There are numerous projects that can be accomplished by doing-it-yourself. Unfortunately, many do-it-yourselfers try to tackle electrical projects and end up violating electrical codes. Electrical codes are put in place for your safety and are constantly changing. For this reason, it is better to leave electrical fixes up to a certified electrician.

Sullivan Electrical Services Lists Common Electrical Code Violations

Overcrowded Electrical Boxes – Overcrowded boxes can be a source of an electrical fire. The National Electrical Code (NEC), has specifications as to how many wires belong in which boxes. If there are too many wires in a box it can overheat and be a real danger to your home.

Unprotected Electrical Wires – If wires aren’t properly protected in a wall or electrical conduit a certain distance from the floor they are hazardous. Wrapping a bunch of wires together and trying to secure them to a wall isn’t going to cut it. Junction boxes shouldn’t be very accessible either to avoid being accidently touched.

Fixtures Without Electrical Boxes – When lights are installed without an electrical box there is nowhere to contain any dangerous heat or sparks. This poses a great fire risk. The fixture needs to be disconnected, and electrical box installed and then reconnected to avoid risk of an electrical fire.

Extension Cords Used as Permanent Wiring – Extension cords are not meant to be a permanent fixture. If you have a mechanism like a garage door opener that is using an extension cord to plug it in, you need to have an outlet installed for a permanent solution. For appliances like an air conditioner or microwave, they need to be plugged directly into an outlet.

Wrong Wiring at Circuit Breaker – If the wrong sized wiring is used at a circuit breaker, there can be overheating and an electrical fire before the breaker has a chance to trip. If the wires are too large for the circuit breaker they are often times dangerously cut to fit which can cause problems as well.

Reversing Hot and Neutral Wires – A good way to detect a hot wire or a neutral wire, is to take note of the color of the wiring. Hot wires are black and neutral wires are white. The black or hot wire goes in the brass connection and the neutral, or white wire, goes in the silver connection. Getting these two mixed is called reversed polarity and can be a fire hazard.

Missing Outlet Covers – Outlet covers are put in place to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Each year almost 2,400 kids suffer from electrical shock. Having the proper outlet covers help to avoid this. Sometimes when your house is repainted or other work is done to the house, it requires the removal of these plates. Make sure they are promptly put back on to keep yourself and others safe.

Residential & Commercial Electrical Inspections, Emergency Wiring & Repairs, Fixture Installations, Upgrades & Replacement, Lighting Consultant & Preventive Maintenance Services in Lithonia & Metro Atlanta, GA & Surrounding Areas

The reason electrical codes were created at the beginning of the 20th century was to limit the risk of electrical fires. That is still their primary purpose. Having your home fall victim to an electrical fire can be devastating. This is why it is so important to make sure your home meets the NEC codes. Before you try and tackle an electrical issue in your home, call Sullivan Electric Services today and ensure the job is done right.