When is it time to call an electrician?
- When you are resetting circuit breakers or changing fuses often.
- When the air conditioner turns on and the lights dim in the home.
- Your lights are flickering or go on and off throughout the home.
- When there is a burning smell in your home or at your electrical panel.
- If you have a Federal pacific or Zinsco electrical panel it is time to consider a panel upgrade.
What areas of my house should be GFCI protected?
- GFCIs should be installed in all wet locations including garages, anywhere outside the dwelling, within six feet of any sink, kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.
Is my Aluminum wiring safe?
- Aluminum wiring is no longer permitted in the electrical code for 120v circuits in a home.
- There are different options when being concerned about Aluminum wiring.
- Rewire the entire home which can be very labor intensive and expensive
- Electrically pig tailing the Aluminum to Copper switches and plugs/outlets.
- Panel rejuvenations, circuit breaker change outs
- A licensed professional should evaluate each situation on a case by case basis.
What is the difference between conventional circuit breakers and an Arc Fault Breaker?
- Conventional circuit breakers only respond to overloads and short circuits.
- The Arc Fault Breaker (AFCI) circuitry continuously monitors the current and discriminates between normal and unwanted arcing conditions.
There is a humming noise coming from my panel. What does this mean?
- This could be the result of a defective breaker or electrical short within the home. A licensed electrician should be called immediately because this could cause serious harm to electrical components.
What size electrical service panel do I need in at my home?
- Electrical panels range from 100 – 400 amps.
- The most common size electrical service is a 200 amp. A 200-amp electrical panel typically has 42 circuits and is needed to accommodate all the new electronic devices, air conditioning and electric systems a typical home has. This also gives you some space for future additional circuits and expansion to your home.