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Adjusting to life as a homeowner takes time. After all, you’ll need to master several aspects of upkeep first, including the home’s electrical system. To help you keep your house safe and your electricity functional, Berk Trade and Business School in Long Island City, NY, highlights a few common electrical mistakes new homeowners should work to avoid.

5 Electrical Mistakes to Avoid If You’re a New Homeowner

1. Overloading Outlets

electricalPlugging too many appliances into a single outlet can increase the risk of an electrical fire. This risk is increased if you’ve purchased an older home that wasn’t designed to support the power demands of modern households. To reduce this danger, plug each power-hungry piece of equipment into its own outlet.

2. Using Unstable Outlets

When outlets move around, there is a higher risk for wires to become loose and overheat, raising the potential for a fire. That’s why every new homeowner should physically inspect each outlet when moving in. Any loose casings should be screwed in properly and plastic spacer tools put in place to stabilize loose screws.

3. Choosing the Wrong Wattage

When high-wattage light bulbs are used in sockets that can’t handle the power, the bulbs can get extremely hot and potentially melt or damage the wires inside the fixture. You should always check your lamps and other fixtures for the maximum wattage they can support and never go above this limit.

4. Leaving Cables Exposed

According to the National Electrical Code, plastic-sheathed cables that run through walls or ceiling must be properly shielded from framing. When cables are left exposed, structural framing can damage them over time, resulting in a potential fire hazard. Preventing the problem is as simple as installing a small wood board along the cables to secure them in place and protect them from other materials.

5. Installing Electrical Boxes Incorrectly

The wires that connect to power outlets should be housed in an electrical box tucked behind the wall. However, if the box is installed too far back behind the outlet, it is more likely to move around and cause wires to spark. To avoid the problem, always install electrical boxes so that they sit flat against the backside of the wall and are tightly connected to the outlet.

Are you curious to find out how you can advance your electrical knowledge beyond the do-it-yourself level? Since 1940, Berk Trade and Business School has offered the comprehensive training programs necessary for students to embark on careers as electricians. To learn more about the trade school programs that this technical institute offers, visit the school online. To speak with an admission advisor, call (718) 729-0909.

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