Don't Neglect your Electrical System

How often do you think about those outlets in your house
that have reset buttons? Probably only when the hair dryer
causes it to 'pop'. Well, those outlets (GFCI) should be
tested monthly. They are there for your safety, and just
like your smoke detectors, you need to make sure they are
working properly.

If you do not have GFCI outlets in your house, you should
have them installed. They should be present in your kitchen,
bathrooms, garage, and on the exterior of your house.
If you have GFCI breakers in your panel, they also should be
tested monthly.

If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, make sure that
your exterior outlets have a cover on them that seals properly.
Moisture in the outlet will trip the circuit.

One final word about outlets (any kind). If you find that your
outlets are loose when you plug and unplug items, it is time to
replace them. Outlets are not designed to last forever.
The wires become fatigued.

The most common items to show up on home inspections are
electrical. Very often the problems that are found could
have been prevented with just a bit of attention through
the years. Your home is your most important investment.
Don't neglect the systems that maintain that investment.

A special thank you to Jason Parker at Parker Electric.
I asked himwhat people could do to help maintain the electrial
systems in their homes. He gave me numerous suggestions.
This was just one of them. I will postmore information in the future.