or remodeling your entire house. Talk to your electrical contractor in Wilmington about your wants and needs and make sure he understands your limitations. A good contractor will do what he can to ensure you get the results you desire.

Light Spacing

While there are certain criteria for the proper placement of recessed electrical lighting systems, the distance between each light will make a huge difference when it comes to the ambiance in your room. Say, for example, you plan on spacing your lights about 6 feet apart from each other. This type of layout will create a bright room with even distribution of light throughout. Placing the lights 12 to 14 feet apart, on the other hand, will create a very soft light.

Basic Light Guidelines

Believe it or not, the height of your ceiling will determine how effective your recessed lights actually are. If you have an 8-foot ceiling, your lights will fully cover an 8-foot wide space. It is also important to note whether or not your ceilings are sloped before you begin. If you are installing recessed lighting in a sloped ceiling, you’ll need to use a special type of trip to ensure your light is not directed at an angle. You’ll still want it to point directly down.

Recessed Lighting in the Kitchen

Kitchens are unique and the planning in those rooms is slightly different. While you’ll want to follow normal spacing guidelines for your eating area, you’ll want to space your lights a bit closer together in the areas over your counters and cooking islands. In these cases, you may want to opt for 3 or 4 feet instead of 6 or 8. This type of spacing will ensure you have adequate lighting to work while cooking.

Recessed lights offer homeowners an incredible way of changing the ambiance of any room. Talk to your Delaware electrician about the possibility of making an upgrade in your favorite room. You’ll be surprised at the difference this type of lighting system can make!

Square Lights

Most lights are round but you certainly don’t have to stick with the norm when choosing your own system. Square lights are becoming increasingly popular and make an excellent addition to rooms with a linear design. There are even a few companies out there making rectangular shaped recessed lights as well.

LED Recessed Lights

LED lights are all the rage, and we’re not just talking about recessed lighting systems here. The overall cost of installation will be higher but just as with your traditional bulbs, LED lights will last longer than the older styles. You’ll also see a reduction in your energy bill over the use of regular bulbs. If you’re going to install a new system, you may as well make it as economical as possible.

Protruding and Flush Trims

The shape of the bulb and light fixture isn’t the only thing to consider. You’ll also need to determine if you want the edge of the light to be flush with the ceiling or if you’d like a protruding trim. Protruding trims can be used to accent the existence of the light while a flush trim will leave you with a sleek and sophisticated ceiling line. Your plans for your entire room will dictate your choice.

You will, of course, have other things to consider as well, like the color and location of your recessed lights. Talk to your Delaware electrician before you start your construction work. He’ll be able to help you determine that your circuit breaker is up for the addition and he’ll help you to find the best way to go about the installation process!

Watch for Power Lines

For those looking to have a new pool installed, location is essential. You should never have a pool installed directly beneath power lines, whether it is above or in the ground. You’ll also want to make sure that your diving board and slide ladders are far away from power lines as well. This will ensure your swimmers don’t risk coming in contact with hot power lines.

Obtain the Right Permits

Most towns have ordinances that require homeowners to obtain permits before installing a pool of any kind. One such permit will be an electrical permit, ensuring that your pool installation follows specific safety standards. Don’t try to allow your pool installation company to bypass this requirement. If you do, you may find yourself in a position to have to pay hefty fines and you might even have to take your pool down.

Keep Appliances Away from the Pool

Never allow the use of electrical appliances near the pool. Children and teens need to leave cell phones, radios, MP3 players and all other electronic devices in the house. Radios in your pool area should be kept far enough away from the pool that they cannot be reached by swimmers. While you should have a phone in your pool area, it should also be inaccessible to those who are swimming.

Outdoor Outlets and Extension Cords

Modern outdoor outlets have the protection of GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupters. These outlets protect against shock and electrocution and often have covers that will automatically protect the outlet when it is not in use. Any extension cords used outside should be properly insulated, should be approved for use in the outdoors, and should be run far away from the pool area.

Take a First Aid Class

Call your local Red Cross and ask about first aid classes. Find out if your community offers classes that specifically cover pool safety. An adult member of your household should be familiar with first aid procedures and should be properly trained in CPR to ensure anyone who does have a problem in the pool can receive immediate treatment. If that person has to leave the pool area, all children should be required to get out of the pool as well.

Preparing your pool area for the summer months is something that should be taken very seriously. Approaching all of your preparations with caution will ensure you have a happy and fun summer. Don’t hesitate to call your local Wilmington DE electricians if you need help making sure your pool area is safe from electrical hazards.