The quality of your electrical system directly impacts the value, comfort, and safety of your home. It’s important to be able to trust it because of all the time you spend inside your home and even more important for those times you are away. Here are some tips you can use as a homeowner to improve your residential wiring and avoid costly and dangerous mishaps.

1 Start with the basics. If you purchased a classic home built before the 60’s, make sure the fuse box has been replaced with a circuit panel. Either way, if you’re frequently resetting breakers or replacing fuses, your problem lies in the circuitry.

2 Don’t get ahead of yourself. If your lights flicker or you can’t turn on the coffee pot and the microwave at the same time, your circuits won’t accommodate air conditioning in the garage or changing the dryer from gas to electric.

3 Plan your work and work the plan. If you need electrical service to improve the safety and functionality of your home, hiring a professional can maximize the benefit of the expense. With a good electrical system to expand on, your electrical projects in the future will be simpler and less costly.

4 Look to the future. As your family grows, all your cell phones, tablets, laptops, and family computers all need a place to call home, too. New home electrical products like receptacles with built in USB chargers are available for modern families to enjoy.

5 Location, location, location. Kitchens, bathrooms, and patios require a higher safety standard. GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) protect you if the flat iron or electric leaf blower you are using trips the circuit.

6 The DIY channel is no substitute for real know-how. Those guys on TV cannot teach you enough in one season, let alone one episode, to ensure you are properly doing electrical repairs. Your work can have serious repercussions. If you think an electrician is expensive, try rebuilding your home.

And speaking of expensive… Be aware of the conditions of your homeowner’s policy. If you or an unlicensed, uninsured worker take on an electrical repair or modification and a mistake results in damage or a loss, it may not be covered by your insurance.

When you’re not sure what your home needs, contact us on our website or call Gary Houston Electric at (501) 375-8330 for a free estimate. Customer satisfaction is our second priority; keeping your family safe and happy in your home is our first priority.