A tripped circuit breaker is one of the most common issues in a house. It can happen for many reasons, including failure to upgrade to a more reliable fuse box.

When a circuit breaker fails, your whole house can be left, and it can be really inconvenient for your entire family. The good news is, solving the issue is not as hard as you imagine.

What to do when your circuit breaker trips
When a circuit gets overloaded from a surge of energy coming from an outlet with too much current or a lightning strike, the best thing to do is to turn the circuit off. Getting the power back on is not that hard at all. Follow these three simple steps to get the power back:

1. Turn off all appliances affected by the power outage. For some cases, such as a TV that doesn't have a manual "off" switch, you should unplug them. Once the circuit breaker is reset, it is best that no electronics are drawing from it to avoid further damage. The surge of power can harm your computer, TV, and fans that is why keep them safe by unplugging them.
2. Look for the circuit box and find the breaker that is turned off. Typically, circuit breakers turn to a red or orange color when they are in off position.
3. Turn the breaker from off to on. You can turn on all the appliances you turned off or unplugged in step 1. This usually does the trick, but if your breaker keeps tripping, then it is time to call Dayton Electric to help you handle the situation.

Does your circuit breaker keep tripping
If you have done everything in your ability, but the circuit breaker still keeps tripping, there must be a serious reason that needs to be addressed immediately. This is usually caused by overusing and the usual wear and tear. If this is the case, installing may be the best way to resolve the problem.

The following are the most common reasons why your circuit breaker keeps tripping:

• Short circuit- This is something prevalent, yet dangerous reasons for tripping circuit breakers. Short circuits happen when there is an overload of current flowing through the circuit. Due to the heat, the circuit breaker automatically turns off to prevent an electrical fire.
• Overloaded circuit- If your electrical system can't handle the amps flowing through the circuit, it can damage appliances and start a fire.
• Ground fault- If a hot wire and bare ground touch the metal box where they're in. A ground fault can happen. It pushes more electricity through the circuit that it can hold which causes repeated circuit breaker tripping. A ground fault typically leads to a burned outlet.

When you need expert help when your circuit breaker keeps tripping, don't hesitate to call Dayton Electric. We conduct electrical safety inspections to help you determine the safety of your electrical items and wirings at home. You can rely on our electrical service and be confident the job is done fast and safe.

Most homes, especially the modern ones are overwhelmed with various appliances, electrical tools, and fixtures. We need these devices every day, and we heavily depend on them in most of our activities. However, we sometimes forget that like anything in our home, these electrical tools and devices should be maintained to function safely and correctly. To make sure they are in top condition, professional electricians need to inspect them using the standards set by NEC electrical code, as well as their training.

If a professional electrician comes to your home and inspects your house, would it pass the inspection?

The Most Common Electrical Home Defects
The standard set for home electrical inspection is high and strict. If you haven't had your home checked for five or ten years, there is a good chance that an update is necessary. We have listed some of the most common faults and reasons for an inspection failure:

• Not up-to-date or failing smoke and fire detectors
• Modern or new appliances or devices installed into older wiring systems
• Lack of GFCIs in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, home exteriors, or any areas in your home that can be exposed to water
• Not using dedicated outlets for major appliances
• Outdated and wrong-sized wiring
• Pull-chain lights instead of wall switches
• Knob and tube wiring present
• Wire overcrowding, or wiring in contact with insulation or other wires

Do you think that's a lot? These are just some of the many electrical safety requirements you need to meet. Although they may sound frustrating, keep in mind that they are meant to keep your home safe.

Signs That an Inspections is in Order
With a lot to check, it would be hard for you to handle everything. Some areas would be challenging for you to reach, and if you can, we still suggest that you don't, just because it is too risky. We strongly recommend hiring a professional inspector to the task to ensure safety and accuracy.
When is it time to have an inspection? These are some signs you need to get in touch with an electrician:

• It's been a while - for a commercial property, it is ideal that inspections be performed every five years, while for residential properties, it should be ten. However, with the fast-moving change in technology, we suggest homes be inspected more often to keep up with the change.
• Flickering lights - are lights flickering in your home all the time? This could be a tell-tale sign your wiring is old and outdated and needs to be inspected right away.
• Breakers trip all the time - breaker trips could mean a lot of things, but one thing is for sure, this is a good reason for an inspection or an electrical repair. It can be very annoying and a hassle at the same time, so the earlier you have it inspected, the sooner it gets fixed.
• Some outlets don't work - do you have outlets that don't supply power when you plug something? Yes, they are annoying, and they are a sign of an electrical issue in your house

Across the United States, nearly 4,500 people are hurt and more than 500 die each year from electrical accidents.. Plus an additional percentage die in electrical fires.  As a result,  there is over $1.7B in property damage every year due to these electrical accidents. Could these injuries and accidents be avoided?  When it comes to safety with electricity, what you do not know can kill or hurt you.

GFCI means for ground fault circuit interrupter.  A GFCI outlet is required by electrical code in any area with a heightened risk of shock due to electrical dangers, such as H2O. In order to safeguard you from electrical dangers, a GFCI assesses electrical current, shutting off the electrical circuit when it senses an electrical imbalance, which is electrical current flowing in an undesired path. Envision GFCI as a very sensitive but small circuit breaker designed into the outlet itself to safeguard you from electrical shock.  This is even the case with outlets that are ungrounded. GFCI outlets are required by code for these areas:

• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Garages
• Wet bars
• Utility rooms and laundry
• Unfinished basements and crawlspaces
• Exteriors
• Pool and hot tub areas

Note: Do not use GFCI outlets with freezers, refrigerators, or other appliances.  They could trip without you knowledge causing food spoilage.

AFCI outlet is the acronym for arc-fault circuit interrupters, which protect you from electrical hazards but in a different way.  AFCIs protect you by creating heat via arcing. An example would be a mouse chewing into a wire, hitting a nail into a wire, or equipment overheating that is plugged into the outlet. AFCIs sense this electrical arcing and shut down electrical outlets before damage can happen. However, AFCIs are not built into wall receptacles like GFCIs but are instead built into your business or home's main electrical service panel in the form of unique circuit breakers. AFCIs are required by code in:

• Any sleeping area: dens, etc.
• Kitchens
• Bedrooms
• Laundry rooms

​If you have an older business or home electrical codes don't require GFCI and AFCI  outlets, prudent home safety should. Normal outlets and circuit breakers are built to protect the structure's electrical system, but not human lives. Given these modern devices being so inexpensive and easy to install, why would you not want to safeguard yourself and family members from the electrical hazards?

​New electrical code updates pertaining to these devices that you may not be aware of:
As of 2015, the National Electric Code (NEC), the nation’s singular source for safe electrical installation codes, has bolstered the following standards for the protection of your business or home:

GFCI protection for laundry rooms
All 125v, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere outlets installed in laundry rooms now require the protection of GFCI, regardless if a sink is present or not.  

GFCI protection for dishwashers
As dishwashers get older, the risk of electrocution increases, therefore the newest requirement for GFCI on all dishwashers has been established, regardless if they are hardwired or use an outlet. 

AFCI protection for  laundry and kitchen areas
As of 2015, NEC has most recently included laundry and kitchen areas to the list of areas mandating AFCI safeguards. This includes all 120-v, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying current not to just electrical outlets but also to the devices located in these areas,

Concerned about how unsafe you business or home may be from electrical issues?   Do not risk these dangers by ignoring the requirement for these life-saving yet inexpensive improvements to your home or business's electrical system.  Contact Dayton Electric today.