Don’t Forget To Label Your Fuse Box

published Feb 17, 2010

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It doesn’t matter what you call it, fuse box, breaker box, circuit breaker box, all that matters is that it’s labeled. It doesn’t matter if you rent or own, when the power goes out, or diy projects are in progress, it’s best to be prepared.

We’ve spent many an hour yelling back and forth across the house while trying to find the right breaker to turn off, “How about now?” ….”No!”

Does that sound familiar? Try installing a light without knowing which power grid to take down, or finding out which fuse is blown in the bathroom, or bringing things back up one switch at a time if adverse weather takes your power out — it’s not easy if it isn’t labeled!

One of the first things we do upon moving into a new place is making sure the fuse box is labeled. It’s easier to know what’s what ahead of time, than guessing as we take down each switch one at a time (which usually results in having to reset every clock in the house) to find the right one!

It might seem like something super-far at the bottom of your to-do list, but once it’s done, you don’t have to worry about it ever again. If you keep a flashlight (with charged batteries) near your fusebox, you’ll be set for any adventure in electrical land! You can go all out with a label maker or use a marker on masking tape, but either way your efforts will eventually be rewarded.

(Image: flickr member Neil Horman, licensed for use under Creative Commons)