Depending on who you are and where you live, you’ll generally pay at least a few hundred dollars on electricity each month. As such, electricity is always a common talking point when buying or maintaining a home.
But how does home electricity actually work? What goes into powering your home’s lights, ovens, and other appliances?
That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out how your home electrical system actually works.
How Does Electricity Work?
It can be hard to grasp the idea of home electricity since it’s effectively invisible yet it travels all around the house. Assuming you’re paying a public utility service, electricity generally travels through their lines.
Think of electricity here like how water flows into your home. It needs pressure from the water company or well to carry it into your house.
Electricity is much the same concept, except you replace pressure with voltage. This voltage is provided and regulated by your power company, and allows electricity to flow in and around your home.
This powers all of your lights and appliances, while any unused electricity goes back to the entry point and back to the grid.
So Where Does It Come From?
Saying things like “power company” and “utility services” might feel confusing. In terms of where the power directly comes from, you can find the source at your local power station.
These stations are connected to the national grid, and supply high voltage at a low current. Generally speaking, electricity here travels at an alternate current. This means getting from one source to another is safer.
Home Electrical Systems: Fuses or Consumer Units
Depending on when your home was built, you might either find a consumer unit or an older fuse box on the back or sides of your house. While there are some stark differences, the objective is the same.
They each have main on and off switches, as well as circuit breakers or trip switches to protect from any overload. Fuse wires can burn out and melt if they’re overcharged.
It goes without saying, but working with electricity for your home can be extremely dangerous. This begs the question: should I DIY it?
Calling an Electrician
Unless you yourself are a seasoned electrician, we’d recommend you call a professional instead.
Sure, you might be able to go to your circuit breaker and figure out a few things without any danger. However, if your home electrical system is having some serious issues, it’s going to warrant a more experienced set of hands.
Electrical contractors like B & R Electric are the ones for the job here. Their years of experience and expertise are worth the time and money. When compared to the potential of injury or blowing out your entire home’s electricity, hiring an electrician is definitely the way to go.
Leveraging the Right Home Electrical Services
Home electrical systems can be tricky, especially when they act up or become expensive to maintain. Use this article to help you understand how they work so you know exactly what to do when dealing with electrical issues in your home.
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