Code Violations Connections: Major Electrical Code Violations In Homes Explained By An <strong>Electrician</strong> | <strong>Grapevine, TX</strong>

Code Violations Connections: Major Electrical Code Violations In Homes Explained By An Electrician | Grapevine, TX

Every homeowner desires to keep their home safe from electrical hazards or accidents that can lead to severe effects. One of the best ways to prevent electric shocks, fires, and deaths is to comply with the national electrical code (NEC) that the state, local, or federal governments enforce.

Adhering to NEC and other electrical state requirements can save you from hefty penalties.

Failing to adhere to the codes is a violation that can lead to severe repercussions, such as property destruction and loss of life, that you should avoid at all costs.

Hiring an unqualified electrician can also lead to code violations, exposing your home and family to danger. This blog lists some common code violations that electrical professionals pinpoint and avoid to promote safety.

Not Having Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

The GFCI outlet protects homeowners from electrical shocks. According to statistics for OSHA, about 400 individuals are electrocuted at home annually, leading to about 2000 deaths. Since they also detect ground defaults, they can minimize the fire risk. The GFCI outlets are essential, mostly in cases where the electrical current is close to the water.

Apart from being an essential preventive tool against fires and shocks, the law requires homeowners to install GFCI in wet areas, including kitchens, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and outdoors.

Failure to install one in your residential property violates the NEC GFCI requirements, exposing your family to the risk of electric shocks and electrocutions. An experienced electrical expert will insist on installing the circuit breaker in the required parts of your house.

Disorganized Electrical Panel

Organizing your electrical panel can save you a lot of time during a crisis. You know which part of your home is serviced by which circuit breaker is essential during an emergency.

Most people are not aware that panels not labeled violate the NEC standards that advocate for safety.

It is time for an electrical contractor in Grapevine, TX to install and organize the electrical panel to avoid electrical hazards.

Pairing New Light and Old Wires

As a building owner, you would love to upgrade your home with new energy-saving fixtures. Although this advancement would be an excellent addition to your home, pairing new lights and old wires is an electrical code violation that can cause an electrical hazard in your home. This is because of the temperature difference between the new light and the old wires.

Out-of-date wiring takes up to 60 degrees of heat. In comparison, new lighting generates up to 90 degrees of heat, making them incompatible. If you live in an old house with wires dated back to before 1987, you should have an expert fix the issue.

The hired electrician should correct the violations by installing the latest wiring to meet the electrical needs of the new lights.

Illegal Splicing

When two wires or more are connected, the joint formed is referred to as a splice. Splicing allows the spliced wires to carry current. DIY splicing tasks violate electrical codes because of the danger you expose yourself and your family to.

It is wise to leave all the electrical projects, repairs, replacements, and installation to a professional electrician trained to work with cables and wires safely.

The experts minimize the probability of electrical fires by putting the spliced wires in a junction box. Homeowners should hire an electrician for splicing to avoid violating this code and for maximized electrical safety.

Nails and Screws Going Through Electrical Components

According to the National Electrical Code, nails and screws should be used correctly during the installation of electrical components. For instance, the correct use of nails and screws when installing electrical parts is on the back or one side to avoid electrical code violations.

Running them in an electrical box with unprotected wires and insulation breaches the electrical safety codes because it increases the possibility of accidents.

Therefore, it is best to have a certified electrician who understands the importance of protecting insulations and wires to prevent violations when using nails and screws through the electrical box.

Non-IC Canister Light Getting into Contact with Insulation

Your non-IC canister lighting must not get into contact with the insulation. This is because if the two get into contact, they can result in a fire.

You can easily fix this violation by checking your attic and making the necessary changes or even seeking assistance from an electrical company near you.

Knob and Tube Wiring

Knob and tube wiring is an old electrical wiring popular in older homes. It was initially installed in homes in the 20th century, but other safer choices have since replaced it. Knob and tube wiring cannot handle the power requirements of modern devices.

Like the other violations, it puts your home at risk of electrical fires because its ungrounded nature leads to electrical accidents. An electrician from a reputable electrical company can fix the issue by removing all knobs and tube wiring in your home and replacing them with advanced legit options.

Wiring Switches Without a Neutral Wire

Another electrical code violation common in some homes today is the lack of a neutral wire in outlets, receptacles, and switches.

The code requires that all wiring switches have a neutral wire to accommodate future uses. An electrician in Grapevine, TX can help you check if your outlets have a neutral wire.

Insufficient Receptacles

These electrical code violations are most common in older homes. Some homeowners turn to power strips when they lack sufficient receptacles for their modern appliances, putting them at risk of electrical fires and accidents.

The NEC requirements indicate that the receptacle’s outlet should be within reach of a six-foot appliance cord. Homeowners with cords above 6.1 between receptacles violate the NEC code. To avoid such cases of having longer than required electrical cords, you should get help from an electrician when buying appliances and other electrical accessories.

Contact Buffalo Electric Today

If your home’s electrical connections are not up to date, a professional electrician from Buffalo Electric in Grapevine, TX can conduct inspections and identify any code violations.

We are an electric company offering electrical safety services, including electrical upgrades, generator repairs, wiring and rewiring, and panel replacement. Don’t hesitate to call Buffalo Electric.

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