Category: Electricians

Electrical Safety Inspection

An electrical safety inspection of your area home can bring you peace of mind. Knowing that your home’s electrical grid is set up safely and operating properly helps prevent the risk of injury to family members or damage to possession or property.

The licensed electricians at Electrical offer thorough, convenient and cost-effective residential electrical inspections for homeowners. If we locate an electrical problem with the home’s wiring or a specific electrical device being used, we can recommend and quickly make any needed repairs to improve your home safety. Our expert inspectors are friendly and can explain any electrical issues in plain language.

A proper home electrical inspection helps homeowners:

Ensure that your household electrical system is properly installed and operating up to established building and safety codes.

Satisfy homeowner’s insurance company verification requirements so that you qualify for insurance and get fair or reduced insurance rates.

Determine if your home’s electrical system is out-of-date, inadequate for your home’s electrical needs, operating inefficiently or if it’s unsafe.

Prevent a damaging house fire, dangerous electrical shock or inconvenient power outage at your home.

Find out about any electrical problems in a home you are about to purchase, which may provide you negotiating power with the seller to cover needed electrical safety upgrades.

Check the safety and efficiency of the electrical system in a home you have recently purchased.

DIY Electrical Inspections or Repairs Are Dangerous

Only a properly trained, experienced and licensed residential or commercial electrical inspector can provide reliable property inspection. Home electrical safety is no place to cut corners or rely upon an amateur.

Expert Home Electrical Diagnostics

If you suspect an electrical problem in your home, if your lights flicker at odd moments or if circuits break constantly, call on the electrical experts at Electrical. If you can’t run the microwave and the AC at the same time—let Electrical help get your home electrical wiring running smoothly and safely. Are your lights flickering at odd moments, or do you hear strange sounds when you hit the light switch? These electrical problems can only get worse unless repaired.

Whole Home Electrical Safety Inspection

Getting your home’s electrical systems inspected can correct small issues before they become big problems. While you may not think about it, electrical problems cause more property damage and home fires than anything else. Whether it’s a miswired light, damaged outlet, or faulty smoke detector, an electrical issue can mean big problems for your Marietta home

The Benefits of a Whole Home Safety Inspection

Getting a thorough home inspection will give you a clear picture of the health of your electrical system. Your expert technician will provide a detailed list of issues that may need immediate attention, are a recommended improvement, or something you might want to upgrade in the future

Here are three benefits you can receive right away from the inspection.

SAFETY – During an inspection of your home’s electrical system, a professional electrician will check the wires, circuits, connections, breakers, and fuses for issues that could lead to electrocution or fires.

SAVE ENERGY – Damaged or defective wiring uses up a lot of energy, which shows up on your energy bill each month. Correcting these issues discovered during an inspection reduce energy consumption, saving you money. Also, if you’re adding new appliances to your home, this inspection will help you determine whether your electrical system is up to the new demand.

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL COMPLY WITH LOCAL STANDARDS – Getting a whole home inspection will get your electrical system up to code and not break any electricity standards. If you’re buying or selling a home, making sure the electrical system is in compliance will bring you peace of mind.

How to Keep Electricity Flowing

Like everything, home wiring doesn’t last forever. When wires get old, they can break or fray, causing a dangerous situation. The key to maintaining the flow of energy through your home is replacing worn or damaged components before a small issue becomes a big, and potentially expensive, problem.

Home Electrical Safety Check

Each year, hundreds of thousands of homes are ravaged by fire – fires that could have been prevented by a comprehensive home inspection. That’s why the Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends that a separate and complete electrical inspection be conducted for any home that is over 40 years old, has had major renovation, major appliances added or is changing owners.

conduct electrical inspections that go further, examining all aspects of your system – and in the process uncovering any hidden dangers. In our comprehensive 100 point safety inspection, Sentry Electric will examine all aspects of your electrical system thoroughly, verifying that every component has been installed correctly and functions safely.

Electric’s “Electrical Safety Inspection” includes:

Inspect switches and outlets for signs of overheating, damage, abuse and loose terminations.

Inspect and verify GFCI protection in all required areas inside are installed.

Inspect and verify proper grounding and bonding of main electrical service.

Inspect entire main electrical service for proper terminations and safety.

An infrared scan of your circuit breaker panel to discover hidden problems.

Inspect all outdoor electrical for “rain proofing” and circuit protection.

Verify all junction boxes are properly installed.

Inspect any sub-panels present for proper terminations and safety.

Verify that smoke detectors are of the proper type and installed in required areas.

Verify that “surge protection” is installed for whole house protection.

If aluminum wiring is present, verify that proper termination methods were used.

Verify proper grounding of switches, outlets and lighting fixtures.

Verify ceiling fan braces and supports are present where ceiling fans are installed.

Verify wiring to any detached structure is installed properly and safe.

Verify main breaker panel is properly labeled.

Verify all branch circuit breakers are sized properly.

Verify required circuits have lock-outs or disconnects installed and accessible.

Verify existing circuits are distributed properly for required load.

Insure that our customer is fully aware of the items that need attention and exactly what the price will be to complete the work before we start.

Electrical Inspection

which is why we highly recommend a regular National Electric Code (NEC) and safety electrical inspection for your whole home. Loose connections, poorly installed switches, aging outlets, absent GFCI plugs, and overloaded circuits are just a few of the things a full inspection might find.

Even if your home was up to code when it was built, the NEC updates over time for changes in technology and new information. Your home also ages over time, leading to degraded outlets, wiring, and connections. Everything wears out eventually. As good as regular maintenance and immediate repairs are, nothing lasts forever.

From the transmission line interconnect to the last outlet in your home, nothing goes unnoticed. electricians will do all of the following:

Inspect the wall wiring for damages or signs of overheating, which could lead to insulation fires

Test your electrical panel to make sure it’s not being overloaded and that none of the breaker switches are worn out

Test every GFCI and AFCI circuit in your home

Check of your smoke alarms to make sure they’re still in good working order

highly trained electricians recommend a full inspection for circumstances such as:

A newly constructed home

A newly purchased home

Preparing home for sale

Renovations

10 years or more since your last inspection

know it can seem counter-intuitive to inspect a home that’s just finished construction, but getting a full inspection can help you identify problems that were missed or items that were accidentally left out during initial construction. Similarly, inspecting your home before you buy a new one is always advisable and sometimes required. Not only are you aware of what needs to be fixed but you might be able to get those repairs added as part of the purchase contract.

What’s Involved in an Electrical Inspection?

As the weather starts getting colder, homeowners make more calls for electrical inspections. Often this is because an electrical problem has arisen, such as overloaded electrical circuits, commonly caused by the increased use in the number of appliances. Many people are under the false impression that electrical inspections and tests are costly, in terms of both time and money. However, the majority of electrical inspections are little hassle, and ends up leaving the customer with peace of mind, and confidence that their property is electrically safe. Electrical inspections may reveal potential problems. However, these can normally be easily rectified, as it has been brought to attention before it has become a greater and thus more expensive issue.

What is an electrical inspection?

Electrical inspections are based on the electrical system of each individual household. With prolonged age and use, all electrical appliances deteriorate. Therefore, it is important that they are inspected and tested regularly, in order to check they are in a suitable condition for further use. These safety tests are often referred to as Periodic Inspection and testing.

A periodic electrical inspection will:

Find if there are any potential electric shock risks and/or fire hazards.

Reveal if any electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded.

Identify defective electrical work.

Highlight any lack of earthing or bonding.

Electrical inspections should be performed by qualified persons only. They will check the condition of the electrics against the standard for the safety of electrical installations. The electrical inspection will check on the: adequacy, suitability and serviceability of your electrical appliances. For example, it will check the switches, sockets and light fittings; check for any damages and make sure there are adequate signs and notices.

Ways a commercial electrician can help your business succeed

Your business’s electrical system is essential for your daily operations. Without safe, reliable access to electricity, you would have constant business interruptions and possibly be in breach of work health and safety standards. As such, a commercial electrician can be a valuable partner and guide for your business, but what are the specific ways they can assist? Here, we take a look at some of the most important ways commercial electricians can support your business and its priorities.

TESTING AND TAGGING APPLIANCES

Testing and tagging appliances involves checking your business’s portable electrical appliances and ensuring they’re safe to operate. A commercial electrician will perform a visual check for damage before using specialist appliance equipment to test each appliance. They will then affix a tag on the appliance to mark it as tested and safe. The tag should specify a recommended next-test date.

CIRCUIT BREAKER TESTING

A commercial electrician can carry out circuit breaker testing, which is designed to test your switching system and how your tripping structure is programmed as a whole. It’s a vital type of test to support the safe, reliable performance of your circuit breakers. Your business premises’ circuit breakers are responsible for conducting electricity currents and insulating contacts from one another. They also disconnect the fault current quickly when there’s a fault, to protect your equipment.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

A reputable commercial electrician can identify ways to raise the energy efficiency of your business. Boosting energy efficiency and sustainability could, in turn, enhance your business performance, ROI, minimise earnings volatility, and improve overall profitability. Consumers often value companies with sustainable practices, so becoming more energy efficient can improve your brand reputation as well.

LIGHTNING PROTECTION

Lightning protection is widely used in buildings and commercial sites around the world. These systems divert the lightning current away from your commercial site to reduce the risk of injury and damage. While the likelihood of lightning striking your building might seem remote, the damage to equipment can be significant. Lightning protection can also prevent lightning-related fire and structural damage.

EMPLOYEES AND ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE

Except when the supervision is provided by a power limited technician, which limits the maintenance work to technology circuits and systems, examples of work allowed within the scope of a maintenance electrician include:

Replacement of receptacle outlets of any voltage, phase, system, or amperage with devices having identical characteristics

Replacement of manual lighting switches of any voltage with devices having identical characteristics

Replacement of motors of any voltage, phase, system, or horsepower, as a singular unit, or as part of a machine or apparatus, with a motor having the same characteristics

Repair of manual, magnetic, or electronic motor controllers using replacement parts, including sub-assemblies, that are identified as factory replacement parts for the specific assembly

Repair or replacement of defective circuit breakers and switch assemblies in switchboards and panelboards with factory parts or replacements that are identified by the manufacturer as suitable

Repair or replacement of defective bus duct switches using factory replacement parts or identical replacement assemblies

Repair of defective lighting fixtures using approved replacement parts

Bench repair of electrical equipment

Examples of work not allowed within the scope of a maintenance electrician include:

Extension of any electrical wiring, including technology circuit and system wiring, whether existing or new

Installation of wiring for, or connection of, new equipment or apparatus

Installation of replacement or new conductors in existing raceways

Replacement of damaged wiring methods (raceways, cables, flexible connections, etc.)

Replacement of existing lighting fixtures with new or repaired units

Installation of temporary wiring of any type or for any purpose

Replacement of any component or subassembly with an item that is not identical to that being replaced

Modification of lighting fixtures as part of a lighting retrofit project

Building automation systems, including power limited systems

Electrical work not within the scope of “maintenance work” may be performed by an unlicensed, registered maintenance person where the responsible individual is licensed as a Class A Master Electrician and the maintenance person is provided with direct supervision by a person licensed as either a Class A Master or Class A Journeyworker electrician and both are employees of the same employer.

Electrical maintenance work and minor repair work are exempt from mandatory inspection in accordance with Statutes section 326B.36 Subd. 1. All other electrical work, unless specifically exempt under Statutes section 326B.36 Subd. 5 is subject to inspection. An active Request for Electrical Inspection must be on file whenever electrical wiring that is required to be inspected is being performed. All electrical wiring must be inspected prior to being concealed in any manner, including by burial, insulation, encapsulation, or concealment by floor, wall or ceiling covering or sheathing.

Expert Commercial Electrical Contractor

electrical professionals and can assist you with a variety of electrical installations, maintenance, and repair work specific to commercial and industrial operations, including:

Fire and smoke alarm installation and repair

Electrical design build

Energy-efficient lighting

Electrical maintenance

New electrical installs

Electrical inspections

Motor controls

Teledata/VoIP solutions

reliable team of industrial electrical contractors understands the special considerations and unique concerns of a commercial building’s electrical systems, and has the experience and skill it takes to perform excellent maintenance and repair on your facility’s electrical issues so you can keep your company running smoothly and efficiently.

Commercial Electricians You Can Trust

As a business owner, you have a lot on your plate. Your commercial building’s electrical concerns may be one of the farthest things from your mind. We make it easy to ensure your industrial or commercial building stays up to code with the latest electrical safety measures in place.

Not only that, but we can help improve your bottom line with money-saving electrical solutions for your structure. If you have a new commercial building under construction, let us help with the electrical design build and install. Moving to an existing industrial facility? We can handle the electrical inspection, make sure your fire alarm system is functioning properly, and recommend new installs, maintenance, or repair solutions for any red flags we see.

highly skilled electricians can assist with just about any commercial or industrial electrical problem you are experiencing. Our years of experience and knowledge in the commercial electrical arena help us quickly assess the situation, recommend effective solutions, and perform quality maintenance or repair to address the issue. We’re a family owned company that prides itself on outstanding customer service, and we always treat each client with the utmost courtesy and respect

Electricians

What Electricians Do

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems.

Work Environment

Almost all electricians work full time. Work schedules may include evenings and weekends. Overtime is common.

How to Become an Electrician

Most electricians learn through an apprenticeship, but some start out by attending a technical school. Most states require electricians to be licensed.

Pay

The median annual wage for electricians was $56,180 in May 2019.

Job Outlook

Employment of electricians is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Homes and businesses continue to require wiring, and electricians will be needed to install the necessary components.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for electricians.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of electricians with similar occupations.

Commercial Electrician Job Description

While the number of jobs in the electrical trade is projected to grow by 14 percent in the ten-year period leading up to 2024, commercial electricians in particular may discover their prospects are even better since new commercial development and civil projects are outpacing even residential building

Licensing classifications aside, you can always identify a commercial electrician by their work setting and the type of jobs they’re on. In simplest terms, commercial electricians install, upgrade, maintain, troubleshoot, and fix electrical systems in virtually all non-residential settings, including:

Banks

Government agencies

Schools

Businesses and retail establishments

Offices

Airports

Recreation facilities

Restaurants

Commercial construction sites

The Roles and Job Duties of Commercial Electricians

Commercial electricians perform a wide range of duties, which can change according to their work setting and the kind of job they’re on. Generally speaking, the electrical needs of most commercial settings typically require:

Installation of commercial switch gear

Termination of large conductors

Installation of cable trays

Installation of commercial outlet boxes

Installation of bus ducts

Commercial wiring and lighting

Electrical work on commercial transformers and generators

Electrical work on raceways

System wiring that involves significantly more electricity than residential sites

Commercial electricians are generally considered different from industrial electricians in that commercial wiring work doesn’t typically involve working with high voltage systems, industrial machinery, or at industrial settings like factories, refineries, foundries, oil and gas fields or power plants.

In one job vacancy announcement from July 2016 looking for a commercial electrician to serve as the on-site electrical technician, the following job description was provided:

Repair, install, and maintain electrical systems that include motors, transformers, internal/exterior conduit, generators, switchboards, and power circuits

Replace circuits, fluorescent tubes, ballasts, fuses, switches, and receptacles

Use schematics to troubleshoot fuses, circuits, switches, fixtures, and ballasts

Perform preventative maintenance and repairs

Types of Solar Lights

Solar path lights. These are small solar lights on stakes, which can be pushed into the ground alongside a walkway to softly illuminate the path at night. They are not as bright as electric path lights, so plan to use more (up to twice as many) to light your path with roughly the same glow as electric.

Where to use solar path lights. Solar path lights are ideal for illuminating walkways far from exterior outlets, and can provide an enchanting glow along winding garden paths.

Ambient and decorative solar lights. Decorative solar lights, including colorful blown glass, decorative lanterns and string lights, are not as bright as solar path lights. However, used in multiples or alongside path lights and spotlights, they can provide a warm ambient glow.

Where to use ambient solar lights. Place a few handblown glass solar lights on stakes in your garden beds for soft landscape lighting. Or hang solar string lights, like the charming mason jar lights shown here, over an outdoor dining table for a welcoming touch at your next gathering.

Solar-powered spotlights. The brightest solar lights available are called task lights or spotlights, and the best ones can provide light that’s roughly equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. That is still not as bright as a typical outdoor spotlight, so you may want to double or triple up in areas where you want bright, direct light.

Where to use solar spotlights. Motion-sensing solar spotlights can be used near doors and in the driveway. Spotlights can also be placed in the garden, with the beam of light directed at a tree or another landscape feature.

Can Solar Lights Charge Without the Sun?

The question often arises weather solar lights can charge without the sun.

The fact is that while cloudy and rainy days certainly block the sun, your solar lights are still receiving a charge. The clouds are diffusing the strength of the sunlight but the panels will still charge on cloudy days.

However, the impact of the lack of sunlight means that you are only getting 1/3 to 1/2 of the charging ability. Therefore your lights will only operate on that fraction of time as well.

Even if you have a few cloudy days in a row, you will see your lights working during that time because of the storage capability of power in your batteries. However, if your solar lights do not receive a full charge for many many days in a row, that can affect the life and efficiency of your battery.

If you live in an area that has prolonged days of poor weather, save your lights by either switching them off or removing them, depending on the situation.

Thankfully situations like rain and cloudy days are a temporary issue. When the sun does come back out for a prolonged period of time, your batteries will charge back up and your solar lights will be working at full capacity within a few days. Just make sure that you remember to turn your lights back on if you had temporarily shut them off.

Shedding Light On Solar Powered Lighting: How Long Will They Shine?

Summer is in full swing and people are firing up the grill and cleaning out their pools, commencing another season of BBQs and backyard parties. With all the get-togethers going on and the weather being so nice at night the party shouldn’t have to end with the sunset!

Charging Solar Lights for the First Time

Solar powered lighting has long been an option for home and garden lighting needs.To get the most out of your new solar lightsmust generally be fully charged before they are able to perform at their optimal capabilities. The number of hours of sunlight it takes to charge your solar lighting device will depend on how much direct sunlight they receive. We recommend charging your solar lights for one to two days before their first use. Some may be charged for shorter than that, but it will decrease the length of time they are able to perform. Of course, a few consecutive partly cloudy days or one completely dark day will usually reduce your solar lights to a dim glow after only a few hours.

Full Charge of Solar Powered Lighting

We found that the time range a solar light can operate on a full charge varies by specific product but that the overall range for all kinds of solar lighting was 4 – 12 hours with an overall average of 8.5 hours of illumination on a full charge. This range is rather large, but you can get a better idea of how long your solar garden lights will last if you know what kind of solar lighting application you plan on using.

How Much Time for Specific Kinds of Solar Lighting

Solar path and accent lighting seems to fare better than hanging and lamp post-mounted devices with an average of 9.8 hours of illumination and a range of 7 – 12 hours. Hanging and lamp post solar lights average 7.3 hours of illumination and have a range of 4 – 12 hours. The difference in average is most likely due to placement of the solar panel and not the type of solar light. Solar ground lights may have better placement on average because some mounted devices’ solar panels are shaded by eaves or other objects for part of the day.

So how long do solar lights actually last?

Solar lights, like most rechargeable products, eventually run out of power and must be recharged. But how long do solar lights last? Unlike most rechargeable products, solar lights can be exposed to sunlight during the day in order to provide lighting at night.

Sunlight that reaches the solar panels generates electricity that is stored into the solar light batteries, and is used once it is dark outside. The batteries in solar lights typically last for 2 years before they have to be replaced, as they are no longer able to hold enough energy to provide lighting.

Rejuvenating solar garden lights — with nail polish!

Solar LED garden lights are everywhere these days, and by ‘everywhere’ I mean ‘in our yard.’  We’ve had some for a few years now, and simply through exposure to the elements, the plastic that covers the solar cells becomes so opaque that only a small amount of light gets to them any more.  With the solar cells deprived of even that meager light that we get in Massachusetts in the winter, the solar cells don’t recharge the battery, the battery doesn’t power the LED, the LED doesn’t light up, and our yard has a serious bling deficiency.  Eleanor and I took our solar garden lights inside to see if we could make them bright again somehow.

My first thought when confronting the frosted-over plastic was to try to ‘polish’ it with a fine-grit sandpaper.  I had 400-grit handy and tried it on one cell, the bottom one in this picture.  The top shows how weathered the cells were to start.

The sanding helped a little.  Then I rinsed the sanded plastic dust off with water in the sink, and while it was wet it looked great, but as it dried it became frosted and opaque again.  Thinking that perhaps we could use a mild plastic solvent to ‘polish’ the rough surface, I dabbed the solar cells with acetone, but again, as soon as it dried, the surface went from clear to cloudy again.  “We need some way to keep it ‘looking wet’ even when it’s dry,” I mused.  Eleanor got a wide-eyed LIGHTBULB! look in her eyes, and grabbed a bottle of clear nail polish!  She applied a few test swatches.

The nail polish made the weathered old solar cells crystal clear again!  I held the lights while Eleanor applied an even coat of nail polish to all the solar cells.  It really didn’t matter whether the cells had been sanded or not, so we didn’t bother.

A few minutes later, the polish was dry, and we planted the lights outside again.  You can see how completely clear the solar cells are.  Our only concern was that the nail polish might block the UV light that provides a good portion of the solar energy to the cells.

We waited for twilight to fall, and when we checked the lights: success!

Home Electrical Safety Tips

You power your home with energy, but do you know electrical safety? The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 31,000 home electrical fires occur every year, and with over 180 cases involving electrocution or electricity-related incidents that could have been avoided, home electrical safety is too important to ignore. At Constellation, we care about the safety of our customers, and by following these electrical safety tips you can protect your home and your family

What causes electrical fires in homes?

The National Fire Protection Association notes that faulty or damaged wiring and related electrical equipment cause 69 percent of electrical fires, followed by lamps, light fixtures, cords, plugs, transformers and other power supplies. When looking for potential fire hazards in your home, always be sure to consult with a professional.

Check that you’re using the correct wattage in all your fixtures and appliances.

Using the right bulbs can prevent electrical problems, so check all lamps, fixtures and appliances to ensure you’re using the correct wattage. If a light fixture has no wattage listed, use 60-watt bulbs or less. For unmarked ceiling fixtures, choose 25-watt bulbs.

Watch out for overloaded outlets to protect your home.

Overloading an electrical outlet is a common cause of electrical problems. Check all outlets to ensure they are cool to the touch, have protective faceplates and are in proper working order.

Replace or repair damaged electrical cords to keep your home safe.

Damaged power cords are a serious residential electrical safety risk, and they are capable of causing both fires and electrocution. All power and extension cords should be checked regularly for signs of fraying and cracking, and they should then be repaired or replaced as needed. Power cords should not be stapled into place or run under rugs and furniture. Cords under rugs pose a tripping hazard and can overheat, while furniture can crush cord insulation and damage wires

Buying A New Home

There were nearly 2.5 million residential sales in the UK in 2014-15. However, research carried out by Electrical Safety First found that only 37% of buyers had the electrics checked before purchase. One in five believed that electrical checks were included in the recommended home survey report and just under half were unaware that checks were needed at all

Over a third of home buyers then went on to discover electrical problems that they were not aware of before purchase – something that could easily be avoided by getting a registered electrician to inspect the electrics and issue an Electrical Installation Condition Report.

Make sure you know what you can afford – Speak to the bank first. It’s easy to get carried away looking for that dream property but make sure you can afford it first by getting an ‘Agreement in Principle’ from your bank

Check out the neighbourhood – Make sure you investigate where you are buying thoroughly, you can find out crime levels to school results simply by punching in the postcode but nothing beats visiting the neighbourhood on foot to get a feel for the area

Budget, budget, budget – there are lots of additional costs a first time buyer might not be aware of such as legal fees, stamp duty, surveys and other technical reports such as an Electrical Installation Condition Report. Don’t get tripped up by not being prepared!

Electrical Safety at Home Checklist

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2010 U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 46,500 house fires that were caused by electrical malfunction of failure. From 2005-2009, 49% of those home electrical fires involved lighting or electrical distribution equipment; another 46% were attributed to other known types of equipment, including stove ranges, washers, dryers, space heaters, and fans.

You already practice fire safety, but fire prevention is the best way to protect your family – and that starts with ensuring that your electrical systems and appliances are functioning properly and safely. Run through this checklist regularly, since electrical malfunction can happen at any time and for many reasons.

Cords & Plugs

▢ Check all cords, plugs, surge protectors and extension cords for frayed casing, exposed wire or broken components. Replace immediately.

▢ Never run extension cords under carpets or over door thresholds.

▢ Don’t use an extension cord as a permanent fixture. If you need additional outlets, contact a licensed electrician to install some wherever you require.

▢ Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for plugging a device into the outlet.

▢ Do not overload one outlet with several high-wattage or heat-producing devices, for example a space heater or coffee maker.

▢ Plugs should fit snugly into outlets. If yours do not, contact a licensed electrician.

▢ Major appliances – washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, hot water heaters, etc. – should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Do not use surge protectors, plug strips or extension cords.

▢ Only use water resistant extension cords in damp areas (like the basement)

Lighting

▢ Only use lightbulbs at or below the maximum wattage listed on your lamp or light. (There will be a sticker on the appliance indicating max wattage.)

▢ Always place lamps on a flat, level surface and at least a foot from anything flammable (e.g. curtains).

Appliances

▢ Place heat-producing appliances (toaster, heater, coffee maker, etc.) away from flammable or combustible goods (potholders, paper napkins, etc.)

▢ Unplug kitchen countertop and bathroom (e.g. toaster or hair dryer) appliances when not in use.

▢ Keep your kitchen exhaust fan clean and free of grease, lint and other obstructions.

▢ Never use a portable heater in the bathroom. The only safe options are a ceiling unit or strip heater placed up high.

▢ If you use portable or space heaters, be sure they receive a seal of approval from a nationally-recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) like UL, ETL, or CSA.

Electrical Safety Tips Homeowners Should Know

I often wonder what they would have thought of microwaves, entertainment centers, dishwashers and the armies of other gadgets we take for granted on a daily basis. But your home’s electrical system may have a few things going on that might shock you too. Enlighten yourself with these tips that can help you be a more aware homeowner and may alert you to dangerous electrical problems that need to be fixed by a licensed residential electrician.

Throw your home a birthday party

For electrical safety reasons, it’s good to know how old your home is and to celebrate its birthday with an electrical safety inspection. Older homes weren’t built to handle the electrical load our contemporary lives carry. Knowing whether your home’s electrical system has been updated to safely handle all the electrical current your family uses is imperative

Know your electric panel

Even as recently as the 1990s, faulty electrical panels were being installed in many new homes. Certain brands, including Federal Pacific, ITE Pushmatic, Zinsco and GTE/Sylvania, are no longer manufactured and pose electrical hazards that could lead to a fire. Your electric panel should never feel hot to the touch

Understand the breakers

These guys are your friends, even though you may find their interference irritating when they trip. They’re trying to tell you something, and it’s usually that you have too many appliances or gadgets connected to the same circuit. Reconfigure your appliances, and if the breakers keep tripping, get help from an electrician

Make friends with your fire extinguisher

The only safe way to extinguish an electrical fire is with a fire-retardant chemical fire extinguisher. Never use water; it conducts electricity. Keep fire extinguishers on each level of your home, and know how to use them and when to replace them.

Professional Electrical Safety Inspections Done Right

To avoid electrical related accidents, it’s always best to undergo electrical safety inspections. You don’t want to risk the lives of your loved ones, nor do you want to risk losing all of your possessions and valuables to an electrical fire. Everything can have an impact on your home’s electrical circuit including age, usage, and the installation of newer electrical devices. When buying, selling, or even just for your peace of mind, it’s important to have an electrical safety inspection done.

There are a few important things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to your household and electricity usage. In order to protect your family and loved ones it is in your best interest to know and understand your homes electrical panel. You need to know which fuse or switch on your panel controls the corresponding light or outlet. If you have any doubt with regards to your homes safety, have a licensed professional come to your home to conduct the necessary and relevant checks.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the standard code that all licensed electricians must adhere to in order to meet state and local regulations with regards to electrical safety standards. Remember, each state has its own specific rules and regulations regarding electrical codes. You need an electrician who is licensed to work in your specific state. It is illegal for any person to do an electrical installation if they are not state licensed. Licensed electricians need a minimum of 14 hours approved continuing education to ensure that they understand all code regulations and are up to date on any changes that may have occurred.

General Electrical Safety Checklist:

Are all light fixtures working and have diffusers been installed?

Are the cords in good condition without signs of deterioration, bends, or wear and tear?

Are extension cords being used in place of permanent wiring?

Are all appliances grounded?

Check the wiring methods and ensure that they are suitable for the current use.

Ensure that all conductors of a circuit are grouped together.

Check for wet and damp locations and the suitability of boxes and fittings in that area.

Check wiring and bending space in cabinets and boxes.

Ensure that any switches in wet or damp locations are properly installed in weatherproof enclosures.

Ensure that the household is compliant with branch-circuit voltage limitations.

Check what grounding electrodes are present on the premises.

Home Electrical Safety Checklist

The electrical system in your home has many parts and components to be aware of to ensure a safe home all year long. Do you know what GFCI and AFCI outlets are? What is whole-house surge protection? As part of your spring cleaning, take some time to inspect your electrical system.

If you are like most people, you are probably aware of some basic electrical knowledge, such as knowing how to flip a breaker and that water and electricity don’t mix, but there’s also a lot you probably don’t know.

Every year, there hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and billions of dollars worth of damage caused by a lack of electrical safety knowledge. Electrical outlets/receptacles alone account for 5,300 home fires and over 40 deaths and 100 injuries every single year

Our home electrical safety checklist is meant to reduce these numbers and protect homeowners everywhere. In addition to doing your own DIY electrical safety check, make sure to schedule an electrical safety inspection with a professional. Your licensed electrician should inspect your home every year to make sure the electrical system meets the safety provisions provided in the National Electrical Code

Your professional electrical safety inspection will include checking your electrical panel, outlets and switches, wiring and circuits, GFCIs and AFCIs, outdoor circuits and HVAC wiring, and your smoke and CO detectors.

Electrical Safety Inspection: The Ultimate Guide to Passing

What’s the point of  an electrical safety inspection anyway?

Having an electrical safety inspection done on your home might seem like a bother but try not to see it that way! Ensuring that the electrical safety inspection is conducted periodically and properly is extremely vital for your family and property.

Protect your property

Electrical surges are a common phenomenon in much of the United States. They can not only ruin your appliances but also create short circuits in your house, leading to fire that can cause severe property damage.

Someone could get hurt

Electrical wiring does not last forever. Due to wear and tear, it deteriorates along with its associated accessories. This deterioration can lead to nasty experiences such as electric shock or fire.

You have a legal duty

The law also mandates that you keep your house safe, especially where it concerns guests. Apart from this, many US states have local legislation that requires all homeowners to maintain certain electrical standards in their homes.

You could get sued

If a fire breaks out in your home and spreads to neighboring property or if there’s an electrical incident and someone gets hurt, you could find yourself paying far more in damages than you would have for a simple residential electrical inspection.

Electrical Safety Inspection Services

What Is an Electrical Home Inspection?

An electrical home inspection provides a thorough examination of your entire electrical system, ensuring all electrical wires, systems, and components (such as appliances) meet legal safety standards. The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the code that all electricians operate under when examining your home, and defines the parameters for minimum standards across the United States. Upon completion of your electrical home inspection, a Mr. Electric® inspector will provide a detailed, prioritized checklist including areas in need of immediate attention, recommendations for improvements, and potential upgrade possibilities.

When Do You Need an Electrical Safety Inspection?

There are specific times when homeowners should schedule an electrical home safety inspection. The Electrical Safety Foundation recommends that homeowners make an appointment for an electrical home inspection at these times.

Benefits of an Electrical Safety Inspection

An electrical home inspection is important for the safety of your home and everyone in it. Getting your home’s electrical system checked by a professional will offer you peace of mind by

What Does an Electrical Home Safety Inspection Include?

Your local Mr. Electric knows just what to look for when it comes to residential electrical hazards. An electrical home inspection from Mr. Electric covers

Electrical Safety Checks Homeowners Should Do Every Year

Breaker Panel Inspection

Look over your main electrical panel and the area surrounding it. You should have three feet of clear space around the panel, and an easy-to-find, battery-operated light source available for when the power goes out. Next, open the panel door and examine the breakers. Do they show signs of rust or rodent activity? Flip the circuit breakers on and off, making sure that none of them are sticking or corroded, which could prevent them from operating correctly.

GFCI Testing

Any outlets likely to be exposed to a water source should be ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) protected. That may be in the form of an individual outlet (as shown here), an outlet farther up on the same circuit, or by a GFCI breaker in the panel. Regardless of where the GFCI is on that circuit, you should be able to press the test button and ensure that all of the outlets affected are turned off and safe.

Test Your Outlets

One of the most useful tools for quickly checking outlet safety is a receptacle tester, often called a “cube” or “block” tester. This device simply plugs into an outlet and displays lights which indicate the most common outlet wiring issues. These tools are extremely affordable and widely available, and they deserve a place in every DIY toolbox. The block tester is only one of the very affordable electrical safety test devices that can help keep your home safe.

Visual Inspection of Exposed Wiring

If wiring runs are visible in a basement or attic, take the time to look them over and make sure they’re free of cracks, splits and rodent activity. Look for signs of chewing or nest building, and take any steps to repair damaged wires and eradicate the rodent activity.

Extension Cord Review

Extension cords are practically essential for DIYers, but they can also pose potential problems. Add them to your electrical safety checklist and examine extension cords for cuts, nicks and other damage that can easily occur during DIY and other seasonal projects. Also, make sure that any cords being used for power tools are within their amperage rating. If you do have a damaged extension cord, it’s usually fairly simple to make a repair. Here’s how.

Electrical Safety Inspection Tips For Fall

Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

While an electrician at Current Electric will make this an important part of an electrical safety inspection, you should also test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on your own time. After all, the chances of a fire or carbon monoxide exposure will skyrocket the instant detectors stop working. Conducting a test may reveal you will have to replace batteries for either before the season begins.

Be Careful of Electrical Lines

If you plan on doing some outdoor work this fall, you need to be cautious of the placement of electrical lines and wires across your landscape. If you are doing work requiring you to climb a ladder, be careful not to accidentally yank wiring loose. Even just making the wrong move can either bring damage to the wiring or result in electrocution.

Consider Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)

GFCI outlets can immediately shut off electric power to reduce the risk of shock or fires. They are installed in areas of your home where water and electricity are likely to mix, like bathrooms, garages, or kitchens. This may be an important update to make this fall, as it can single-handedly keep your family away from any safety hazards.

Check Outlets & Switches

Since you rely on your outlets and switches many times a day, you need to make sure they are working at their best. If they feel hot to the touch or are resulting in frequently blowing fuses or circuits, you need to call an electrician at Current Electric immediately. Your outlets will need to be replaced if you have outdated two-prong or builder’s grade outlets.

Pay Attention to Your Lighting Wattage

Every lighting fixture in your home is rated by a specific wattage. However, you need to pay attention to wattage requirements. A lighting fixture with wattage over the requirement can cause an overload on your wiring and potentially result in a fire. There is also danger in having lighting fixtures that are under the requirement, as it can bring further stress to your home’s electrical system.

How to Install Ceiling Fans

Connect the switch

Check and reset (if necessary) the code toggles on the wall-mounted electronic switch to match the ones on the receiver. Remove the existing wall switch and connect the two black wires on the new switch to the ones that were connected to the old switch with wire connectors. Screw the switch into the box and install the cover plate.

Connect the light pod and radio receiver

Place the radio receiver into the switch housing/light pod assembly and connect the light pod wires according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Note the settings on the receiver’s code toggles so you can dial in the same settings on the electronic controls at the wall switch. Now loosen the screws in the switch-housing hub halfway. Plug the motor ceiling fan wiring into the receptacle on the receiver and twist the switch housing into place on the hub. Retighten the screws.

Attach the fan blades

Screw the fan blades to their brackets and screw the brackets to the bottom of the motor. It’s easiest to hold the screw in the bracket with the screwdriver while you lift the blade assembly into position. Then drive the screw in.

Wire the fan, fan light and switch

This is what you need to know about ceiling fan wire colors: Connect the bare ground wire from the box to the green ground wire on the bracket with a wire connector. Connect the white neutral wire from the motor to the neutral wire from the box. Connect the blue and black wire from the motor to the black hot wire from the box and neatly fold them into the box.

Hang the motor

Lift the assembly over the open side of the bracket and lower it into place. Rotate the motor until the ball slot locks into place over the tab on the bracket. Your fan will include assembly instructions. Photos 6 – 9 will help you with several key steps.

How to Install a Ceiling Fan

Test Your Ceiling Fan Installation

Turn the circuit breaker on again. Return to the ceiling fan and test it.

Attach the Light Bulbs and Shade

If your ceiling fan includes a light component, conclude your installation by adding the light bulbs and the light shade.

Attach the Ceiling Fan Blades

Your ceiling fan blades may come in two parts: a mount and the blade. The mount is the metal section that attaches the blade to the fan motor assembly. Attach the blade to the mount, then attach both to the ceiling fan. Be precise with this step since any deviation may cause the fan blades to wobble.

Attach the Fan Canopy

Slide the fan canopy upward and screw it into place with the decorative screws from the kit.

Make the Electrical Connections

Consult the ceiling fan’s instructions for wiring details specific to your fan. Hire an electrician at this point if you feel uncomfortable with this procedure. Expose wire ends with a wire stripper and twist them together with the wire nuts typically included in ceiling fan kits.

How to Install a Ceiling Fan

Ceiling Fan Overview

There are few fixtures that can impact the look and livability of a room as much as a ceiling fan. It can keep you cool on sultry summer days, push warm air down into the room during winter, and even serve as the room’s primary illumination if you add a light. The best news: Replacing an existing light fixture with a fan is a simple, one-day task since the wiring is already in place.

Remove the Existing Light Fixture

Make sure electricity to circuit is turned off and carefully remove the glass shade or globe from the old light fixture.

Unscrew the retaining nut or screws that hold the fixture to the ceiling.

Remove Box and Cut New Hole

Remove the old electrical box from the ceiling. If it’s nailed to a joist, pry it free with a flat bar. If it’s suspended from a bar, you may have to take off a metal plate to unscrew the box; then pry the bar from the joists.

Attach New Electrical Box

Feed the electrical cable coming from the ceiling through the knockout hole in the pancake box. (Be sure there’s a cable connector attached to the knockout hole.)

Set the box into the hole cut through the ceiling and press it tight against the underside of the joist.

Attach the box to the joist with the two 1 1/2-inch No. 10 hex-head screws provided. Drive in the screws with a drill/driver equipped with a 5/16-inch nut-driver tip.

Glue on the Ceiling Medallion

Apply a small bead of urethane-based adhesive to the back of the ceiling medallion.

Pass the wires through the medallion (above).

Center the medallion on the pancake box and press. Fasten it with four 6d finishing nails driven into the joist.

Set the nailheads and fill with caulk or spackle.

Our New Ceiling Fan and Tips to Install your Own

Get Ready to Drop Things

I can’t even tell you the number of times I dropped a tiny screw or wire cap while doing this project. When you’re up on the ladder trying desperately to screw things in, you’re bound to drop things. So just know that it’s totally normal & okay.

I did get pretty frustrated with this project, and I want you to learn from me and ease up a bit. All I wanted was for this dang fan to be installed, and the small setbacks of dropping items really made my blood boil. But that meant that I was tenser when screwing things in and wasn’t 100% paying attention..which resulted in more mistakes. Instead, take a breath and keep moving forward. You got this!

Invest in a Wire Cutter

My toolbox didn’t have a wire cutter, but I ended up purchasing one for this project. This is a must as you’ll have to shorten lots of the wires from the fan to connect to the ceiling wires. So be sure to pick one up from the store before you get started!

First, Read The Directions Completely

I often like to dive right into a project and figure it out as I go. But this is not the time to be doing that. Instead, read the directions that come with your fan completely from start to finish before you even get going. This will save you a lost of time & frustration later on #trustme

Layout All the Parts

Make sure you get out ALL of your supplies before you get started. Open the box and layout all of the supplies neatly, and be sure to have all of your DIY tools on-hand too (including a flashlight!) We made the mistake of putting out the supplies on our kitchen island, instead of near us in the back where we were doing the project. This resulted in a lot of back and forth from the kitchen to the bedroom. Learn from our mistake and keep all supplies nearby and neat!

Enlist a Buddy

When it comes to DIY projects like this one, I often prefer to work alone (or sometimes with Bridget). However, this is definitely a 2-person job. You may need someone to hold the old fan while you disconnect the wires, you’ll need a helper to hand you things while you’re up high on the ladder, and you’ll want a buddy to help you lift up the new heavy fan to the ceiling.

Ceiling Fan Installation Tips

Installing a Ceiling Fan

When wiring up a fan in a new home, the standard, code-compliant electrical supply for a light fixture works adequately. When using an existing service in an older home, make sure your ceiling box has a grounded electrical supply of 120 volts AC, 60 hertz, on a 15 ampere circuit. In either case, your ceiling outlet must be rated “for ceiling fan use” and attach to your framing firmly enough to support 50 pounds.

It’s always best to install electrical boxes before doing any wiring so that you can cut your cables to exact length. I like to start at the ceiling with a 4″ octagonal metal box. Metal boxes install easily with a screw gun and cost less than the plastic boxes designed for ceiling fan use. In new construction, where the framing is exposed and readily accessible, I cut a length of 2″ x 6″ mounting block to fit snugly between ceiling joists, providing a stable support to attach my outlet. I find it easier to attach the mounting block by using a battery-powered screw gun rather than nails. A set of three 3″ screws driven through each joist into either end of the block provides adequate support.

When setting your mounting block, remember to recess it far enough from the edge of your ceiling framing to allow for the depth of a junction-box and plaster ring. In a standard assembly, using a 2″ deep box behind 1/2″ drywall, the mounting block should be set 1 1/2″ back from the edge of the joists. I attach my metal ceiling box to the backing block with two 1/2″ long number 10 tapping screws.

Sometimes you have to set your ceiling box right under a joist. The standard 1 1/2″ framing members don’t provide enough bearing for a safe and stable fan installation, so you’ll need to “sister” a 2″ x 4″ block along the length of the framing member where your fan will hang; then attach a 1″ “shallow” box. This box won’t allow much room to tuck wires when you mount the fixture, but there’s always a little extra space in the canopy. Whether using a standard or shallow box, don’t forget to remove one of the 1/2″ knockouts and attach a 3/8″ romex connector to it before screwing the box in place. It’s a pain to do it later. I like to use metal connectors because you can loosen them easily and move a cable when needed. Once your cable’s locked in a plastic connector you’ve got to destroy the connector to move it.