Electrical
You are responsible for replacing or repairing light bulbs, broken light
fixtures, switches and outlet covers after closing on your new home. Drafts from
electrical junction boxes on exterior walls are normal in new home
construction. Appliances and other electrical equipment connected
to the system at outlets are not considered part of the electrical
system.
When electrical outlets fail, it usually means that a circuit breaker
has been tripped. Frequent causes are overloading a circuit, short
circuits from worn appliance cords, defective plug connections, or
the “start-up load” of some electrical motors. The electrical wiring
and equipment in your new home are protected by circuit breakers
located in a main electrical panel. The circuit breakers are the safety
valves of your electrical system. Before calling an electrician, check
your circuit breaker panel. We recommend you locate this panel and
identify all circuits in writing on the panel soon after moving in and
before an emergency occurs.
To renew current, you will need to reset the circuit. If the home
is equipped with a circuit breaker system, a switch will have
automatically been thrown to the “off” position. In some cases, the
circuit breaker may not be in the “off” position because of the
manufacturer’s design. It will appear to the touch as if the switch is
loose. You should move the switch to the “off” position, then switch it back to “on.” If the same circuit fails repeatedly, it is essential to locate the cause. If it is the result of a short circuit, as opposed to an appliance overload, repairs should be made by an electrician.
Several circuits in your home have been equipped with a “Ground
Fault Circuit Interrupter” (“G.F.C.I.”). The purpose of the G.F.C.I. is to
provide special protection against possible electrical shocks. The
G.F.C.I. is a very sensitive device that can be “tripped” so that the
current is turned off at the outlet. Resetting the G.F.C.I. is very simple
and can be done right at the outlet. You should familiarize yourself
with this circuit and its operation. Repeated tripping of this circuit
does not necessarily indicate a problem.
Several receptacles in your home may be protected by arc fault
arrestors. The circuit breakers in the electrical panel will trip if any
interruption occurs at connection or in the line.
Do not handle cords or fuses or attempt to plug in appliances when
your hands are wet or if you are standing on a wet surface. Never
touch anything electrical when you are in a tub or shower.
Children should be taught not to touch electrical sockets or fixtures.
As a further precaution for small children, wall and baseboard outlets
can be covered with adhesive tape when not in use, or secondary
outlets can be attached with little expense or trouble. Specially
designed child-proof plastic electrical wall outlet covers are available
in hardware and electrical supply stores.