Avoid Overloading Electrical Circuits

Outside lights brighten your home for the holidays. But be sure not to overload your circuits, or you could light your house with flames.

Don’t plug outdoor lights into standard household outlets! These outlets are generally not powerful enough for the lights, causing an unnecessary and dangerous strain on your electrical system. Consider installing a heavier line with a separate circuit specifically for the lights.

The fuse is an electrical safety valve. If too much current passes through a fuse, a wire inside melts and stops the flow of current. When a fuse blows, it means danger. The line has either been overloaded, or there's a break in the wires along the line in an appliance cord, a switch or inside the wall.

If you’re blowing fuses repeatedly, don't just keep replacing them. Call in an electrician to check for overloading.

Never over fuse – for example, don’t replace a 15-amp fuse with a 30-amp fuse to try to meet an added power demand. Because 20- and 30-amp fuses are more powerful, people think they’re adding more power; but really, the wiring is incapable of handling the additional demand.

Almost all the fuses in your fuse box should be 15-amp. If there's a 20- or 30-amp fuse in there, don't automatically replace it with the same amp fuse when it blows. The previous homeowner may have replaced a 15-amp fuse with a 30-amp way back when and never corrected the mistake.

A dryer might take a 30-amp fuse and a stove a 40-amp, but these are usually cartridge fuses, not the screw-in types. All others should be 15-amps.

Also, never use a higher-wattage bulb than the maximum indicated on the fixture.

Plug appliances – your refrigerator, microwave, kettle or frying pan – directly into the wall, never into an extension cord. When you're renovating your electrical system, putting up major new lighting, or adding extra appliances to your circuits, have your local power company or inspection authority check the work and your circuitry.

Does your house have the right receptacles for your aluminum wiring?

Houses with aluminum wiring are generally safe. The main area of concern is at connectors and receptacles. When aluminum wiring was first being installed, the same receptacles and connectors were used as for copper wire, but this does not work. The connections can become loose and overheat, possibly causing a fire. Any receptacles, switches or connectors should clearly show they’re suitable for aluminum wire. Consult an electrician if you have any doubts.

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