Tag Archives: electrical wiring

How To Protect Your Home From Electrical Fires

July 25, 2014Electrical Safety, Home Electricalelectrical wiring, fire safety, home electrical fire, home electrical safetyschaffhouser

Fire departments across the country respond to almost 48,000 fires caused by electrical failure or malfunction every year. These fires are often caused by simple fixes overlooked by homeowners.

Not all electrical fires can be prevented, of course, but there are a few basic steps homeowners can take to make their homes a little safer.

Step One: No Frayed Wires

Frayed wires happen throughout the home. Small appliances, Christmas lights, and lamps are all prone to broken and frayed wires.

While it’s easy to think a little electrical tape will keep you safe, it’s not a long term solution. You should discard and replace any frayed wires you find as quickly as possible in order to prevent potential electrical fires.

Appliance wire can be found at any hardware store, and replacing a few wires on a small appliance is an easy fix for most people. If you’re not big on DIY, though, replace the appliance rather than risk using frayed wires.

Step Two: Don’t Overload the Circuits

The easiest thing you can do to protect your home is to avoid overloading the circuits.

The circuits in your home are only designed to deliver so much energy. Using too much energy in a given outlet can cause wires to spark or break down.

Avoid power strips whenever possible, limiting plug use to the available two outlets. If you have an older home, consider rewiring your whole home to update your energy supply.

Step Three: Make Sure All Electrical Products Are Safe

This is also an easy fix. All electrical products–batteries, night lights, extension cords, and surge protectors–should have a label from Underwriters Laboratories.

Underwriters Laboratories is the global electrical safety standards organization. If they haven’t approved a product, it may not be safe for use.

Step Four: Replace Any Old Wiring

Finally, you can also protect your family from fires by replacing any old wires in your home.

Electrical wiring is only meant to last 30-40 years. Homes older than that were also not made to handle the amount of electricity we use in the 21st century. Too much stress on the system deteriorates the wires and puts you at risk.

If your home is older than 30 years, you almost certainly need new wiring.

Updating the Electrical Wiring for Your Home

July 5, 2013Home Electricalelectrical wiring, licensed electricianschaffhouser

The process of updating your electrical wiring for your home can be extremely stressful. This is because the average person really does not know a lot about electricity and does not know how to begin when it comes to wiring. There are a few important things every homeowner should keep in mind when it comes to updating the electrical wiring throughout their home. Failure to keep up with this important part of home maintenance could end in disaster.

There are a few key signs that it may be time to start thinking about updating your electrical wiring throughout your home. A burning smell could be a sign of a dangerous electrical problem and should always be addressed as quickly as possible. Another sign of an issue is if the lights are flickering for no obvious reason or if outlets throw sparks when appliances are plugged into them. Additionally, if a fuse blows, it is best to have the wiring checked out instead of assuming that it was a one-time issue. Any one of these issues, which may not seem like a big deal at the time, could be a symptom of an underlying problem that could lead to major trouble down the road.

Although these are the most common signs of a problem with the electrical wiring, it may be necessary to have the home checked out even in the absence of these issues. If a home is more than forty years old and has never had the electrical wiring updated, it is definitely time to have someone come and take a look at it. This is not only a matter of keeping the lights in good working order but also a safety issue. Old electrical wiring can become faulty and cause a dangerous house fire. Do not assume that the wiring in the house is in good working condition just because there does not appear to be a major problem on the surface.

To avoid a problem before it becomes a serious issue, it is a good idea to have the electricity in the home inspected each year. This should be done at around the same time each year and many people choose to include it in their spring-cleaning routine. A licensed electrician will be able to take a look at the wiring and identify any potential problems before they become full-blown issues. They may also have suggestions as to how the electricity in the home could be run more efficiently, saving energy and money for the homeowner.

Updating the wiring in a home is also a good opportunity to add anything new that the homeowner may have been considering. For example, someone may want overhead recessed lighting in their family room but may not have ever taken the time to look into it. At the same time that the wiring is being updated, it is easy for an electrician to go in and set up the space for that additional lighting.

If a home is more than forty years old, the owners should absolutely look into updating the electrical wiring. Even if there are no signs of a problem, such as sparking outlets or a strange burning smell, there is a chance that the wiring is outdated and therefore, dangerous. This important job should be done by a professional and should never be taken on by a homeowner who is not properly trained to work with electricity. To avoid a serious electrical problem before it begins, have a professional electrician in each year to inspect the wiring and make sure that it is in safe working condition.

New Construction and Your Electrical Needs

June 21, 2013Electricianselectrical wiring, electrician, local codes, new constructionschaffhouser

Sorting through the ins and outs of new construction and your electrical needs can be a very daunting task for many people. Regardless of whether someone is building a new home for their family or construction a new office building for their business, there are many different things that must be taken into consideration. Above all of the other choices that must be made with new construction, the electrical needs are the most vital to the success of the structure. It takes careful planning and research to get the job done properly.

Before contacting anyone about new construction and your electrical needs or making any definite decisions, it is important to determine exactly what those needs are. Most importantly, the person commissioning the building must think about who will be using the building and how the building is being used. This will help to determine the specific electrical needs for the new construction site. Once someone has an idea of what they would like for their new construction, they can get in touch with someone who can turn their ideas into a reality.

The most important decision to be made throughout this process is exactly who is going to do the electrical work for the new structure. Of course, it is absolutely necessary to use a licensed and insured electrician for the job. When interviewing potential contractors, discuss their prior experience working on new construction as opposed to existing buildings. It is also a good idea to ask for references from past customers to hear about the quality of their work. Finally, contact the Better Business Bureau and make sure that no former customers have filed complaints against the company or individual contractor.

Once it seems like the right contractor has been located, it is important to have an initial meeting and discuss the expectations for the project. Even though the owner of the building will not be doing the work himself or herself, it is very important that he or she understands all of the elements of the new construction. Ask the electrician to explain, in as simple of terms as possible, exactly what is going to take place and how it will all work once the structure is completed. This will help the owner to make decisions and to assess any possible issues that would arise down the road.

It is also a good idea to contact the township in which the structure will be built and see if there have been any recent changes to the local codes. Of course, the electrician should be very familiar with the laws and regulations in the area and should complete the work in accordance with them. However, it is always best for a responsible owner to be on top of every aspect of their project. In order to make sure that everyone is on the same page, it is easy and beneficial for the homeowner to research this as well as checking with the electrician to ensure they are up on the latest codes and permit needs.

A new construction project requires the cooperation of many contractors, not only an electrician. With this in mind, it is important to keep everyone working on the project in the loop. When making important decisions about the electrical wiring for the structure, make sure that the plans do not negatively impact any other aspect of the project. Do not assume that the electricity will not impact an element such as the construction or plumbing.

Building a new structure, whether for home or business purposes, can be an extremely stressful project. One of the biggest issues that people run into is deciding how to handle the electrical needs of their new structure. It is important to find a trustworthy, licensed, and insured professional to take care of all of the electrical needs. They will be able to explain everything that will take place over the course of the project, including any local codes to which they must adhere. No matter how good someone thinks he or she is at doing their own home projects, he or she should never attempt to take on any electrical work if they are not a licensed electrician. The result could be a dangerous fire that destroys the entire structure or, worse, an electrical accident that results in serious injury or even death. It is always best to leave this important job to a trained and experienced professional.