Most residents give little thought to the function of their home’s electrical system. Instead, we just flip a switch and expect the lights to turn function. Most never think about all of the daily activities that require electricity to make our lives simple and far less labor-intensive. From cooking to washing clothes and cleaning the house, it all relies on proper electrical service. In addition, some of the tools and appliances that we all rely on require a massive amount of energy, making them what is often referred to as a high-power consumer. And many of these devices should be on a dedicated electrical circuit to provide added safety and protection to the other electronics and appliances in your home.
What Is A Dedicated Electrical Circuit?
A dedicated circuit is exactly what is sounds like. It is a complete electrical circuit that supplies power to only one item or device in your home. The circuit has its own breaker and is entirely separate from all other circuits in your house. A dedicated circuit is typically used for an item that draws large amounts of power and can create issues when it turns on by placing a significant drain on the power supply.
What Is The Risk Without A Dedicated Circuit?
In addition to being required by National Electric Code, the dedicated circuits are installed to protect you, your home, and your devise. The added labor and cost of installing separate or dedicated circuits pales in comparison to replacing a houseful of appliances and electronics because of a power spike or surge.
Without adequately installed dedicated circuits for appliances and other high electricity demand items, you could experience:
- Lights that flicker
- Breakers that trip frequently
- Increased potential for an electrical fire
- Damage or destruction of costly appliances
- Increased potential for electric shock
Which Appliances Need To Be On A Dedicated Circuit?
The easiest way to determine which appliances and features should be on a dedicated circuit is by their installation process. If the item is installed once and remains in place, it should usually have its own circuit. The preliminary list of items meeting these criteria include:
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- HVAC equipment
- Ovens, stoves, and ranges
- Water heaters
- Sump pumps
- Microwave ovens
- Big screen or plasma televisions
It is also essential to understand that there are some smaller, handheld devices and appliances that could benefit from a dedicated circuit. Some of these items include:
- Portable space heaters
- Window air conditioners
- Hairdryers
- Toaster ovens
- Toasters
Because the list of smaller items in your home that require a dedicated circuit can fluctuate, it is recommended that each room have a single general use dedicated circuit. These outlets could accommodate a seasonal window air conditioner, hairdryer, space heater, or your gorgeous holiday tree with thousands of tiny twinkling lights.
Don’t Learn A Costly Lesson
Many homeowners look at dedicated circuits as an added and unnecessary expense. However, if you ever face the daunting task of replacing electronics that were destroyed due to a lack of a dedicated circuit, you will change your tune. The cost of outfitting your entire home with dedicated circuits is undoubtedly less than you would spend to replace your damaged air conditioner, a home theater system, or all of the computers in the household. Dedicated circuits are like insurance. You buy them to protect yourself from costly mistakes.
Call (209) 396-4618 to learn more about dedicated circuits and how they can help protect your valuable electronics and devices. The licensed electricians at The Electrical Company provide free estimates for all requests, and a complete warranty backs our installations and repair work.
