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Even if you don’t have children living in your home, The National Fire Prevention Association still recommends installing tamper-resistant outlets when you’re replacing your existing outlets. 

Not only is your home likely to change hands at some point, but you may have young children over as guests. Making the switch even if you don’t currently have children living with you at the moment will help protect any future pint-sized visitors to your home.

While it’s not mandatory unless you’re purchasing a home, it is important to schedule regular home electrical inspections for safety and to maintain your house’s value. Inspections can reduce fire risk and can help save money on insurance premiums. They can also catch problems before they start, saving money on repairs down the line.

Window ACs use 500 to 1,400 watts per hour of electricity, while mini-splits use 500 to 700 watts per hour. However, if you need to cool multiple zones in your house, your mini-split can use as much as 2,000 watts per hour. How often you run your system will impact how much electricity you use (and how much you pay per month).

The most common type of electrical outlet is a 3-prong outlet, which has two flat blades (one is wider than the other) and a round grounding pin. Older homes typically have 2-prong outlets that aren’t as safe as more modern options and are generally not up to current electrical codes.  Other outlets you can find in your home include 20A, 125 volt varieties for larger appliances like refrigerators or washing machines. 

There are also GFCI outlets, which protect against electrical shock in wet areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens, and arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) outlets, which protect against electrical fires caused by arcing.