Why You Should Hire a Professional Electrician

Basic Electrical System Information

- The initial entry point for your electricity is through your meter. This meter is attached to your home and is monitored by the company that brings you power.

- From the meter, the electricity is routed through your service panel where it is then connected carefully through circuits, and finally to receptacles throughout your home.

- When a current default occurs because of overload, a breaker will shut down the current, which keeps your home safe from fire, and stops the power of damaging any appliances.

- Sometimes homes have sub-panels. These secondary panels are used when a home needs more electricity in a particular area, and they have their own set of breakers.

Receptacles, Outlets, and Blown Fuses

- Some homes have fuses as well as circuit breakers. In both cases, when there is an overload, a fuse will blow (or pop), and the current will be shut down. Though not dangerous, it is generally recommended that homes with fuses be upgraded to the more modern breaker system.

- GFCI, or a ground-fault circuit interrupter, is a quick-acting receptacle designed to shut down an outlet in as little as 1/40 of a second -- functioning, essentially, as a mini-circuit breaker. It is important for fire safety that GFCI outlets are installed in any area of the home where moisture or water is a problem, like bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, or garages.

If you have any questions or don't understand any of this, reach out to Harve De Grace MD Electricians.