By Meg Dehn

Does a new coat hold more value than a used coat?  Most of us would answer yes!

That question is often discussed about new homes.  Being a custom home builder, it is my job to sell our customers on the value of a new home.  

As we all know, technology continues to amaze us, hence the list of benefits in a new home is much longer than you may expect.  We’ll touch on just one significant area in this blog; safety.  We buy our homes for our families to live, love and grow in.  Therefore, safety is a key concern to all of us!  I asked Tim Jeske of Jeske Electric to give us some fundamental electrical safety features related to recent code changes.  Here is what Tim has to say:

 “If we are discussing this topic as it relates to the electrical systems in homes it is very apparent that homes constructed more recently have far more “built-in” safety features than those built in the past.   

As Codes change every several years, great efforts are made to help improve the structures that are built.  Most recently the State of Minnesota has adopted the NEC 2008.  In this code update there were multiple adjustments and/or new practices introduced that will greatly improve the “built-in” safety features that come with a newly built home.

GFCI protection has been expanded to include receptacles at any and all areas of the home that will be subject to possible water or moisture, i.e.: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Unfinished Basements, Garages, Exteriors, etc.  This means that if there is any shock hazard present at a receptacle in those areas, power will automatically be interrupted to the receptacle.

AFCI (Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter) protection has also been expanded to protect all electrical devices, fixtures, receptacles and the like within the home.  This means that should any circuit protected by one of these devices encounter an Arc-Fault, power will immediately be interrupted.  An Arc-Fault is created when there is an arcing/sparking of electricity within the circuit or within a device connected to the circuit, i.e.: frayed lamp cord, vacuum or other equipment with motors or electronics that create unacceptable “arc’s”, damaged wiring, etc.  

Tamper Resistant receptacles are just one more of the Life Safety devices that will be installed as a standard in your new home.  These are receptacles that will protect young children against the shock and electrocution hazard that may occur if an object is inserted into a receptacle.  The receptacles are manufactured so that the only way electricity can be used through them is if a normal plug with two or three properly working prongs is inserted in to the receptacle.  The following link will further describe the functionality of the receptacle:  http://www.cooperwiringdevices.com/pdf/TamperResistSS.pdf.