It is one thing to have a Federal Pacific Electrical Service Panel, (FPE), but having it directly under the plumbing is not good. The electrical wiring in the home was replaced all but the electrical service panel. To top that off it was a Federal Pacific Electrical Service Panel. If you are going to replace the electrical system in your home make sure you also include the replacement of FPE service panels. Keep plumbing from being directly above the electrical service.
Aging homes in America has hit over 30 million. These residential home structures are assumed by their owners that everything will last forever. However, there is a rising risk of electrical fires in these aging homes if not maintained properly and often.
Electrical fires in the residential market tops at 24,000 with hundreds of deaths and over $700 million in damages according to the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA.
Non-code compliant installations are often the result of many fires. Installers are not following the National Electrical code and unqualified installers, (mainly homeowners), are undertaking the task of completing the work of what an electrician or electrical contractor would be doing. When it comes to older homes with outdated, over used and inadequate wiring mistakes become costly.
The UL estimates that as many as 30 million homes in the United States, almost a third of the countries homes, is more than half a century old. Even if these homes electrical systems are in good shape, the load demands that we put on them creates a bigger risk of fire.
Common causes of electrical fires in older homes are:
Unsafe installations, poorly done electrical repairs, worn out wiring devices, compromised over-current protection, misuse of extension cords and makeshift circuit extensions, thermally re-insulated walls and ceiling which wire is buried, overburden and inadequate electrical systems.
Call your local electrical contractor today. Ask them to complete a whole home electrical safety inspection to see where you stand with your electrical system. Many complete a 12 to 20 point inspection for free while they are at your home.
If the electrical contractor, electrician, finds code related issues or out of date areas then you can have them fix, repair or replace while they are there. If not now then make a game plan of what to do next and the biggest thing plan the WHEN it is going to get done. Many home owners have good intentions of doing the corrections or updating themselves. However doing and getting actually done are two different things.
Kidde/ FireX brand of smoke alarms are commonly used in the Northwest. The smoke alarm is reliable and easy to replace as they reach their replacement age. Kidde/ FireX have many options for smoke and fire safety products. Their mission is to provide solutions that protect people and property from the effects of fire and its related hazards.
If you are ready to replace your aged smoke alarms or installing them for the first time, look into the smoke alarms that have dual smoke and carbon monoxide protection. If you have no smoke alarms and are looking to install battery operated units look into their “wireless system”.
Remember, you need a smoke alarm in each bedroom, one on each floor level, one in the highest part of the home.
Section 250.94 of the National Electrical Code, NEC, is a new requirement for intersystem bonding termination. (Telephone, Cable television, Satellite Dishes, Antennas, Comcast boxes).
An external accessible intersystem bonding terminal for the grounding and bonding of your home communications system shall be provided at the service equipment and disconnecting means. This is a boring topic for most and overlooked by many that we thought we would pass it on.
If you are an electrical contractor or an electrician you have heard of Mike Holt or seen is writings in magazines, books or online. Holt is the National Electrical Code, NEC, expert. Holt has taken what can be boring, the NEC Code book, and turned into a very understandable and fun topic. His explanations and illustrations put the code into laymen terms.
Even if you are not in the electrical industry you can benefit from his work. You can get a quick education with visuals and clear explanations.
To learn more about him and what is has to offer visit: www.MikeHolt.com
It is apparent that many have lost their job in the electrical world. Many electricians are now acting as experienced business men and women. They are completing electrical work on the side. (No permits, not charging for tax, any license, bonding, and insurance). Some are not charging much less what a contractor would charge to do the same work. They are charging full price not paying out any of expenses that have been collected. It is not easy or cheap to keep the doors open for electrical business. For that matter any business. It puts us contractors in a bad spot. They know people have to put food on the table, however, so don’t the contractors all while they pay for everything that goes into running a legit business.
It comes down to this. As a home owner you have choices to make on how and who does the work in your home. Do you take the chance someone does the work on the side for less money, no permit or anything else that goes with the business to do it right? Do you take the chance and they do it correct and something goes wrong and have no one to go after? Or do you call an electrical contractor that has things set up for you and your family that gives you a piece of mind that the job is going to be done correct, safety, on time, and in budget as you planned when they started the project? The decision should be a no brainer and use a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor. It is unfortunate that many choose the money over personal safety for family and home.
Rumor has it that if you have an electrical fire and the insurance company finds out that there was no electrical permit pulled with no electrical inspection the claim can be denied. Wow, talk about taking risks.
If your friend, family member, or neighbor does electrical work for you and something goes wrong even when they did right, what are you going to do? This is a fast way to test any relationship.
The moral of the story is, think before hiring anyone to do work for you and your family. The cheapest person in town has many hidden factors that can cost you more in the long run. It is better to hire the correctly priced, licensed, bonded and insured contractor for the job.
The Mainstream GreenHome project, in Raleigh, North Carolina, has turned into a great case study for the world to see. One of the ways to be good to the environment is saving energy using lighting controls/ sensors. These devices can take the place of a standard switch. They turn on when someone is entering a room and off when no movement or someone has left the room. To prevent energy waste, an integral light sensor can be enabled on several of the auto-on sensors to hold lighting off when sufficient ambient light is present.
Watt Stoppers/ Legrand sensors do just that. Save you money, use less energy, and are good for the environment.
The Mainstream Greenhome project used the following products:
RS-250 Vacancy Sensor
RH-250 Multi-way Vacancy Sensor
RS-350 Dual Relay Vacancy Sensor
RD-200 Dimming Vacancy Sensor
RT-50 Time Switch
RT-100 Time Switch
Watt Stopper sensors and time switches control loads including fan motors and CFL’s, LED and incandescent lighting. (Note: there are only a few incandescent loads in the GreenHome project)
For more information on the Mainstream GreenHome Project visit: www.mainstreamgreenhome.com
Wireless switch technology is here.
A company that is thinking outside the electrical box is Leviton. Leviton now has self powered switch technology. This technology takes advantage of available ambient light to power the occupancy sensors and kinetic energy to power the remote switch. There is huge energy savings with this switching technology.
The best part of it all:
No wires = Less cable, less copper, less PVC.
No batteries= Less toxic chemical waste and less maintenance.
No limits= Unlimited flexibility, easy installation.
This product is Easy-to-Use!
Wireless switch technology is here.
Leviton now has self powered switch technology. This technology takes advantage of available ambient light to power the occupancy sensors and kinetic energy to power the remote switch. There is huge energy savings with this switching technology.
No wires = Less cable, less copper, less PVC.
No batteries= Less toxic chemical waste and less maintenance.
No limits= Unlimited flexibility, easy installation.
This product is Easy-to-Use! Visit www.leviton.com/wirelessOS
