Upgrading an outdated electrical system in an old house is essential for safety reasons. Many older homes in Arlington Heights need wiring upgrades and more outlets installed by an electrician. Old outlets with only two slots of the same size should be replaced with grounded and polarized versions.
Grounding
Grounded outlets are designed for 3-prong plugs connected to devices with metal casings. Grounding provides a path for electrical currents to dissipate safely in case of a fault. That protects against electric shocks and the risk of electrical fires and helps keep equipment safe from power surges.
Considerations
Grounding doesn’t prevent blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers when too much power is used in one part of the home. For example, the breaker will most likely trip when someone is running an electric space heater and then turns on the microwave oven connected to the same circuit.
GFCI Outlets
Three-prong outlets also don’t prevent serious shocks that can occur when an electrical device is immersed in water. This risk is prevented by ground fault circuit interrupter outlets. The homeowners should have an electrician in Arlington Heights replace standard outlets in bathrooms with these versions.
Polarized Outlets
Polarized outlets have one larger slot to fit plugs with one larger prong. This design ensures proper polarity with electricity entering and exiting through the correct wires.
Avoiding Adapters
Adapters for old outlets are available in stores, but using them is generally inadvisable. These devices can lead to overheating, fuses blowing, and circuits tripping. They also increase the risk of shocks.
Information about CM Electric is provided at https://cmelectricil.com/.
