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Residential Electrical Codes

First and foremost, you need everything to fall in line with your local regulations. Every municipality puts specific requirements in place to keep homes safe and within compliance. Many places model their regulations from the NEC (National Electric Code), which is a reliable source of information. Still, it’s important to talk to a professional to learn about the regulations in your area because they can vary.

Main topics covered by electrical codes include:

• Installation procedures
• Outlet spacing
• Quality products

Outlet Spacing

Spacing requirements primarily prevent hazards from occurring while also ensuring that people have reasonable access to outlets in any room. Different rooms in the house have different requirements.

Living Areas

In general living areas, there should be an outlet on the wall every 6 feet (horizontally). Living areas refer to all large areas in your home, including the bedrooms, study, dining room, and hallways. Hallways over 10 feet long require at least one outlet. Walls less than 2 feet long do not require an outlet. In the bedroom, the biggest consideration will be convenience. If you can place outlets near the bed for lamps and electronic devices, you’ll be thankful for the convenience. Lights connected to his-and-her lamps or dimming switches can also be beneficial for a couple who sometimes reads before bed.

Bathrooms

In bathrooms, you need to install an outlet within 3 feet of the edge of the sink with the outlet above the counter if possible. This provides convenience and promotes safety.

Kitchens

In kitchens, the idea is to have an outlet every 2 feet. Outlets can’t be more than 4 feet apart along the walls and no more than 20 inches above the countertop.

Exceptions

There may be exceptions for people who require special accommodations or homes that don’t physically allow someone to safely adhere to the recommended spacing. A professional electrician can guide you through your local regulations.

Creative Outlet Placement

You probably think that your only option is to place electrical outlets in the wall, but you are wrong. You can place outlets in some sneaky locations that provide additional electrical coverage.

Here are some creative locations you may want to consider placing outlets:

• Floors
• Cabinets
• Islands

These options can improve the appearance of your walls by keeping the outlets out of sight, but they can be quite convenient, too!

Safety and Electrical Outlets

More important than convenience and appearance is safety. Professional electrical contractors can provide the following safety features to your outlets. In many cases, these safety items are required by the local building codes, but you can talk to your electrical contractor to clarify additional safety precautions that you want to put in place.

Amperage

Generally speaking, the circuit that each outlet in your home will service provide 15 or 20 amps. It is acceptable for 15-amp outlets to be installed on 20-amp circuits, but the power cannot go the opposite way. Placing a 20-amp outlet on a 15-amp circuit can lead to an over-surge of power and may result in shorting the circuit.

Tamper-Resistant Outlets

Tamper-resistant outlets are designed for child safety. A spring mechanism eliminates the worry of children or pets placing items into the outlet. These outlets are easily identified with a “TR” on the faceplate. Outlets behind large, stationary appliances (such as fridges or washing machines) and outlets higher than 5 feet 6 inches tall do not require tamper resistance.

GFCI Protection

GFCI (ground-fault interrupter) protection on outlets eliminates shock and the possible dangers associated with it. The biggest risk of electric shock comes from water coming into contact with the outlets. As we all know, electricity and water do not mix. GFCI protection absorbs the shock and cuts off power to the individual outlet to keep the home and everyone in it safe from electrocution and fire. Simply press the red button on the outlet to resume normal activity. Any outlet near a source of water or in a high-moisture location will require GFCI protection.

Common areas with moisture include:

• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry rooms
• Basements
• Garages
• Outdoors
• Pool/hot tub area

AFCI Protection

AFCI (arc-fault interrupter) protection on outlets eliminates danger from any arc faults. An arc fault refers to two wires sparking when they connect, and it generally occurs as a result of poor wiring or damage to the electrical system. The AFCI protection can be applied to individual outlets but is usually applied to the entire circuit. Similar to GFCI protection, when activated, AFCI protection will shut down the circuit. To regain normal power, you will need to flip the appropriate switch in the circuit breaker.

Technologically Advanced Options

We live in a world powered by technology, and this applies to your electrical outlets, too. Look into the following updated outlet options to truly bring your house into the new age. You’ll appreciate the convenience, and the outlets will also attract future homebuyers looking for a modern option.

USB Outlets

Many manufacturers provide an easy option for people to charge their devices with a USB cord. This is great if someone has their computer or an adapter handy. You can now eliminate the need for a computer or an adapter by installing outlets that have USB slots right there on the faceplate alongside the traditional three-prong outlet.

Bluetooth Outlets

Turn your home into a smart home by installing outlets with Bluetooth capability. These outlets will allow you to control the power of any device through your smartphone. Not sure if you turned your light off when you left for work? Just check your smartphone! You can turn the light off from wherever you are. This technology is also convenient when you are comfy in bed but need to turn the television off.

Wi-Fi Outlets

Technology keeps us more aware of personal utility usage than ever before. Wi-Fi outlets keep track of what items in your home use the most electricity so you can make conscious efforts to stay efficient. Many Wi-Fi outlets also give you the opportunity to automatically cut off certain devices when they have used a certain amount of energy.