When it comes to protecting your home and your family from electrical hazards, there’s really no better option than upgrading your old circuit breaker to a modern AFCI model.
However, while there’s no doubt that these devices are the peak of electrical safety, many homes still don’t have them, with most homeowners completely unaware that they even exist in the first place.
Regardless of whether your home already has an AFCI breaker or not, learning more about these essential safety devices could be the difference between keeping your home safe and potentially dealing with an electrical fire.
So, what is an AFCI breaker, how do they work, and how do you know if your home already has one? Let’s take a look.
What Is an AFCI Breaker?
You probably already have at least some understanding of what a standard circuit breaker is, so to keep things simple at first, an AFCI breaker is simply a circuit breaker that incorporates AFCI technology.
Here is where things start to get a bit complex. AFCI stands for Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter, and this technology is designed to aid in the prevention of electrical fires caused by arc faults, or electricity that essentially escapes due to damaged or loose electrical wiring.
This escaping electricity can produce a lot of heat, and because standard circuit breakers are unable to detect and stop arc faults when they happen, these faults can easily build up enough heat to ignite the insulation and wood around them.
AFCI circuit breakers, on the other hand, are incredibly effective at preventing these faults from getting out of hand, making them an essential upgrade for older homes that lack this technology and a legal requirement under the National Electrical Code for all new building construction.
How Does AFCI Protection Work?
Now you know that AFCI breakers help prevent electrical fires due to arc faults, but just how does that work?
Put simply, AFCI protection works by continuously monitoring electrical wave patterns of the current moving through your home’s electrical systems. Normally, this monitoring is completely unnoticeable, but if the AFCI breaker senses any electrical irregularities consistent with an arc fault, it instantly cuts off power to prevent any overheating that could potentially cause a fire.
This ability to instantly detect arc faults is a modern marvel of electrical engineering, providing an extra layer of protection that makes the homes of today infinitely safer than they were even just a few decades ago.
AFCI vs. GFCI: What’s the Difference?
GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, is another modern electrical safety feature common in almost every home around the country. However, because this term is so similar to AFCI, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to confuse the two.
All you need to know is that:
- AFCI protects homes against electrical fires due to arc faults.
- GCFI protects people from electric shock due to ground faults or contact with water.
In general, GFCI technology is really only necessary in areas of the home where high levels of moisture are common, like kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements, while AFCI is necessary to prevent electrical fires in every area of a home. Still, despite their differences, every modern home should be equipped with both of the modern features for complete safety from electrical hazards.
AFCI Breaker vs. AFCI Outlets
Another common point of confusion for many homeowners is the difference between an AFCI breaker and an AFCI outlet.
While the technology is the same, AFCI breakers provide complete protection to the entire circuit, from the electrical panel through all of the outlets it connects to. This all-encompassing protection goes far beyond that of AFCI outlets, which only protect connections downstream from where the AFCI outlet is installed.
In general, while AFCI outlets can be useful in very specific situations, AFCI breakers are much more important because they offer much broader protection for the whole home, unlike the outlets, which only protect a tiny fraction of a home’s electrical systems.
Why Your Home Needs AFCI Protection
If you want to keep your family safe and prevent your home from burning down due to a preventable electrical fire, you really have no other choice than to install an AFCI breaker.
Other than that, these breakers are a requirement to comply with the National Electric Code, and if you don’t have one already, installing one can provide modest increases in property value to old homes, while also reducing home insurance costs.
Common Causes of AFCI Breaker Tripping
If you experience AFCI breaker tripping, it may only be a sign that your breaker is functioning properly and shutting down arc faults any time they happen. However, frequent trips are not normal, and if you find that the power is shutting off more often, it could be a sign of:
- Damaged wiring
- Loose of faulty electrical connections
- Damaged appliance power cords
- Overloaded circuits
- Overly sensitive detection technology
Regardless of the specific reason for these frequent trips, if you notice them happening more often, you should contact a professional electrician for anelectrical risk inspection as soon as possible to prevent any potential damage.
How to Know if Your Home Has AFCIs
If you’re unsure whether your home has an AFCI breaker or not, the good news is that it’s usually pretty easy to find out.
Most AFCI breakers have some sort of AFCI label that indicates the presence of this technology, and if not, they also have a “test” button similar to the one you might find on a GFCI outlet. That being said, if you are still unsure, you can always call a professional electrician to come inspect your breaker and identify your current level of protection.
Contact New London Electric Today
Are you looking to improve the safety of your home with AFCI protection? Give us a call at 610-869-7325.
Our friendly team of local electrical experts is always here to answer questions and will happily tell you more about how we can help you update your home’s electrical systems with the modern safety features your family deserves. We’ll even offer you a free, no-obligation consultation and estimate so that you have all the information you need to make the best decision for your home.
Don’t push off your next electrical project any longer. Contact New London Electric and make your home safer and more efficient today!
