Blog – Page 10

Electrical Items to Look for When Buying a New Home

One of the most exciting chapters in life is realizing our dream home and seeing it turn into reality. However, whether it is a newly built one or a renovated secondhand house, more than the furniture-and-fixture-shopping and the interior set-up, investing in a coherent and safe electrical system should be one of our topmost priorities. Because otherwise, the dangers you and your family could be exposed to might be devastating or even fatal and you will not like that.

Now, here’s the thing: old, secondhand houses are highly likely to have deteriorating and worn-out electrical systems, e.g. wires, outlets, panels. Houses built in the early 20^th century, in particular, often use knob-and-tube wirings which bear too much load that can lead to fire hazards. So, if you are eyeing on an old house, even if you have already sealed the deal, here are the items that you should watch out for:

· The designed electrical wiring vs. your degree of usage. You have to remember that the electrical system of the house is only fit for the demand of its former owners which can vary from yours. That said, if you are planning to invest in appliances including those that eat-up too much power, then the first thing you must do before moving is to have your trusted licensed electrical contractor upgrade your electrical system to your preference and needs.

· The electrical panel and power outlets. If the house is still using a vintage electrical panel, it also pays to upgrade it to eliminate safety and fire hazards and all the other potential sources of inconvenience. Likewise, ask your electrical repair service company to take care of the outlets, i.e. make sure they are grounded properly and are installed in compliance with the electrical codes of the state.

· The power circuits. Circuit breakers can offer protection but some houses do not have them and once overloading happens, you won’t like the outcome.

Signs of overloading might be lurking in attics or basement areas too. So, make sure to communicate this with your electrician.

To simply put, when it comes to electrical items to watch out for, the list can be overwhelming if you plan to check them on your own. But there’s a shortcut to that: all you have to do is hire a reputable and seasoned electrical service in Arvada like ElectriCall who has gained extensive knowledge and experience in the field after years of service.

For this and all your other electrical concerns in Colorado, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll be glad to help.

Power Strip Safety Tips

No matter how many outlets we have installed at our house or workplace, there will come a time when we need to utilize a power strip. This is commonly the case near the entertainment center, in the home office or bedroom. When not enough outlets are nearby, this is when power strips and extension cords come in handy.

But contrary to the common misconception, did you know that power strips and extension cords are not the same? Both of them are designed to power multiple electronic devices simultaneously. However, while they may look and work almost similarly, there are a number of differences between them.

To put it simply, power strips enable you to plug in multiple devices and appliances at a time while also plugging itself into a wall outlet. Their cords all come typically shorter than extension cords, i.e. the 12-foot long, with sockets enclosed in a box on one end and a three-pin plug on the other end.

When it comes to design, although power strips and extension cords are mostly the same, the latter always have longer cords but can come with only a pair or three plugs. Compared to power strips, extension cords are less stable but can still come handy in unique situations. However, they are only best to use for an hour or less whereas power strips are meant for long-term uses.

Here are some power strips facts that make them superior over extension cords:

· Power strips can accommodate a lot of small loads simultaneously.

· Power strips have a variety of voltage ratings.

· Power strips are more stable and appropriate for long-term use than extension cords.

· Power strips are also known as TPT or Temporary Power Trap and mostly have six outlets that are overcurrent protected.

Power Strip Safety Tips

While power strips are indeed very useful, a simple misuse can already expose you and your family to electrical hazards which can be fatal at the worst. To ensure safety at all times, here are some tips to bear in mind:

1. Power strips cannot be connected with each other.

Daisy chaining or the process of connecting two or more power strips with each other is extremely dangerous as at least one of the strips might tend to overload which can lead to a spark. However, this is something a lot of people do to extend the cord’s length.

Do remember that daisy chaining for length extension is a big NO. If you need a longer one, finding a longer strip is always better and safer than dealing with hazards.

2. Do not use frayed cables.

Power strips may offer convenience but are at risk of creating electrical shocks over time. Fire risks are one of the leading factors caused by frayed, worn-out cables. Aside from fire, the frayed cords can also be damaging to your appliances.

If you’ve been shocked, call a local Colorado electrician right away. A seasoned electrical service company like ElectriCall will be able to easily spot what is wrong with your power strip or outlet and will immediately perform the repair.

3. Never plug space heaters into your power strip.

Space heaters are a glutton of electricity, thus with the limited load that power strips can provide, they will not be able to cater so much load and might only end up facing a meltdown.

4. By all means, do not overload your power strip.

That said, no matter how appropriate it is for heavy use, connecting multiple heavy appliances to it at a time is still a big no. Otherwise, overloading might occur, consequently blowing your fuse and damaging all the devices and appliances connected to it, or far worse can happen.

5. Proper and prompt disposal is important.

Power strips are only designed for short-term use. Using them beyond their advisable period of use can be hazardous. Once the indicated lifespan of your power strip is reached or it heats fast, it is best to discard it right away and properly and hire a licensed electrician to install new power outlets in your place instead. It is the safest way to access electricity.

If you’re looking for home electrical repair services nearby, then give us a call today!

What to Do In Case of a Power Outage

Power outages can take place no matter how established the infrastructure for electricity is in Colorado. Our electrical infrastructure is never going to be resilient enough if nature decides to take its course and bring natural disasters such as storms, lightning, ice, etc.

In most cases, high power demand will result in a shortage of electric supply and can also lead to rotational power outages. Sometimes, a simple electrical issue at home can escalate, automatically signaling the circuit breaker to cut off its power supply, thus a sudden power outage. Sadly, regardless of the cause of the outage, there is no such thing as a convenient time in losing electricity. Hence, it pays to always be ready.

Unless Arvada’s local power distributor prompts you ahead of its scheduled power service interruption, you can never be certain that they’re responsible for the outage that you’re experiencing. That said, you can always assess the situation in advance; read this guide below:

DIAGNOSING A POWER OUTAGE

As mentioned above, there are a number of potential reasons why you may face a power outage. It could be infrastructure related, i.e. a thunderstorm has struck and hit a nearby post or transformer, or it could be an issue within your home’s electrical system. As for the latter, an outage can definitely occur by having device failures and loose connectors which ultimately lead to a short circuit or a circuit overload.

That said, whenever you experience a power interruption, the first part of your diagnosis should be to check your neighboring areas and see whether or not they are experiencing the same. If they are, then you may stop doubting your electrical system as the culprit and just wait for their emergency team to respond to your area to do the necessary repair.

Now, if you feel like your home is solely affected, the first thing you should do is to check your main breaker for any signs of tripping. If it is tripped, immediately switch it back on and see if the power restores. If it looks like the outage is only on selected sockets, you can run a test using a tester. However, this can expose you to electrical hazards such as being shocked or starting a fire-related incident. That is why experts have always advised homeowners to never deal with any electrical-related problems on their own. If you are caught in the same situation, find an electrician nearby instead. A reliable electrical service company in Arvada like ElectriCall can dispatch a licensed electrician who’s equipped with the right knowledge, skills, and tools to carry out proper diagnosis and the necessary repair your electrical system will need.

We are the electricians you can trust in case of an emergency!

Here at ElectriCall, your safety is our topmost priority. Our service line is ready to take your emergency electrical service call. No matter where you are in and around Arvada, Colorado, our certified electricians will take your situation with urgency and will carefully evaluate your electrical situation in the most professional way. All at a reasonable rate. Give us a call! You’ll be thankful you did.

Why You Should Label Your Electric Panel

Our homes are supposed to be the safest place at all times but with the electrical hazards that are potentially present, it pays to be meticulous in dealing with electrical-related problems and entrust the job to a licensed electrician nearby. But did you know that labeling your electrical panel is also a form of safety precaution?

Also referred to as the fuse box, fuse panel, or circuit breaker panel, an electrical panel is a device that is tasked to ensure a regulated and safe distribution of electricity throughout your home’s electrical system. At the same time, the device can detect whenever there is an irregularity of power supply or a potential electrical issue. Although there are panels installed indoors, most homeowners opt to have them installed in the basement or garage.

The electrical codes in the United States, including in Colorado, mandate that homeowners must have their electrical layouts printed and panels labeled, especially before putting them on sale. The purpose of this is to warn future homeowners or family members about the potential risks that can arise in touching them. At the same time, this will help electrical technicians easily locate the circuit breaker in case electrical installations and repairs have to be done in the future.

Labeling Your Electric Panel the Safe Way

As anything electrical-related has to be dealt with properly, the same thing applies in labeling your electric panel. However, at times, this can be hard especially if you lack the proper background and skills required to do it right. For instance, the process begins with identifying which outlets and fixtures are currently connected to your circuit breaker and these should be detached one by one before you start the labeling. If you feel like this is a threat, do not hesitate to seek help from a local electrician. On the other hand, if you want to give the task a try, below is a brief guide to follow:

Step #1: Turn off your circuit breaker and test the outlets one by one to take note of an accurate layout.

This is to totally eliminate the probability of electrocution or other electrical related accidents. Once this is done, check your fixture or appliance one by one and take note appropriately; an appliance that can still be powered on is an indication that it is probably connected to another breaker.

If you are hesitant to plug the appliances as this can end up damaging them, another way to check your power outlets is by plugging in a lamp, an alarm clock, or a voltage tester.

The entire process will be time-consuming but for you and your family’s safety, this will be worth it.

Step #2: Start labeling.

Here, you have two main things to label: your appliances and your breaker box.

· In labeling your appliances note that the purpose of this is to indicate which circuit breaker the particular appliance connects. At the same time, also include the amperage rating in the label. This will help you recognize defects in case it gets a disrupted power supply.

Electricians advise that large and heavy appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioning units, washing machines and dryers, and smart home systems be provided with their dedicated electrical panels as they tend to eat up a lot of electricity.

· In labeling your breaker box, you can make use of already-numbered slots or a diagram that you can refer to as an electrical layout guide for future electrical repairs.

If electric panel labeling is giving you trouble, you should not think twice about calling a licensed electrician’s help. Labeling may sound simple but the truth is, it comes with a lot of safety issues that a professional electrical service company like ElectriCall is versed in handling. Entrust the job to the experts; give us a call. We will be glad to help.

Helpful Tips on Power Outages

The majority of power outages only last for a couple of minutes. However, in some cases, they can last for days or even weeks.

No matter how often the power company maintains its infrastructure, no power lines are resilient against sleet storms, freezing rain, falling trees, high winds, or heat waves. The worse these get, the more damaging they become to your home’s appliances and electrical system.

Power outages can affect a region, neighborhood, or exclusively on your property. The latter happens the power supply at home is cut off because the circuit breaker has detected some irregularities in the circuit and power loads.

Unfortunately, in this digital age, our life has become fully dependent on electricity. Thus, where there is a power outage, other essentials are usually taken away too, i.e. air conditioning, heating systems, pumped water supply, hot water, lighting, etc. That said, if you have no crank or battery-powered radio, then you cannot have access to the news. If you have no battery reserves, then your smartphones will die, cutting your medium of communication which is important in case of emergency. Being unprepared in such situations can be so inconvenient and stressful; this is why it pays to know what needs to be done in advance to be prepared in case power outages occur unexpectedly.

Tips on Power Outages

As per the leading electrical contractor in Arvada, you should heed the following tips to mitigate the impact of a power outage:

Tip #1: Based on previous experiences, thoroughly list down the things that need to be done before, during, and after a power outage. This includes ensuring that all appliances are plugged off before the power comes back to prevent damages to appliances because of an electrical surge.

You will also want to make sure that you have already saved your local power companies phone number so that you can easily inquire about the outage’s reason, scope, and estimated time of restoration. In such cases, it also pays to know a reliable Arvada electrician you know you can call and rely on especially for sophisticated electrical-related works.

Tip #2: Carefully come up with an emergency plan and communicate this up to the simplest detail to your family so that everyone left at home during the outage will know the ABCs in case of emergency.

Tip #3: Have your emergency kit prepared all the time. This should entail essentials, i.e. food supply, water supply, power banks, charged-up batteries, etc. that you and your family will be needing for at least three days in case the worst power outage occurs. (Do not forget to replenish these once used.)

These tips will even come handy against other types of emergencies that might come your way. Most importantly, you should be aware of the risks or hazards particularly present to your community in Arvada or Denver, Colorado, to help you prepare better.

Once you have lived through the ordeal and inconvenience brought about by long-term power outages, you will be able to master it. The sooner, the more resilient you will become.

However, as it may still be inevitable to end up having damaged appliances because of the power outage, as soon as you have noticed one that is not working, it would be safest not to try a DIY-repair especially if you have no clue about the real extent of the damage. Do not hesitate to give us a call at ElectriCall and have our team of seasoned, licensed electricians do the needed work. We have been one of Arvada’s most top-rated electrician because of the quality of work we provide at a reasonable rate. For all your electrical maintenance and service needs, reach us! Your safety is our topmost priority.

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