Your Home’s Nerve Center

The electrical system is a hidden key to high performance

From time to time, people in the building business will compare the parts of a house to a living body. For example, a home’s structural frame may be described as a skeletal system, comparing the home’s framing to the bones of a body. Likewise, siding and roofing may be called a home’s skin.

One of the most important components of a body is its nervous system, and the same goes for a house. If you think about your brain and spinal cord and all the nerve endings that branch from it, you can see how it might compare to the layout and function of a modern electrical system.

As with the human body, this central system is key to making the whole structure perform all its functions. It is also a system that operates unseen, literally behind the walls. This invisibility may breed a certain amount of neglect and obscure whether the electrical system is working optimally.

As your builder, we are on call through the warranty period to troubleshoot and explain the particulars of your home’s electrical system. During this time we can help you gain an understanding of your home’s inner workings, before you take charge of the maintenance. Here are some things to consider.

Modern electrical systems work from a centralized panel of circuits, with each circuit corresponding to a particular function, such as lights, electrical outlets, appliances, and other devices. Each device or function requires a certain amount of electricity to operate properly and safely. It is the electrician’s job to determine how much “load” or need there will be in a given house and then design and install a panel of circuits (or perhaps more than one) to provide enough electrical capacity.

A wire may run from a circuit (what was once called a fuse) to a single appliance, such as an oven or refrigerator. Another wire may run to an outlet, from which it is “daisy chained” or strung to several other outlets, switches, or devices—such as light fixtures or ceiling fans—that will draw from the same circuit.

More recently, high-voltage electrical systems are often supplemented with low-voltage wiring schemes. These systems, also called structured or advanced systems, are characterized by Category 5 (Cat 5) conduits. This type of wiring uses electricity more efficiently to provide power to consumer electronics such as programmable thermostats, A/V equipment, internet connections, central vacuum systems, and security devices.

To allow more electronics and ensure flexibility of their location in the house, each wire is run back to a dedicated circuit at a central panel; this is called a “home run” scheme. This kind of system supports quick and easy upgrades, helping to future-proof the house as technologies evolve.

Modern residential electrical systems require professional skill to design and install. Our licensed electricians are the best people to ensure the health of the home’s “nervous system”—that is, its safety, performance, and durability. During construction, we will be happy to schedule a walk-through of the electrical system (before it gets covered up) to give you the full picture of how the systems in your home operate for best performance.