Electrical

Ceiling Fans

Apart from the decorative function in the home, the ceiling fan can also help support heating and air conditioning systems on less energy than a 100-watt light bulb. By setting the fan blades to run clockwise or upward in the winter, the fan draws the air up through the blades across the ceiling and back down the walls. Setting the blades down or counter-clockwise in the summer, will cause a "wind chill" effect that will circulate the air around the room. Use a fan in just about every room to eliminate odors, save energy and money, even repel insects.

What to look for in a fan: quality cast iron motor housings, pull chain switches, reversible motors and precision-pitched blades that maximize movement of air while minimizing noise. Standard mounting kits are available for ceilings as low as 8 feet. Ceiling-hugger models can be used on 7 - 6-foot ceilings, but they pose more of a safety risk.

When shopping for a ceiling fan here's how to determine what size you will need:

42-In. ceiling fan is ideal for a room with 144 sq. ft. (approx. 12 x 12 ft.).
44-In. ceiling fan is ideal for a room with 225 sq. ft. (approx. 15 x 15 ft.).
52-In. ceiling fan is ideal for a room with 400 sq. ft. (approx. 20 x 20 ft.).
If your room is larger than 20 x 20 ft., think about getting two fans.

Extension Cords

When purchasing extension cords make sure that you get the right size for the job. There are outdoor and indoor household types as well as commercial cords with heavier gauges, higher amp ratings and extra flexibility.
Indoor cords come with two-wires in lengths up to 15'. Heavy-duty cords come in lengths up to 100' and are used for outdoor lighting, appliances and power tools. They come in 16/3, 14/3, and 12/3 wire.

The first number states the gauge of the wire. In general, the more power needed (i.e. the higher the amp rating) by the appliance or tool, the thicker the cord should be, which translates to a lower number. Also, the longer the cord the thicker the gauge is required.
The second number indicates how many wires are in the cordset. The number 3 indicates that the cordset has a grounding wire.
COLORS
Extension cords come in various colors. Typical household extension cords are white, beige or brown. Power tool cords are usually orange. And outdoor cords that resist moisture and damage by sunlight are green.
PLUGS
Standard cords use plugs that stick out a few inches from the wall. This may not be a problem unless you wish to have a piece of furniture flush against the wall and there is a plug in the way. So some household cords have flat plugs which protrude less than an inch from the wall.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)

Quickly put, a GFCI detects grounding problems and shuts electricity off to prevent a possible accident. They are very sensitive to even the slightest variation of current running through them. If this variation is detected, a breaker is tripped and the power is shut to the outlet. Even with proper wiring and fusing, variations commonly occur in kitchens and bathrooms because of the current's proximty to moisture. Since ground faults are so serious and can cause damage and fire, the National Electric Code requires all new homes to have GFCIs installed in kitchens, bathrooms, workrooms, basements, garages, exterior outlets and especially near swimming pools. It is also suggested that if you own an older home that does not have GFCIs, you should install them for the safety of your family and home.

Surge Protectors

With the increasing use of electronics in the home and office, surge protectors are becoming a must for everyone. There are basically two different types of suppressors: one that plugs directly into the wall outlet; the other is for the whole house and it mounts directly at the service panel to protect against lightening damage.

Surge protectors are graded on Joules, which is the number set to the clamping ability of the device to stop a surge spike. The higher the Joule number, the greater the protection - look for 1900 or higher. Clamping voltage is the point it shuts down and a lower number is better. Good ones are 330 or less. It is important to remember to purchase for your specific needs, be it a surge protector with regular outlets or transformer outlets which are spaced further apart than normal.

Switches

There are a few different types of switches that can be installed in the home. A single-pole switch is the simplest and most commonly used switch, controlling current on one circuit from one point. Two terminal screws are needed for this type of switch. The double-pole switch needs four terminal screws and controls two circuits from one point. Three-way switch controls one circuit from two separate points (i.e. the light in the garage can be turned on/off from the house or inside the garage). A four-way switch is used when you have three-way switches that control one circuit from three or more points.

Dimmer switches control the amount of current in a lighting circuit and allows you to control the light capacity by using the toggle or dial on the switch. Dimmers come in single-pole or three-way construction. If two three-way switches are involved, only one of them can be a dimmer for the settings to work correctly. However, some toggle dimmers can operate with two three-way switches being used. The switch is available with push on-off dial, rotary full-range, a toggle switch or by touch.