When it comes to owning your own home, there are a bunch of things you’re going to need to learn. You may quickly find that hiring a contractor or handyman to do certain tasks can cost a pretty penny. So, why not figure out how to do simple home improvement projects on your own once you move in?
Do you know where your breakers are? Are they clearly labeled?
When you move into your own home, one of the first things you need to figure out is where your breaker box is. Once you find that out, make sure that you clearly label it so you know which breaker goes with what area in your home. Use a good permanent marker and write directly on the metal of the breaker box. Forget the paper and pencil – those can get torn down or erased!
As you label your circuit breaker switches, be as specific as possible. For example, don’t just put ‘living room’, as there could be several outlets in the same room but on different breakers. Instead, label each switch specifically, such as ‘window and north wall only’ or ‘fridge only’. You’ll be happy you did this later!
Remember, labeling your breaker box isn’t a one-man job. Have your spouse or a friend move through your house with an electric item, plugging it in. Communicate with a cell phone so that you know which breaker the plug corresponds to.
Jon Huser
