Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions we get around electrical terms, problems, and solutions.
When should I call an electrician?
It is time to contact an electrician if you keep changing fuses every now and then. When the room suddenly dims when your air conditioner is on and if your lights go on and off, it is better to call an electrician. Another tell-tale sign of an electrical problem is the smell of electricity burning. You should also call the electrician if you need to install extension cords for electrical devices.
What size of electrical service system should be installed in my home?
For most states, the minimum amp is 100 amps. However, with the boom of new electronic devices like electric heat and air conditioning, 200 amps will be most ideal. By doing this, you also give an allotment for future additional devices you will have in your home. If you think you can do it on your own, you probably got it wrong this job is not for the amateurs because it involves replacing the service loop and the main panel. These jobs need skills to be performed safely.
What are the common electrical acronyms and what do they stand for?
GFCI - Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
EMF- Electromagnetic Field
EV- Electric Volt
NEC- National Electric Code
MW- Megawatt
LF- Low Frequency
OCV- Open Circuit Voltage
EMF- Electromagnetic Field
EV- Electric Volt
NEC- National Electric Code
MW- Megawatt
LF- Low Frequency
OCV- Open Circuit Voltage
How much electrical work should I do on my own?
Doing your own electrical work is far different from doing your own flooring or wall painting. It involves electrical power. Meaning, there is risk involved in it. It can be dangerous to do it your own and it can even cost you your property or even your life. It might not be worth the money you save from not hiring a professional electrician to do your electrical work.
It takes lots of training before one can become an electrician and there is a good reason for it. Doing things that involve electricity should not be taken lightly. No matter how small or big the electrical job is, it should be handled with utmost caution. The best action to take when you have any electrical issues at home is to get a professional electrician. Further, in some states, homeowners may not be paid by his insurance if his work causes a fire or any damage. He will only get paid if a professional electrician did the electrical work. You should always check with your insurance company when you pull a permit. Most often than not, telling yourself that it is an easy job becomes the cause of accidents in your home. You may think that you can save money by not hiring an electrician but once you mess up with your do-it-yourself electrical work, you will need to use the service of a professional and realize that you have to spend double for the work you thought was easy.
It takes lots of training before one can become an electrician and there is a good reason for it. Doing things that involve electricity should not be taken lightly. No matter how small or big the electrical job is, it should be handled with utmost caution. The best action to take when you have any electrical issues at home is to get a professional electrician. Further, in some states, homeowners may not be paid by his insurance if his work causes a fire or any damage. He will only get paid if a professional electrician did the electrical work. You should always check with your insurance company when you pull a permit. Most often than not, telling yourself that it is an easy job becomes the cause of accidents in your home. You may think that you can save money by not hiring an electrician but once you mess up with your do-it-yourself electrical work, you will need to use the service of a professional and realize that you have to spend double for the work you thought was easy.
Which grade of electrical outlets should be installed in my home?
Homeowner grade, commercial grade, and hospital grade are the most common outlet grades available in the market. The homeowner grade is the most common and cheapest outlet being installed in homes. However, they are not durable and they usually just last for 5-10 years at the longest. You may need to install another outlet when the homeowner grade outlet wears out. If you choose to replace your homeowner grade outlet, the better option is the commercial grade. This is way more costly than the homeowner grade, almost 50% more expensive. This is a better option because it lasts for almost 100 years given the normal home conditions. Hospital grade is almost never used for home installation because they are too expensive and unnecessary. They are ideal for hospital use only because they are designed for medical facilities that should never fail such as breathing machines.
What is the half-circle-shaped hole on electrical outlets?
This is a vital addition to modern electrical outlets. These holes seek to ensure your safety. It is made to prevent a hot wire to be in contact with a neutral wire. This avoids the danger of starting a fire or electric shock. Older houses do not have this yet and need to be installed first.
What is tamper-resistant receptacle?
It is created for children's protection from burns and shock from poking metal objects into the outlet. National Electric Code requires this kind of electrical outlet to be installed in newly renovated or constructed homes beginning the year 2008.
What is a rotating electrical outlet used for?
A rotating outlet is designed for several devices to fit into the same receptacle at the same time. It allows the single plug-in to rotate as much as 360 degrees, allowing them to perfectly fit in.
Are there outlets especially designed for outdoor use?
Luckily, there are weather-resistant electrical receptacles available in the market. These products are tested for their ability to resist exposure to extreme weather condition such as intense cold or ultra-violet light. Outdoor lighting installation and repair should be left to a qualified professional.
How is a breaker panel different from an old fuse panel?
These two devices are created to turn off if there is an electrical overload. However, the fuse panel can only be used once and must be replaced in case of electrical overload whereas, breaker panel may be reset.
How to reset breakers?
The breaker should be turned off completely before turning it on. By doing this, you will be able to tell if they are tripped or not.
Can electrical switches help with home security?
Switches are a great help especially if one member of the family has physical limitations. You just have to click the Emergency Decorator Home Locator Switch in case of emergency.
What is a surge protector and is it necessary?
Local power stations and lightning are responsible for the creation of surges. Electricity can surge out to the residents from the power station. Basically, a surge protector protects your electrical devices from the sudden flood of electricity. Computers and televisions are mostly the devices that use surge protectors. You may consider installing surge protectors if you want your devices to perform more efficiently without worrying about replacing them too soon.
What does a humming noise from my panel mean?
A humming noise may mean that your breaker is defective. The breaker should be immediately replaced because it can pose a serious hazard to electrical materials.
Why is my breaker hot?
This may be a sign of overheating. This is a serious issue and should be replaced as soon as possible to avoid causing further damage.
The electric company would not turn on the power in the home I am buying. The power has been off for a year now. What action should I take?
You do not have to lose patience with your electric company because this is the regular process. Electric companies have regulations and standards about turning on electric that has been off for over a year. They will only be allowed to turn it on after a certified electrician evaluates it to make sure it is safe for use. The power has to be inspected before it can be turned on to ensure that there are no defects in the electric line. They have to make sure that no one will be put in danger if the power gets back on. An electrician should assess everything and do repairs if necessary. Once the electrician is done with the repairs, they should contact the third party to inspect the service. If it passed, the electric company will reconnect the electric and will be ready for use.
When is an electrical outlet not safe?
If the plug falls off the outlet and is not secured even without moving or touching it, then it is not safe. If you touch the outlet and it is hot, then you need to have it replaced immediately. Unplug the device before calling your electrical company because defective outlets like this can cause a fire.
Where can I plug a new refrigerator?
Unlike other devices that you can generally plug anywhere, refrigerators are better plugged in a separate circuit. Their amp draw is pretty extensive. Unlike many receptacles found in garages and kitchens, refrigerators should not be GFCI protected. If you separate a circuit for your refrigerator, you help protect your freezer from tripping or damaging what's inside it.
My fluorescent lights are flickering. What does it mean?
This may mean minor power fluctuation or the bulb might fail soon. It can also mean the bulb is improperly installed. Cycling on and off of bulbs can clearly mean ballast or bulb failure. When you replace the ballast, it is ideal for you to replace the bulb as well.
Can I change an existing switch to a dimmer switch?
Yes. The lights should be a match with the dimmer in your home. This is a job for your electrician to do. Not all bulbs will fit all dimmers. There are bulbs that are needed for certain dimmers. Incandescent, CFLs and LEDs are some bulbs that can be used for dimmers.
What part of my house should be GFCI protected?
Unfinished basements, kitchens, powder rooms, and bathrooms should be GFCI protected. It should also be installed anywhere outside your home.
What are the uses of the buttons on my GFCI outlet?
The test button should turn off the outlet and the other outlets connected to it when pushed. The other button functions as a reset button. It turns the power back on to the outlet and all others that are connected into the outlet.
How can I make my home safe if I currently have knob and tube wiring but have not enough funds to complete a whole-house rewire?
Basically, there are two ways to keep your family safe from the danger of knob and tube wiring. The first step is to have it inspected by an electric company. This is crucial because professionals can tell if an accident is waiting to happen because of knob and tube wiring. The electrician should tell you the present condition of the knob and tube wiring in your house. They can install a 15-amp arc fault circuit interrupter on the circuit where the knob and tube are placed. The arc fault breaker is created to help prevent fires from happening through early detection of an unintended electrical arc. It also disconnects the power before from it can even ignite a fire.
How is AFCI different conventional circuit breakers?
Conventional circuit breakers do not protect against arcing conditions because they only respond to overloads and short circuits. AFCI on the other hand, do not trip due to arcs because it is selective. It distinguished between unwanted and normal arcing conditions. Once it detects an unwanted arcing, its internal contacts open then de-energizes the circuit fire is put out even before it starts.
Does my house need to be rewired?
The best way to determine this is through house safety inspection. Knob and tube wiring is some wiring that can be considered as dangerous. Ungrounded system and BX wiring can also be hazardous. If these hazards are present in your home and they are in bad condition, rewiring may be the best thing to do.
What will happen to my house during a rewire?
If you are going to do it yourself, you might damage your home. That is why it is important to hire professional help when doing a re-wire in your home. Professional electricians know how to efficiently install the wires to avoid incurring damages. Also, they can preserve the structure of your home while they are taking care of the rewiring. This will save you money because you do not have to spend too much on repairs.
How long will it take to complete a rewire?
Typically, it takes a week to complete a rewiring project. Bigger homes may take a longer time, two weeks at the most, to be completed. During the entire process, you can still stay inside your home.
Why is half of my power out?
This may mean that half of the main breaker is damaged or tripped. The main breaker can be outside or at the top of the panel. It can also be because the panel needs to be replaced because of damage. If this is the case, you need to call the professionals immediately.
What is grounding? Is it important?
This is the wire with no insulation. This is designed as a safety precaution. It has zero electric potential and it can connect to an electrical box or a metal chassis. In any case, a high voltage wire comes in contact to it, the circuit breaker will trip. Further, it can refer to earth which provides zero potential for grounding rods that are buried in the ground.
What is an electrical short?
An electrical short happens when two wires that carry power cross. This can also happen when a ground touches an exposed wire. An electrical short can cause dangerous scenarios such as fire, damaged appliances, lighting, and electronics. It can also char outlets and electrical plugs. An extension cord that have exposed wires or damaged plugs should be replaced immediately. If you have any concerns with regard to electrical short, you should call the professionals right away.
Why is it important to have a licensed contractor do my electrical work?
For bigger construction projects, it is illegal to get the service of an unlicensed electrical contractor. It is important that the company has proper insurance and license to protect the clients.
What does it mean to upgrade my electrical service?
It means you are upgrading your electrical system to draw more power into your home. Older homes were installed with 60 to 100 amps of electrical service. However, at present, newly constructed or renovated homes have the addition of dishwashers, microwaves, oven, and flat-screen televisions that is why 60 to 100 amps is no longer enough to supply your home electronic requirements. If you upgrade your electrical service, you will bring sufficient power into your home, so you can use your modern devices.
Do I need to upgrade my electrical service?
There are a number of reasons why there might be a need for you to upgrade your electrical service. One reason would be if your home is 25 years old. This may mean that your electrical panel is obsolete. Some obsolete panels can be very costly to repair or replace. Also, there are some obsolete electrical panels that can be a serious fire hazard if not taken care of. Another good reason to upgrade your electrical service is to have enough electrical capacity to handle your modern devices.