Today we have come to expect more from our homes than ever before, and many older home electrical systems, and some newer ones, are simply being overburdened. Fortunately, many of the dangers associated with these systems
can be prevented simply by upgrading your home’s electrical panel.
As we continue to expect more from our electrical systems, home improvements and repairs will be essential.
If you own an older home, it is particularly important for you to take an active role in understanding the condition of your current electrical system; its capacity, limitations, and potential hazards.
Facts and Statistics
Each year, hundreds of people in the United States are critically injured and electrocuted as a result of electrical fires and accidents in their own homes.
- Fire departments responded to 414,000 home fires in the United States in 2007. These fires caused 2,895 civilian fatalities, 14,000 injuries, and $7.5 billion in property damage (NFPA).
- Home electrical fires account for an estimated 53,000 fires each year, causing more than 500 deaths, 1,400 injuries, and $1.4 billion in property damage.
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-half of the homes in the United States were built before 1973.
- Electrical arcing is the source of ignition in more than 37,000 fires annually, causing hundreds injuries and deaths as well as $750 in direct property damage (NFPA).
- Every year, nearly 2,400 children are injured by inserting objects such as keys or hairpins into electrical outlets – an average of seven children per day.
- Electrical fires caused by aging wiring; misuse of surge suppressors and extension cords; and electrocution caused by power lines, wiring systems and large appliances are the top electrical safety hazards.
- The average life span of a home in the U.S. is increasing. At the same time, average monthly consumption of energy has increased from 830 kWh in 1993 to 920 kWh in 2006.
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Your Home's Electrical Panel
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Electrical Safety Devices
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Electrical Safety Check-Up
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