Overloaded Circuits

As modern homes use more appliances and more electricity than folks did even twenty years ago, if the number of circuits in a home has not been increased, it's likely that the home's electrical circuits are overloaded. With new technology, such as big screen TVs and computers, people tend to overuse a circuit by using plug strips with more items than the circuit was designed for.

Too often in an older home, especially one using a fuse panel, occupants are tempted to simply screw in a higher-amperage fuse to stop fuses from 'blowing". Over-fusing is dangerous; it risks setting the building on fire. Be sure that the amperage rating of your fuses or circuit breakers matches the wiring of each circuit.