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What To Do When Power Is Lost?

“No power in the house” – that is one sentiment was heard again and again from residents affected by the recent crisis in Texas. Windmills and solar panels failing due to power overload and ice storms causing damages and leaving people vulnerable.

Extreme weather conditions, especially during the winter season can knock the power out. A home power outage disrupts daily living. Even if it is only gone for several hours, there will be a major disruption in your routine.

So what to do when power is lost?

Weather can get so crazy and not being prepared can cripple you. In this article, we have provided some power outage tips on what you should do when power is suddenly lost.

Keep calm and grab a light

If the power outage happens at night, grab a flashlight or use your phone to light your way. Gather your family in one place and give everyone a flashlight just in case another emergency arises that will need you to evacuate the house.

Check if the street lights are on and if your neighbors have power. And call your power company to know what happened and when the electricity will be back again.

Another thing you should consider doing is reserving water. During power outages, water supply and purification systems could go out as well. So it is a smart idea to gather all your buckets and have a backup water supply. Do not forget to fill up your tub with water.

Since the HVAC system will also be out during the power outage, it is also worth remembering to keep the doors and windows closed to prevent freezing air from outside. And keep the fridge closed, especially if there are medications inside that need to remain cool.

You might also want to check in with other relatives and friends. They might have access to the news or the internet and provide you crucial information about what is happening and the possible causes of the power outage in your neighborhood.

If your house has a generator installed, get it up and running.

Look for the source

Interruption in electrical service could be caused by numerous reasons – a storm knocking off the power lines, overconsumption, and equipment failure among others. Ask your neighbors if they have a power outage too, or it is just your house. With a flashlight, inspect your electrical panel and breakers. If the switches are flipped on and you have no power, report the power outage and request immediate assistance from a Denver electrician.

Be safe

When electricity suddenly dies, the first thing you need to do is to unplug your appliances and electronic devices. Do that to prevent damaging them in case the power switches on and off. It will also prevent the surge of power from damaging your appliances and causing a fire when the electricity finally comes back on.

In the meantime, find ways to stay warm, hydrated, and comfortable as much as possible. If you can, stay at another place that is safer and more comfortable until the electricity is back. And do not panic or get frustrated. Sometimes electrical service takes time to return.

Having to experience a power outage is definitely stressful. Fortunately, local electricians like us can help alleviate the situation. By contacting us early on, we can assist in ensuring the electrical system of your home is up-to-date.

We have a checklist for electrical safety that helps us keep our clients safe and comfortable in their homes, especially during a power outage. Losing electricity also carries emotional effects, and so we do not want you to have to worry about the electrical safety of your home.

It is a good idea to have your home inspected and maintained by a seasoned Denver electrician. This way, if there is an outage, your appliances, devices, and life are not going to be put in the line.

Backup power will save you

A standby generator will literally save your life. It will keep your home lit and warm when ice storms cut your power. A certified Denver electrician can help you with a home generator installation.

You can opt for a standby generator to power your whole house or just select circuits. The price range depends on the size and coverage of the generator. On average, a house generator costs 3K to 6K, with installation it would cost about 6K – 11K.

Of course, safety considerations during installation matter. That is why you need to hire a professional electrician to do the job. In general, building codes require generators to be at certain feet away from the house and there are other restrictions to be followed as well.

It will take a seasoned local electrician to properly install a house generator. Otherwise, there are dangerous consequences like carbon monoxide poisoning, getting electrocuted, or causing a fire. And you might even lose your house insurance from improper generator installation.

When it comes to maintenance, a home generator needs regular cleaning and checkup. That responsibility belongs to your local electrician who is capable of inspecting the system and performing precautionary measures.

A professional Denver electrician will help you with the following:

Remove or replace components
Inspect connections, wiring, and battery
Check and change fuel and air filters
Adjust control panels

Be prepared for the unexpected

Planning ahead will get you through an emergency situation. Since you can never know when a Denver power outage will occur, being ready in advance is the best thing you can do.

Have an emergency bucket containing extra batteries, candles, and matches, flashlights.
Have a stock of first aid kits and medical supplies. This is crucial especially if you or anyone in your family are on medication for a disease or serious illness.
Have non-perishable food or canned goods in your pantry that are easy to cook or do not need to be cooked at all.
If you are using electric appliances, have a backup handy, cooking supply that uses propane.
Have a professional electrician install a generator in your house.

Power outages cause big inconvenience, but they happen to everyone. Whether it is because of a blown fuse or severe weather, no one is immune from the sudden loss of power. But do not worry, you can still keep yourself and your family safe by doing the power outage tips listed above.

GFCI Won’t Reset – Why?

Many homes today are required to use GFCIs or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, especially in the kitchen and bathroom to minimize the risk of getting an electrical shock from water. The GFCI breaker trips for several reasons including:

Wet cables and wires plugged in
Turning certain appliances on and off
Wrong connection of wires damaging the breaker
Outdated breaker and component
Damage to the system during manufacture or shipping

Since it plays a significant role in keeping you and your family safe, knowing basic things about it, such as, how to reset GCFI outlet and why the GCFI won’t reset even after pushing the button will help minimize your frustrations when electrical issues arise.

How do you know if a GFCI is bad?

The first thing you should know is that the GFCI functions to provide protection from power overload and surges. Its breaker is built to shut off in case such a scenario happens. It might also turn off for reasons like storm lighting and static electricity.

So if the power is continuously shutting on and off, it means that the GFCI system is tripping. And if the outlet is not used on a regular basis and still frequently trips off, that indicates it is faulty and must be immediately replaced.

To analyze the problem, the first thing you need to do is to find the circuit breaker that is connected to the GFCI. And then, try to reset it. There should be a button on the face of the GFCI outlet that will let you reset it.

Not all GFCI circuits are the same. Some will need you to use a special tester to check if the reset was successful or not. Other designs, especially those that were produced after 2006 have indicators in them.

If yours requires a special tester, simply plug it in and if the power goes out, then it worked. Otherwise, the GFCI has gone bad and you need to replace it.

Other indicators that the GFCI is faulty are shown in the following scenarios:

If you press the reset button and nothing happens.
If the reset button does not stay in or if the button is out and still, the appliances or devices plugged in are working.
If the reset button pops out overtime you use a device or appliance that is plugged in.

For safety purposes, it is better to hire a professional electrician in Arvada, CO to do install, maintain and repair the GFCI in your home.

What would cause a GFCI not to reset?

There are several reasons attributed as to why the GFCI won’t reset. That includes the following:

Outdated components
The GFCI has gone bad
Wrong connection of the system
The circuit breaker turning off its power
Not enough or no power supply to the receptacle

However, the most common cause would be due to the ground fault that has detected a power surge thus automatically shutting the breaker to prevent the potential occurrence of electrocution.

If the outlet is shorted or overloaded, the only way to resolve the problem is by replacing the GFCI receptacle and other affected components. Troubleshooting a GFCI that won’t reset requires the skills and knowledge of a certified electrician.

ElectriCall consists of dedicated and expert electricians that will help you figure out the issues and fix them with minimal disruption and safety risks. Call us to get more details about our electrical services.

What to do if GFCI is not resetting

If the GFCI is still not reactive after resetting, the system is definitely faulty. Call an electrician in Arvada, CO to repair the electrical problem including issues with the outlets and connections. Professional electricians like us can perform GFCI outlet reset or repair.

Any problem with your electrical system warrants inspection and repair by a seasoned electrician. Attempting to do it on your own might cause bigger damage to the circuit, and you are putting yourself at risk as well.

ElectriCall can fix the issue with the breaker and other components. Our team is the “residential electrician nearby” you can count on. But in the meantime, do these steps to prevent any more risks:

Assess the problem.
Make sure your appliances are unplugged or not connected to the GFCI outlet.
Try to reset GFCI by simply pushing the red button.
If that did not work, switch off the circuit breaker.
Inspect the wire connections. Look for any loose or bad connections. The live circuit should be attached to the “Line,” while the wire for the other outlets should be on the “Load” connection.

Electrical issues and solving them can be quite confusing which is why it is better to hire an electrician in Arvada, CO.

Why Are My Lights Flickering?

Wondering why your lights are flickering? This is a common problem that homeowners have to go through. Although it might seem natural, things can escalate very quickly. We recommend you give an Arvada electrician a call.

Did you notice your lights suddenly turning on and off? In this article, we hope to provide you with information regarding the cause of this electrical issue and how to handle it. There are few reasons why flickering lights happen, some may be dealt with on your own, while other tasks such as electrical troubleshooting in Arvada should be handled by a certified electrician.

What does it mean when lights flicker?

First of all, assess why your lights are flickering. If the flickering is just new, check whether the bulbs or plugs are tight or not. Most of the time it is just an isolated case involving loose bulbs. Sometimes, faulty fixtures and appliances or devices using large amounts of current can make the lights flicker.

If the flickering happens regularly and longer than usual, there could be bigger electrical issues that needs to be resolved immediately. Problems in the conductors, electrical services, and triggers could result in lights flickering and tends to have a major impact on other electric appliances and devices.

When it comes to loose bulbs and plugs, fixing the flickering would be simple. Just screw the bulb or plug tightly. If that does not work, you may need to replace the bulb.

Some things you need to remember when it comes to fluorescent bulbs is that they have a higher tendency to flicker during the winter season or cold temperature. With LED bulbs, having a dimmer switch contributes to electrical load that can make the light flicker.

If the problem is with the bulbs or plug you are using, there is nothing you should worry about. It is common for faulty fixtures to flicker every now and then. Change them and your problem is solved.

On the other hand, when it comes to bigger problems that carry a higher risk of setting your house on fire, immediate assistance by professional electricians like ElectriCall is necessary. Problems that need electrical troubleshooting by expert electricians involve:

Fluctuations in voltage
Outdated components and wirings
Faulty electrical box, switches, and service connection
Overload or surge of power in the circuit

Do not try to repair electrical issues on your own, especially if you have no knowledge and experience on electrical systems.

Should I worry about lights flickering?

The only time you should start worrying about your lights flickering is when you have replaced the faulty fixture and still the flickering persists. That often means that the root of the problem is with the electrical system or its connections.

Flickering lights could be due to bad weather, so if your area is experiencing a storm when the flickering happens, that is probably the source. When the lights in your whole house are flickering and the weather is perfectly fine, that is indicative that there is a problem with the electrical system of your home.

When the flickering happens whenever you turn an appliance on and off, the problem could be an overloaded circuit. This often occurs when you crank up multiple appliances at the same time. As a result, the maximum load for the circuit is reached causing it to trip or suddenly shut off and on.

Minor changes will not solve the problem and leaving the issue for more days will only cause more damage. Electrical issues involving overload in the circuit needs to be fixed right away because it could lead to overheating of the wires and cause a fire.

The problem is that we often need to plug in multiple devices and appliances to perform our daily functions. But, how can you minimize if not completely eliminate your worries? Call a local electrician right away to assist you in repairing or replacing electrical components.

ElectriCall can help you with the proper installation and repair any electrical-related components in your home. Our team will help you prevent electrical circuit overload from happening. We will ensure that the routing of your house’s electrical wiring is mapped correctly.

Above all, we will help you conduct preventive measures such as installing sub panels and an additional breaker panel or circuits to guarantee all appliances get the right amount of voltage needed to function properly. There are a lot more we can do to help you, so do not hesitate to contact us!

How do I stop my lights from flickering?

Upgrade incompatible or outdated switches. If you have been using an old switch model, perhaps it is time to replace it with a better one. In today’s generation, newer and better technology for houses have been developed to ensure the safety of people.

Badly-fitting bulbs might also be the source of flickering. But there is no need to panic or be alarmed by this since changing it will do the trick. However, we recommend that you assess and examine the issue thoroughly to ensure that there are no other problems lurking and waiting to explode.

Try using smart bulb switches that are not only trendy, but will not damage your light fixture. A smart bulb switch can easily turn the power of the light bulb on and off. Choosing to use smart bulbs and switches is more user friendly and will give you better experience.

For the bigger problem, contact an Arvada electrical contractor to examine the issue and perform the necessary electrical wiring repair.

Common Reasons why they flicker

Some reasons for lights flickering are easy to fix. Other culprits need to be taken care of by a professional Arvada electrician. Either way, it is an annoying electrical problem that can disrupt your daily living.

Here are the most common culprits for flickering lights:

Loose bulbs
Loose plugs
Wrong connection of wirings
Improper installation of sockets
Old and outdated wiring
Problem in the electrical routing
Faulty light fixtures
Overloaded power lines and circuits
Appliances and HVAC units using large current

Hire a seasoned electrician to deal with serious electrical issues to ensure that the problem is fixed right the first time. Performing a DIY on matters like this might potentially cost you more in maintenance and replacement, worse, cost your life.

Let professionals like ElectriCall inspect and fix the electrical problem in your house. Remember that flickering lights may be common, but it could also lead to a dangerous event.

Property Management

Property Management

Property managers handle different tasks like the administration, maintenance and general operation of residential or commercial properties. They work with a master electrician for ensuring the safety of properties when it comes to servicing the electrical systems.

Since property managers oversee residential homes and large-scale buildings, it is sensible to work with an electrician near Denver to check and prevent electrical problems that will hinder the daily activities of people, or worse, put them at risk.

Staying On Top of Electrical Works

We all know how important it is to maintain a property, but it is never an easy feat. Keeping a property livable involves planning, upkeep, and costly consequences.

Having a professional Denver electrician can help mitigate any risk from electrical hazards, such as wrong use of materials, improper installation of systems and cables, and poorly done wiring that can cause a fire.

Aside from avoiding hazards that could potentially injure people occupying the property, staying on top of electrical works make the property more attractive to other potential renters. And it keeps residents satisfied with their space. Not only that, but if in case you’re ever looking to sell the property, a well-maintained electrical system will be attractive to the prospective buyer.

Here are other reasons why a Denver electrician and property manager should work together:

Reduce costly errors during installation or repair.
Complete tasks in the most efficient manner.
Property managers can reduce the time they spend on performing building maintenance on their own.

Handle Electrical Concerns in a Timely Manner

Let us be real. Not all property managers are skilled to perform maintenance, especially involving electrical works. As a consequence, residents or renters are unsatisfied with the response to electrical issues such as power outages, breakers malfunctioning, and so on.

Working with professionals like a commercial electrician helps reduce encountering serious issues. We can effectively communicate, handle, and track maintenance issues that will keep the property safe and the renters satisfied.

ElectriCall can conduct routine checkup on electrical wirings and other elements, as well as do preventive maintenance. We can schedule seasonal, monthly, or yearly electrical maintenance to help you minimize the chance of expensive repairs.

Our electrical maintenance covers diverse areas and all aspects from monitoring, electric home repair, fixing, testing, and replacing electrical components. Property management for both residential and commercial properties can effectively reduce the chances of an unscheduled power interruption or outage working with a master electrician like us.

The failure of electrical systems can cause extensive problems for the renters. Identifying issues early on, such as faulty wiring and outdated electrical panels, and addressing them through our preventive measures will help avoid renters from getting outraged.

Performing electrical work requires specialized training. A Denver electrician plays a major role in property management. We are responsible for tackling electrical issues and the overall maintenance of electrical components, especially HVAC. We work well with property managers and provide excellent service and communication.

Electrical Maintenance Program

Effectively maintaining a properties’ electrical work is generally a complex job. It can become expensive too if not done correctly the first time.

Projects such as remodeling the kitchen or basement need professional electrical servicing and maintenance. A renovation electrical wiring plan is vital for effectively implementing changes. Property managers depend on a master electrician like us to plan and execute the plan in the most effective and efficient manner.

Our maintenance program is customized to fit thq1e requirements of the customers, but it commonly consists of the following:

Inspecting and cleaning electrical systems
Checking all power meters
Looking for any signs of damage or wear
Testing electrical components
Checking filters and general condition of electrical devices
Disconnect wirings as necessary
Manually replace devices, power supply units, control relays, switchboards, and more!
Final visual inspection and clearing

No residential or commercial facility should go without electrical maintenance. Property managers will find it more viable to work with a master electrician and not just any electrician nearby when handling electrical work.

Should you need to find a reliable electrician nearby, then give ElectrCall LLC a call today. We are one of Denvers’ top electricall repair companies and have been serving the area since 2011. As licensed electricians, we have seen just about every type of electrical situation. That said, we can get the job done. Call us today for more information!

General Contractors

General contractors do an array of maintenance tasks. They are entrusted with carrying the construction of a home or a large-scale building from plumbing to carpentry. But, when it comes to electrical work, they often hand it to a master electrician.

A certified electrician, like ElectriCall can tackle situations involving electrical components with certainty and precision. With electrical work, there is really little to no room for error. Otherwise, people’s lives will be put on the line.

How does an electrician in Arvada CO work with general contractors?

The main duties of a master electrician include installing, fixing, and keeping electrical wiring and fixtures in top shape. Professional electricians like us are capable of following blueprints and diagrams. And we are knowledgeable in terms of construction regulations and codes.

ElectriCall can perform the following tasks:

Install electrical work in accordance with the local construction codes
Repair or troubleshoot any electrical tools and equipment
Analyze electrical plans, diagrams, and schematics
Follow documentation and specifications
Evaluate and recommend proper steps for repairing and maintaining electrical components
Support general contractors by effectively communicating issues and provide the best solutions
Fix or replace electrical materials
And more!

Our years of experience as professional electricians tackling all kinds of electrical issues made us able to provide excellent quality service and creative solutions. ElectriCall has positioned itself as a diverse firm that can quickly adapt to policies, work environment, and changes in requirements. We aim for excellence in both operations and service.

What can and cannot general contractors do?

The primary role of a general contractor has to do with a structure being built. They typically superintend the construction of a property but not when it comes to fire protection or performing electrical tests. Certified electricians are needed to check and complete the electrical works.

To ensure the quality and standard of electrical components, skilled electricians should be hired. In most cases, construction companies or general contractors hire an electrician in Arvada, CO to work for them and get the job done. So, in a sense, the general contractors have limited responsibilities.

General contractors find electrical routing a specialty work, thus depend on seasoned electricians to do install new electric components, perform home electric repair, or renovation electrical wiring. In other words, both professions should get along to complete the project.

It is common for homeowners and contractors to call a master electrician whenever they are building or remodeling. It is important to acquire the assistance of skilled and trained electricians to ensure that they can provide the help or service needed.

Selecting an electrician in Arvada CO

It is crucial to look for certain qualities when hiring a certified electrician nearby. When choosing a professional electrician, following this guideline will help you hire the best in the business:

Previous experience working in a residential or commercial facility
Knowledge of technical terms
Skills and training on solving electrical problems
Electrical trade qualification
Good communication skills to effectively relay information, issues, and recommendations
Skills in handling crisis or sudden changes in requirements
Dependability and motivation in starting and completing the project
Capability to provide accurate cost estimates and predict challenges that may arise
Attention to detail, especially during the planning stage, tracking of materials, and execution of plans

As a master electrician, we are expected to perform maintenance as deemed necessary or upon emergency requests. ElectriCall can also do the following tasks:

Perform maintenance on various electrical tools and equipment
Fit and install electrical fixtures
Assemble complex equipment or components
Conduct routine inspections
Maintain all electrical wirings, elements, and tools working at all times
Promptly and efficiently respond to emergency calls

A general contractor and certified electrician working together is the way to go. They will get the project done the right way and with minimal mistakes. It is wise to hire our services to handle electrical work and other specialty projects involving electrical wiring.

So if you’re a general contractor in Arvada or the greater Denver area, then give us a call. We’d be more than happy to assist you with your residential or commercial project. We’re looking to work with other service based companies who are looking to develop a professional network, so that we can all be more successful and help each other out.

At ElectriCall, we can handle just about any job. So call us Today!

What To Do When Power Is Lost?

GFCI Won’t Reset – Why?

Why Are My Lights Flickering?

Property Management

General Contractors

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