Are you overtaxing your electrical system?

• Position: Home Safety - Brief Article

The rise in highly equipped home offices, combined with today's increased technologies, means houses are inundated with computers, entertainment systems, and appliances that have caused electricity use to soar. "In today's homes, it is common to see several computers, faxes, blow-dryers, large-screen televisions, DVD players, electronic game units, microwaves, and much more," notes Mike Kuhn, director of field services for HouseMaster, a national home inspection firm. "Unless the home has been specifically wired to deal with all of this electrical equipment, homeowners can be creating a fire hazard and putting their families in danger."

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 40,000 residential fires and $2,000,000,000 in personal property damage are directly attributed to problems with electrical wiring systems each year. "Many older homes have undersized electrical systems that result in a shortage of household circuits and outlets," Kuhn cautions. "As a result, people rely on extension cords, plugging in a variety of equipment into one circuit. This leads to blown fuses, flipped circuit breakers, sparks, and, quite possibly, fire."

The standard unit for measuring the strength of electricity is an ampere (amp), which is indicated by the thickness of the cable that supplies the home. If a home was built prior to 1960 and has never had an electrical upgrade, it may only have a 60-amp electrical system with one or two outlets in each room, which is inadequate by today's standards. Homes less than 40 years old most likely have the minimum standard for today's electrical systems--100 amps. "For example, a four-bedroom, two-bath house with gas heat and appliances would fare well at the lower limit of 100 amps," Kuhn states. "However, the same size home with electric oven/stove, central air, and electric clothes dryer would be better off with 150-200 amps, particularly if you throw in a computer, microwave, multiple television sets, and other electronics. Fortunately, new homes are often built with a 200-amp system."

The experts at HouseMaster offer the following warning signs and safety tips to help prevent fires related to inadequate electrical systems:

* Pay attention to flickering lights or warm...