Electric Panel Repair and Replacement

Your home’s electrical panel (also known as the breaker box) is one of the most important things in your home. Its main purpose is to circulate electricity throughout your home. Your breaker box can get old and run inefficiently. It’s tough for older panels to keep up with the higher demands for power by newer technology. Common residential homes may have panels that are incapable of handling newer technology. Homes with 100 amp panels are frequently upgraded to 150 amp or 200 amp panels that are built to handle those newer demands of electronics. If you have a breaker box that is inadequate then you can cause an overloaded circuit. That can be a major safety hazard to you and your family. Your electrical panel may show signs that it’s time to upgrade, such as tripping, strong odor, dimming or flickering lights, and rust or corrosion. If you notice these signs or anything unusual, act immediately. Call a licensed electrician to help today.

GFCI Fixtures

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter), is an outlet that can prevent electrical shock in wet locations such as bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor areas. Having a GFCI can help prevent electric shock and house fires caused by electrical outlets. GFCIs turn off an electric power circuit when it senses a current flowing along an unintended path, such as through water or a person. Once the problem is fixed then you can reset the GFCI by pressing the “reset” button.

Once you have GFCI outlets in your home, you should test them monthly. Press the “test” button next to the “reset” button. If the power does not cut off then the GFCI is not working properly. If this is the case you should have it replaced. You’re relying on it to protect you and your family so make sure it’s working properly.

Outdoor Lighting Installation & Landscape Lighting

Outdoor landscape lighting can be a huge improvement to your home or garden. Not only is landscape lighting visually appealing but it can also help make your home safer. Well-lit homes can intimidate potential criminals and stop them from targeting your home. Once your landscape lighting is set up, make sure you do your part in helping maintain it. Keep fixtures free of debris and leaves to help prevent them from overheating. Remember to replace your burned out bulbs as quickly as possible. You can always consult with an electrician to help you in making your home beautiful and safe with landscape lighting, and to help with outdoor lighting installation.

Home Electrical Safety Tips Checklist

Electricity is one of the most necessary and convenient things in your home. But if you don’t follow some safety measures it can become very dangerous. Many home fires and electrocutions can be prevented by following some safety guidelines.

Follow these safety tips to help keep you and your family safe:

• Don’t cover up extension cords with carpet
• Only use extension cords when you need them. They are not made for permanent use
• Change cords immediately if you see any damage
• If you experience an electrical fire use a fire extinguisher to put it out. Never use water
• Schedule annual inspections by licensed electricians
• Unplug appliances that emit sparks
• Use tamper-proof receptacles to protect children and adults from shocks

We hope these tips help keep you and your family safe.

Surge Suppressors (aka Surge Protectors)

Power Surges can cause devastating damage to your home and electronics. Surge suppressors can help prevent that damage. A power surge is a spike in the electrical current in your home. It can be caused by wiring that has been done incorrectly, utility problems and lightning. Surge suppressors (also known as surge protectors) only allow the electricity your home needs and prevents over-voltages. This protects your home and all your connected electronics. Home surge suppressors protect your home from much more damage than a typical power strip suppressors. By adding home surge protection you can protect your home and electronics from commonly occurring power surges.

Ceiling Fans & Ceiling Fan Installation

Before purchasing or installing a ceiling fan, you should know which one is right for your home. First, you should figure out the size of the ceiling fan. If you’re installing a fan in a small room (8’ x 10’) then a 30 inch fan is best. 42 inch ceiling fans should be installed in medium sized rooms (12’ x 12’) and large rooms (18’ x 20’) should have about a 52 inch ceiling fan. For safety reasons, you should never install a fan right above a bed. Your ceiling fan blades should be at least 8 inches from the ceiling, 8 to 9 feet off the floors and at least 18 inches from the wall. You can always consult with a licensed electrician before installing a ceiling fan.

Rewiring a House

A lot of the wiring inside of homes can be decades old and many newer homes are built with cheaper grade wiring to reduce costs. This means that the wiring may not be able to handle the electrical demands of today’s products. Many house fires are caused by electrical problems. Rewiring can help prevent many of these problems.

These warning sings can let you know that it might be time to do some rewiring:

• Circuit breakers frequently trip
• Aluminum wiring. This wiring can become loose and create a major fire risk
• Feeling a slight vibration, buzz or shock when turning on appliances
• Flickering or dimming lights when running an appliance such as a vacuum
• Electrical outlets are loose
• Your home is over 40 years old
• Outlets give a burning smell

If you notice any of these signs in your home, or anything unusual, call a licensed electrician. Make sure you fix these issues before they cause any damage to your family or your home.

LED Lighting Installation

LED lighting has become incredibly popular. LED lights look more appealing, operate at a lower cost and have about a 25 times greater lifespan than other bulbs. LED bulbs tend to be a little more expensive upfront. However, their longevity, quality and energy efficiency make LED lights the superior choice in the long run. One of the many benefits of LED bulbs is that they don’t burn out. They slowly start to lose the ability to produce light and start to change colors. However, this does not happen until about 20 years of normal use. LED bulbs are a “directional” light source. This means that they point light in one specific direction, instead of all directions like incandescent bulbs. This makes LED bulbs a lot more energy efficient. LED lights also emit a lot less heat than traditional light bulbs. These lights will help your home look great and keep your wallet happy in the long run!

Smoke Detectors & CO (Carbon Monoxide) Detectors

Your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are critical to your family’s safety. Your home should have many smoke and CO detectors. There should be a smoke detector in every bedroom and one at the top of each stairwell in your house. The best place to have CO detectors are by sleeping areas but keep them at least 10 feet away from the stove to avoid any false alarms. When a smoke or CO detector goes off make sure to immediately leave your home and go outside. Call the fire department and only go back inside once they tell you it’s safe to do so. You should test your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries annually to keep them operating correctly. You should replace your CO detectors every 5-7 years and replace your smoke detectors every 10 years.