ADVICE FROM THE FIELD

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are shock protection devices that we have come to appreciate since their introduction into the building code and local requirement in 1979.  GFCI protection is required on exterior, basement, kitchen countertop, laundry room, bathroom, and garage receptacles circuits.  Any electrical receptacle within six feet of water, such as a fountain, or any light within 20 feet of a swimming pool, must be protected by GFCI. They operate by measuring the current passing from the hot to the neutral through any protected receptacle, and if the current varies by 3-5 milliamps then the breaker stops the power in less than 1/20th of a second.  

The inventor of the GFCI was Charles Dalziel, a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at US Berkeley.  It is reported that to sell his invention to investors, he put his daughter into a tub full of water and threw in a toaster plugged into a GFCI protected outlet.  The GFCI worked and today is a required safety device in every new home.  You can recognize the circuit breaker, installed at the beginning of the circuit, by the test and reset buttons on the receptacle. Lightning and power surges can damage these breakers and they should be tested on a monthly basis, and replaced when they quit working properly.

Another electrical safety device has been invented recently, and has been required installation on bedroom circuits since 2003. It is called an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker. This safety electrical circuit breaker is located in the main electrical service panel and is designed to stop power to the bedroom circuits if an arc is detected in the circuit that would start a fire.  This breaker has a test button on it, but if you find it tripped, don't simply reset the breaker, because you will be restarting the fire.  Call your electrician if you find this arc fault tripped.  The funny thing is, this arc fault protection is required by the 2009 International Residential Code for the whole house. Unfortunately, it has not yet been invented to service the entire house! 

 Inspection Specialists

GIVE YOURSELF A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. LET US DO AN ALLERGY SCREENING FOR YOU TODAY

One in five people 

have allergies 

  EVERYTHING HOLIDAY CHEESE BALL

Makes 1 large or 2 medium

2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1  8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup dairy sour cream

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1  2-ounce jar diced pimento

2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish

10 slices bacon crisp-cooked, drained & crumbled

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Dash salt

Dash pepper

1/4 cup snipped parsley or 1 Tablespoon dry parsley

1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

Assorted crackers