4 Receptacles That Will Transform Your Home’s Safety and Style

Your home’s electrical system, especially the receptacles, keeps your family safe and your home running smoothly. Staying up-to-date with modern codes and upgrading receptacles is essential. This is important whether you’re renovating, aging in place, or making home improvements.

 

 

Why Are Tamper Resistant Receptacles Essential for Home Safety?

---

Tamper-resistant receptacles (TR for short) are a critical upgrade in the electrical safety for your home. The built-in shutters stop foreign objects, like keys or small toys, from entering the slots.

 

Did You Know? According to code all receptacles in homes must be tamper-resistant.

 

 

This is especially important for my wife and me, with a toddler who’s getting into the curious phase of getting into everything and a baby on the way! We want to keep them safe and these receptacles will do that, as they stop accidental shocks and burns.

Tamper-resistant receptacles are code. The NEC (National Electric Code) in the US and Canadian Electrical Code requires that all new and remodelled homes install tamper-resistant outlets. That means every single outlet, from bedrooms to kitchens to bathrooms has to be TR (tamper-resistant).

 

RELATED

Baby Electrical Safety Tips – How To Baby Proof Everything Electrical

5 Safety Measures To Baby Proof Your Home

 

What are GFCI Receptacles and Why You Need Them 

---

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) receptacles are one of the most important receptacles you can have in your home. Manufacturers design these devices to keep you safe from electrical shocks. They also help prevent fires caused by ground faults.

This is especially important in places where water and electricity can mix. You must install GCFI receptacles in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages, basements, and outdoor areas. You need GFCI protection anywhere moisture or water can touch electricity.

 

 

Electricity and water don’t mix. GCFI can detect the smallest electrical imbalances and shut off the circuit in a fraction of a second. This feature prevents injury, like shocks, or burns, protecting you and your property.

EATON GFCI tamper-resistant receptacles are safe, smart, and tough. The UL-listed safety shutters keep little fingers out, and self-testing ensures constant protection. Indicator lights tell you if the receptacle has tripped or needs replacing, while the large test/reset buttons are easy to use.

 

 

READ MORE:

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters GFCI

How To Prevent Electrical Fires At Home

 

Slim GFCI Receptacles: A Space-Saving Solution for Modern Homes

Eaton has also introduced a super slim GFCI that is designed for quick installation, and easier to use. The new tamper-resistant shutter makes it easier to insert plugs. The wider buttons help with testing and resetting and LED lights indicate any issues.

 

 

How Surge Protector Receptacles Protect Your Home

---

Did you know you can get surge protection in an outlet? According to experts, 80% of surges originate from inside a building.

Eaton’s point-of-use receptacles with surge protection keep sensitive electronic equipment safe. They offer protection that panel-mounted surge systems cannot provide. This provides extra protection for expensive equipment, like gaming and entertainment systems, and servers. It protects any device that plugs into an outlet and could suffer damage from a power surge.

These receptacles protect at the source, saving you potentially hundreds of dollars of equipment replacement if damaged. Eaton’s new TR surge receptacles come with diagnostic features like LED indicators. This helps to confirm your surge protection and grounding are working.

 

 

Some receptacles even have audible alarms to let you know when the surge protection has expired! That’s a lifesaver, especially important with plug-in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors!

 

RELATED:

What are Surge Protectors and Why Are They Important

 

Surge Protector Receptacles vs. Whole Home Surge Protection: What’s the Difference? 

We trust the products from Eaton, and we almost always add a surge protector to any electrical upgrade we do. Why? Because it makes sense.

This device offers surge protection for your whole home. You can install it at any breaker box or load center, and it protects all the circuits in your home. It also helps extend the life of your electronics. This is especially useful if you live in an area with frequent power surges.

 

 

However, not every surge protector can handle significant voltage spikes. The basic ones will manage minor fluctuations, but if you push them too hard with higher voltage, they will fail.

Get a good quality one that can handle the higher voltage. They will cost a bit more but they are definitely worth it.

 

Smart Receptacles for a Safe, Smart Home

---

As we adapt to smart technology in our daily lives so should our homes. Smart receptacles help with hands-free lighting, charging phones and laptops, and improving outdoor power management. Making our lives easier and giving us peace of mind.

 

RELATED

A Complete Guide To Building A Smart Home

Your Safe, Smart Home: Protecting Yourself from Hacks

 

Smart Outdoor Wi-Fi Receptacles

Eaton smart outdoor receptacles make it easy to control your outdoor lights and decorations. Plus they save energy and add convenience. You can remotely manage your landscape lights, fountain lights, and even holiday decorations. These are great alternatives to smart plugs as they don’t take up any space.

With the Eaton Bright layer Home App or voice commands, you can control your lights, set timers, and turn them on/off from your phone. This can save you money and increase efficiency.

And here’s what I like the most: these builders designed these receptacles to last. They are durable and weather-resistant, designed to stand up to rain, snow, ice, moisture, humidity and dust. Make sure you install it properly with a weather-protective cover for extra safety and reliability.

 

 

USB Receptacles

Eaton’s USB charging receptacles are a game-changer. They let you charge devices fast, easily and efficiently – right from a standard outlet. No need for bulky adapters or changing bricks cluttering up your space.

These receptacles are perfect for home offices, bedrooms, kitchen islands/homework stations. They can charge your electronic devices —from smartphones, tablets and even laptops.

 

 

USB receptacles come in a variety of models including USB-A & C ports. They are also available as combination receptacles with standard outlets.

Plus, the Power (60 watts) Delivery receptacles with USB-C can charge your laptops, tablets and phones fast —without the need for an adapter. Ideal for a home office, charging station or near a nightstand in a bedroom.

 

Nightlight Receptacles: Safety and Convenience in One

Nightlight receptacles provide added safety and functionality. They have a built-in light for dark hallways, bathrooms or kids’ bedrooms. 

 

 

The beauty of these receptacles is you can customize the light temperature to suit your preferences —choose between cool, neutral and warm. Believe it or not my dad and I have different preferences, he prefers the cool light, whereas I prefer the warm light.

Plus, the built-in sensor and LED nightlight automatically switch ON when it’s dark and OFF when there’s light. The receptacle also self-tests to ensure the GFCI protection is functioning correctly. The tamper-resistant feature provides extra safety by preventing curious hands from inserting objects into the outlet.

The design of the receptacles includes visual indicators. This means if the outlet trips or reaches the end of its life, you’ll know right away. This is a smart and practical solution for your home, perfect for high-use areas like bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms.

Eaton also has a GFCI receptacle with a nightlight built-in. These are great for combining safety and convenience and are ideal for bathrooms, laundry rooms or bathrooms. It makes nighttime navigation safe and easy for everyone, including young kids and older adults.

 

 

The Dangers of DIY Receptacle Installation: Why You Need a Pro 

---

Even though homeowners and contractors can install electrical, we always recommend hiring a licensed electrical contractor or licensed electrician. Why?

1. a)   You want to ensure the work is done properly and to code
2. b) Eaton trains licensed contractors in all Eaton products. They stay updated on the latest technology. This is important as electrical systems become more automated.
3. c)   Electrical is complicated and dangerous. A simple mistake can be hazardous – it’s not worth the risk. Do it right the first time.

 

 

How To Find a Licensed Electrician In Your Area

Finding the right electrician is important, and working with someone who has ties to a trusted manufacturer can make all the difference. For example, Eaton partners with a network of certified electricians who are specially trained on their products, ensuring quality and expertise.

Eaton’s Certified Contractor Network (ECCN) simplifies the process of finding a reliable electrician. This nationwide program in the US is designed for residential electrical service and renovation contractors. 

ECCN members are trained in Eaton’s latest products, local codes, and installation methods, so you can trust their expertise. Eaton has already done the legwork for you, making it easy to find and hire a licensed professional you can count on.

If you live in the USA, check out Eaton’s Certified Contractor Network (ECCN) to find a licensed electrician in your area.

 

 

RELATED

THE DANGER OF DIY ELECTRICAL WORK

How to Find a Licensed Electrician For Your Electrical Work

 

As a contractor, I’m always looking to learn more about electrical products and safety. This is a fascinating trade and one day, I might even go back to school to become a professional. For now, I rely on the experts to ensure that they complete my renovation projects safely and to code.

I also love working with companies like Eaton. They support their products and make constant improvements. This helps meet the changing electrical needs of our world while ensuring safety.

When doing any electrical repairs or upgrades on your home always hire a licensed electrician or electrical contractor. Make sure they are qualified to work in your area. They should invest in training and stay updated on the latest electrical products, codes, and regulation changes. Do this and you will keep your home and family safe for years to come.

 

*Disclaimer: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links. 

 

 

RELATED:

How To Choose An EV Charger For Your Home

Mike Holmes’ Top 5 Biggest Electrical Fails

Home Electrical Basics – How A Home Electrical System Works

Top Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Electrical Panel

Related Articles