How many circuits does your home require?
Circuits are required for every home. It’s necessary for outlets, for heavy appliances, and even your microwave. But what is a circuit, and how many does your house require? A circuit is an engineered, circular path that electricity takes to do the work it needs to do. All electronics and electrical applications work with circuits. Depending on certain variables, you may require multiple circuits in your home. Read on to learn more about how circuits work and when it may be necessary for you to upgrade your home circuitry.
What is a Dedicated Circuit?
A circuit works in a circular path: for instance, when you turn on light switches, electricity will flow into the closed circuit that sends power to your fixtures and produce light. A circuit always stops and starts in the same place.
A dedicated circuit can be set aside to power one specific appliance or piece of equipment. Dedicated circuits are required for all major appliances. Outlets are also on dedicated circuits because portable tools, hairdryers, and more need a lot of power.
How Many Circuits Should My Home Have?
Determining the number of circuits in your home depends on a few factors, including:
- The size of your home
- The limits of your breakers
- The number of appliances you use
- How many outlets your home needs
All of these factors can change, which means that your required number of circuits can also change. In general, the answer is that your home needs as many circuits as it takes. If your appliance has a switch, motor, or gets plugged in, it likely needs a circuit. Your electrician can determine precisely how many you need.
Signs You Need More Circuits
However, you will be able to notice when you need to add a circuit or two to your home. If you are experiencing flickering lights, shuttering appliances, frequent bulb burnout, or regular breaker flips, you should contact your electrician. They can then diagnose the problem and advise you on how many circuits you need to add or upgrade.
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