House Wiring and Home EMF Radiation

When we think about EMF in the home, we don't usually think in terms of house wiring, but in houses where the background EMF radiation is higher than usual, poorly executed house wiring is often the cause.

Of course, most people in the developed world have electricity in their houses, and that means wires and currents. If wiring is properly done, background levels of low frequency EMF should be quite low (less than 0.3mG), but there will usually be local hotspots substantially above this level.

What causes Home EMF Hotspots?

Home EMF hotspots arise close to items such as electricity meters (especially the older rotating disc kind) main distribution panels, fuse boxes, battery-based back-up power supplies and major wiring ducts. These hotspots generally extend for about 1.2 to 1.5 metres (4-5') from their source before their EMF radiation fades to background levels.

Other hotspots from installed electrical equipment such as florescent lights, light switches (particularly dimmer switches), heating panels, intercom base stations and air conditioning units usually have an even shorter range. Also see our Electrical Appliances page for further items which may be installed.

It helps to be aware of home EMF hotspots, so one can avoid spending large amounts of time snuggled up close to a hotspot source. Usually, moving your favourite chair or sliding a bed around a bit, is enough to solve the problem.

Don't forget that magnetic fields will pass through walls without any trouble, so if your hotspot source is close to an inside wall, pay attention to what is on the other side too.

Badly-wired houses create high home-EMF levels

So far we have been discussing proper house wiring. What does this mean and what happens when it isn't done correctly?

To keep home EMF values low, the live and neutral wire partners should be close to each other for the entire run of the wire. Ideally they would be touching each other (or their insulated sheaths should touch!)

Any gap between live and neutral will cause a magnetic field to be created in and around the gap, whenever alternating current flows through the wire.

An EMF-creating defect can be caused in a simple fashion whenever the live and neutral wires to a light or socket (for example) follow different routes.

It can also occur in more complex wiring situations, for example an incorrectly wired two-way lighting circuit (a light controlled by two switches).

Ring Wiring  

In some countries (but not all) it is legal to connect a series of electrical sockets in a wired "ring". A connection is made at two points of the ring (the "ends"), to the  same power source.

The live and neutral wires each have separate rings, and both wiring rings follow the same physical route. But live current can take the path to a socket from one end of the ring, while neutral current could return from the socket to the other end.

This creates the conditions for an extensive magnetic field.

The alternative to ring wiring is to use a branched or radial wiring circuit. In a radial circuit the live and neutral current to each socket can take only one path. Wiring "rings" can generally be converted to radial circuits without large expense, but this is a job for a qualified electrician.

Home EMF can be surprisingly extensive and strong.

In my kitchen, lighting is by several down-lights. it has been badly wired and creates a magnetic field of about 10 milligauss at head height, in most of the room. We don't use those lights until I get it fixed!

Another practice to be avoided is that of connecting an earth wire for the electrical system to the metal water pipes in the building. This would not normally cause a problem if no current was flowing through to earth, but if there is a fault in the system a large EMF can be created between the water pipes and electric wires in the building.

If you find one, do not just disconnect an earth wire from the pipes. It's doing a vital job. Call an electrician to make proper earthing arrangements, needed for your safety.

Checking for home EMF

Unless you have total confidence in your wireman, it's difficult to know for sure whether or not your house has been properly wired.

If you have any reason to doubt it, obtain a suitable EMF meter (also known as a gauss meter) to measure the magnetic component of the field.

An electric field meter can measure the electric field strength (50/60Hz).

When correcting faults, it's best to work with an electrician who is familiar with the EMF consequences of different wiring configurations.

Although we have been speaking of house wiring radiation or home emf, the same problems arise in all wired buildings, including schools and workplaces.

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House Wiring Radiation and Home EMF