Fixtures, Circuit Breakers & Wall Sockets

Having a home that functions well and provides us with a sense of convenience has always been the dream for a lot of people. A place where all your worries evaporate in an instant and all you’ll do is relax and spend quality time with your loved ones. But most people don’t realize that there are a lot of little components that are unseen to the naked eye and yet, they accomplish a lot of important feats for your household. Three of the residential components we’re talking about – electrical fixtures, circuit breakers, and wall sockets – are rarely mentioned but perform important tasks in your home. Let’s take a look and see what fits best in your house.

Electrical Fixtures

When it comes to electrical fixtures, there are a lot of choices out there that would fit your needs and style perfectly. Whether you’re the laid-back kind of guy or there’s an artist bursting from your every move, there’s a kind of lighting fixture that fits you to a tee. Here are some options to help you make the right decision.

Chandeliers

You might see these things more in a hotel or a fancy establishment but it doesn’t mean it would look out of place inside your home. That’s right folks, you can have a chandelier installed and it would look fantastic. That’s because this fixture improves the style and decoration of a room and provides a pleasing ambient light for illumination. At the end of the day, a chandelier would seriously make your home fancier.

Ceiling Lights

If a chandelier is out of your budget or far from your tastes, a ceiling light might be the one for your home. Basically, this kind of fixture is installed to your ceiling and it has a plastic or glass shade to cover the bulb. It provides ambient light without being too flashy or loud.

Wall Sconces

Although the norm for lighting fixtures is for them to be installed to a ceiling, sconces break that tradition by having them mounted on a wall. That’s right folks, wall sconces provide illumination to a room from a wall and it creates a moody, yet classy look that suits your preferences. If you’re looking for an option that’s far from the standard, wall sconces are the answer.

Wall Sockets

 Although they might seem normal inside a house, there are a couple of things you should know when it comes to wall sockets. Just like any other component inside a house, there are some considerations you have to think about when it comes to electrical sockets. Here are some:

Wall Condition

Basically, sockets are meant to be installed on walls. It just makes perfect sense to check on the wall first before installing sockets on them, right? That means you have to see if there are cracks in the wall or if there are insects infesting it. If you discover these problems, better have the wall repaired or get rid of the pests first before installing a socket.

Plastered Walls

Plastering walls can be such an arduous task and it damage wall sockets if you or your contractor don’t take the necessary steps first. When it comes to walls that are recently plastered, make sure you seal your sockets with gaskets. This act will prevent the dampness of the plaster from affecting your sockets and damaging them. Make sure you do this step first folks or else you’re gonna regret it in the end.

Always Get the Right Socket That Fits Your Style

When it comes to clothes, you never pair a neon pink shirt with green pants because it really looks bad. The same goes for your rooms and the wall sockets you install in them. Better choose a socket design that fits the style of a room so it would add to the overall improvement, not take away from it. These sockets come in all sizes and shapes and you’ll surely find one that fits the bill.

Circuit Breakers

Folks, no matter what happens, never ever forget that circuit breaker are more important than what you think. That’s because these little guys act as the final line of defense between you and a total electrical failure in your household. They are designed to hinder the flow of current if the demand for it becomes too much.

Think of it this way. If there are a lot of appliances plugged in and you turn them on all at once, chances are, your electrical wires won’t be able to handle the load and every electrical component will be damaged.

Furthermore, according to a case study conducted by FM Global, circuit breakers should be maintained preventively in order to prevent fires from starting. And so, to prevent that from happening, a circuit breaker must be always in good working condition. Here are two things that must be taken into account when it comes to circuit breakers.

Breaking Capacity

Just like your mother’s patience when you were a kid, a circuit breaker will eventually reach that point where it’s gonna give in after handling a heavy load of electrical current. That’s called the breaking capacity Folks. When choosing a circuity breaker, it’s always better if you choose one that can handle 10,000 amperes easily. It’s also good if it can handle way beyond that measurement but be ready for a replacement because it can sustain damage if it’s always exposed to that amount of current.

Service Life

Another thing you should heavily consider is a circuit breaker’s service life. This is the number of times it’s gonna trip, after handling lots of electrical current, before failing. Always remember, the more times it can trip before total failure is the better option.