How to Shut Off the Electricity to a House

Often you have to shut off electricity to house in order to provide a safe working environment for various home repairs and maintenance work. Failing to do so properly can set you up for injury, death, or electrical fire.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Before you can shut off electricity to house you need to determine what type of electrical panel you have. Locate the main fuse box in the house. It is usually on the inside wall opposite the meter outside, or in the basement directly below the meter.

2. If you have a modern circuit breaker panel your fuse box will have several rows of switches with a large switch at the top. A large switch the top will be labeled "Main" or "Service". By flipping the switch to off you can shut off the electricity to a house.

3. If you have an older home it is possible that you have a screw in fuse panel box. If this is the case you should see a large plastic block labeled "Main". You shut off electricity to a house by pulling this block out. Be sure not to reach inside the hole.

4. You may also have a auxiliary panel which has a large arm on the side like a slot machine. This can be turned off by pulling the arm down to the off position.