Trusted Electricians in North Port, FL

Is Your Electrical Wiring Too Hot? New Study Finds Attic Temperatures Can Pose Serious Risk If you've ever been up in your attic on a sunny summer day, you know the meaning of hot. If you have a dark color roof on your house, the heat buildup in the attic can be unbearable. Well, pity your home's electrical wiring - it has to perform in this superheated environment day after day. The heat doesn't affect the copper conductors in the wiring. They can handle far higher temperatures than those found in attics. The problem is the plastic insulation and jacketing that surround the wires. These are usually rated to withstand up to 194°F, but temperatures that approach this limit are not recommended. Two factors combine to heat up the wire. The first is the heat in the surrounding, or ambient, air in the attic. Recent research carried out by the Copper Development Association has shown that ambient temperatures in attics can easily be 30° to 50°F higher than the outdoor temperature. Remember, the outdoor temperature that the weatherman quotes is measured in the shade. As if that weren't enough, consider the second factor - the electrical current running through the wires heats them up even more. The CDA research has shown that temperatures of open wires in attics can get perilously close to the 194°F limit. If the wires are buried in attic insulation, pass over light fixtures or, worst of all, are arranged in tight bundles, they get even hotter than if they're out in the open air.