Serving Williamson and Northern Maury Counties
Call us at 615-595-6001
Home Maintenance: Perform these maintenance items for a safer electrical system:
Surge Protectors
Where They Are: You will typically find surge protectors (Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors-TVSS's) as plug strips that you plug your audio/visual equipment or computers into. They may also be in the form of a receptacle. You may also have a whole-house surge protector somewhere near your meter or main breaker panel.
What They Do: When an electrical surge or "spike" in voltage occurs, the TVSS "siphons off" the excess voltage and sends it to the ground wire, protecting your sensitive electronic equipment. By their nature, surge protectors degrade each time they protect your equipment from harmful electrical surges. They do not last forever!
How To Check Them: Look for an LED light labeled "Protecting". If this light is not lit, the TVSS is no longer protecting (even though it still is powering your equipment). If your surge protector has another LED light for "Ground", make sure it is also lit. If the TVSS is not grounded, it cannot protect. If your plug strip doesn't have at least the "Protecting" LED, replace it with one that does.
How Often To Check: Once per month
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Receptacles
Where They Are: These devices will usually be found in kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outside close to doors.
What They Do: A GFCI is a safety device designed to minimize an electrical shock. In a simplified explanation, GFCI's meter the power going out on the "hot" wire and compare it to the power returning on the "neutral" wire. If any power is missing (such as a person getting shocked), it trips, cutting off power to the circuit or corded appliance. Note: GFCI receptacles do not trip due to overloading a circuit. Note: If properly wired, a GFCI will protect the rest of the circuit "downstream" from the GFCI.
How To Check Them: Each GFCI receptacle has a "Test" button. Press this button. The "Reset" button should pop out, indicating the GFCI has tripped correctly. If the reset button doen not pop out, or if you cannot reset the GFCI with the "Reset" button, the GFCI receptacle needs to be replaced.
How Often To Check: Once per month
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Circuit Breakers
Where They Are: If you have them, these devices will be found in a breaker panel (load center). They will have a colored "Test" button on them.
What They Do: A GFCI is a safety device designed to minimize an electrical shock. In a simplified explanation, GFCI's meter the power going out on the "hot" wire and compare it to the power returning on the "neutral" wire. If any power is missing (such as a person getting shocked), it trips, cutting off power to the circuit.
How To Check Them: Each GFCI circuit breaker has a "Test" button. Press this button. The handle on the circuit breaker should move slightly to the "off" position (the breaker will now be "tripped"). To reset the GFCI circuit breaker, push the handle to the full "off" position, then back to the "on" position. If the circuit breaker handle does not move when the test button is pressed, or if you cannot get the handle back in the "on" position, the GFCI circuit breaker needs to be replaced.
How Often To Check: Once per month
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) Circuit Breakers
Where They Are: If you have them, these devices will be found in a breaker panel (load center). They will have a colored "Test" button on them.
What They Do: An AFCI is a safety device designed to minimize fires due to damaged or poorly installed wiring. In a simplified explanation, AFCI's monitor the circuit for a telltale "noise" caused by an arcing or sparking at a bad connection or damageed wire. When it senses an arc, it trips, cutting off power to the circuit.
How To Check Them: Each AFCI circuit breaker has a "Test" button. Press this button. The handle on the circuit breaker should move slightly to the "off" position (the breaker will now be "tripped"). To reset the AFCI circuit breaker, push the handle to the full "off" position, then back to the "on" position. If the circuit breaker handle does not move when the test button is pressed, or if you cannot get the handle back in the "on" position, the AFCI circuit breaker needs to be replaced.
How Often To Check: Once per month
Once Each Month:
Twice Each Year:
Open the door on your breaker panel(s) and feel the breakers. If any feel hot or warmer than the others, call me!
Once Each Year:
Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Check Fire Extinguishers
