Circuit Breaker are important because normal circuit breaker serves as a guard so that the flow of current does not get too much and short circuits do not happen. But while they can home in on problems such as an arc fault, not so much. An arc fault is a rare occurrence where electricity jumps from one wire to another, or even from a wire into something like metal. This can in turn create a spark. This spark can ignite things near it such as wood, paper or clothes which is extremely dangerous!
So what exactly does this have to do with you and why is it something that should be thought about when it comes to putting those AFCI breakers in your home? In addition to the EXTREMELY critical function of preventing fires, there are some solid (or creative) reasons why you would want to have them installed.
For starters, AFCI breakers greatly increase the safety of your home. And who knows how many other fire hazards are lurking in your electrical system, like unsecure wires or ancient outlets and circuits. If you had an AFCI breaker that is one question you would not be forced to continue asking yourself, and the answer could help life feel a little less dangerous.
Now this is another really good reason to have AFCI breakers, they could save you money. Sure, when you are installing these breakers for the first time it might seem like a little expensive. But just imagine how much money can save on not having your home burnt to ashes almost instantly! In addition, there are insurance providers who give discounts to houses having AFCI protection so it may not cost as much to install.
The other thing this will do is it can catch ground faults as well with an AFCI breaker. Ground faults occur when electricity escapes the circuit and goes into the ground. This can be extremely perilous if not taken seriously as it could result in fatal electrocution or even harm to your electrical equipment. AFCI breakers detect and stop these faults to keep you, your family, & expensive devices safe.
For starters, not every electrical circuit in your home requires AFCI protection. Making use of AFCI is not all, as the National Electrical Code requires other places areas within a home to have them such circuit breakers are also required in locations like dining rooms, living rooms or bedrooms. If in doubt, speak with a licensed electrician who can help you identify which circuits within your home will benefit from AFCI protection.
Installing AFCI breakers is also a little more complicated than just putting in regular circuit breakers. Yes, the cabling must be done properly and you have to locate your breakers appropriately. To keep everything safe and so it is all done just right, you will want to call in a professional electrician for the installation.