The Most Common Electrical Code Violations in Homes Today


If you're an avid DIY'er, it is usually wise to skip your home's electrical requirements and have them handled by a qualified professional. Because you are a non-professional, you are probably not familiar enough with the National Electric Code, and the dangers involved are always substantial.

Here are the most typical electrical code violations found in homes nowadays, and how they can be rectified:

  • There should be a 1.25-inch clearance between the edge of a wood-framing member to any wire, so as to prevent drywall screws and long trim nails from sticking into the insulation, which can lead to a short. Hire the Code Violation Corrections Naperville IL experts through our site then.

> How to fix:

When wires pass through holes which are closer than 1.25 inches to the framing face, they have to be protected with nail plates, otherwise known as kickers. Multiple runs of wiring may be corralled with cheap cable stackers that keep the distance required by code.

  • With the increasing volume of data and security cabling installed in homes nowadays, several people run low-voltage and line voltage cables together, setting them up in common electrical boxes. You have to be thoroughly cautious with this, making sure you install only boxes which are rated for the two cables. As required by code, there must be a divider in the box to separate the cables. Line- and low voltage wire parallel runs bring interference in electronics and/or communication, like telephones and TVs. Also, if there is un-insulated contact between the two wires in a box, the equipment could be damaged or there could be fire.

> How to fix:

There should be a minimum distance of 6 inches between parallel runs, and low voltage and line voltage must never be brought together in one box. Use a box with an approved divider instead, or two different boxes.

> With too many outlets, switches, wires or outlets put into a single box, the heat produced could melt wire insulation, thereby posing another fire hazard. While uncommon, dimmers installed in the box may also melt..

> How to fix:

With a box too small, a bigger box and a plate known as a plaster can be used. This gives enough airspace in the box.

> Don't fit new fixtures directly on used wiring. Due to compatibility issues related to the operating temperatures, new fixtures can cause an overload of an older wiring system and lead to fire when installed improperly.. Newer light fixtures have 90?C wires, indicates that the wire inside the fixture is designed for safe operation up to 90?C. Older wires are designed for 60?C.

> How to fix:

A splice box and no less than 3 feet of new wiring has to connect a new light fixture to a circuit that was wired prior to 1987 (so the entire circuit need not be rewired). Insulation jackets that were made after 1987 come with a date of manufacture stamp, while those produced before 1987 have none. For more help, contact the Electrical Troubleshooting Naperville IL company from our site.

Create your website for free! This website was made with Webnode. Create your own for free today! Get started