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Rest Better with these Electrical Safety Tips

There are several benefits from acquiring the help of an electrician in Arvada, CO. To start with, you can guarantee that the electrical system of your home is updated and installed correctly. But, even if you are not an expert in electrical wirings, you can do preventive measures that will give you peace of mind. Rest better with these electrical safety tips we compiled for you.

Smoke alarms are commonly placed in the kitchen, but it is only right to install one on each floor of your house. That way, if a fire starts on the upper floor, you will get the alarm too. Check with your cities requirements for where to place smoke detectors. If you need help installing smoke alarms, give us a call.

Take time to audit any potential electrical issues and hazards in your house. Spend some time to inspect the outlets, extension leads, and plugs inside and outside your home. If you find the outlets are already producing burnt smell, that means you need to replace them. When it comes to outdoor electrical sockets, make sure they have covers to prevent small debris from entering and blocking the outlet that could later cause a fire. Putting a watertight cover will also help avoid it from getting wet and eventually electrocuting someone.

If your electrical outlets are positioned near conductors like the water system, know that it presents hazards. To resolve the issue, expert electricians recommend the use of a ground-fault circuit interrupter outlet or commonly known as GFCI. This is basically a type of outlet that will automatically shut off your power once an electric fault is detected. Have a professional Arvada electrician to assist you in installing this product.

Do not be careless to leave your mobile devices charging on or under a pillow. These kinds of devices tend to overheat and once they do, they could start a fire. As much as possible, do not leave charging electronic devices unattended. It is also not a good idea to let any gadget charge overnight because it can bloat the battery and cause an explosion.

Although it provides convenience, avoid using multiple extension outlets. There are probably times when you will need extra outlets, but you have to be careful not to overload the sockets. Best to do is have a residential electrician have a look at your electrical system and make the necessary upgrade to accommodate your needs.

Electrical burns can happen when appliances are plugged into an outlet. As a result, you might experience flash or arc flash, flame that could ignite other materials like your clothing, or electrocution. A faulty product can also create significant damage to the electrical wiring of the house and vice versa. So you might want to take note of any signs of malfunctions in your appliances and repair them right away. And when doing renovation or drilling holes in your wall, always be mindful of the electrical routing.

Keep away any flammable materials near sockets or plugs. For example, if you are using a portable heater or even an electric kettle, these things sometimes spark and create heat that could set hazardous materials in flames.

Find an electrician in Arvada, CO that will help you repair or rewire old electrical wirings. Outdated conductors like Aluminum wiring pose safety hazards. Copper wiring is the best to use in residential properties.

Clear out your hallways. Leaving clothes or toys lying around the house has many disadvantages. First of all, if you have an emergency that requires you to immediately get out of the home, these things could potentially block your way. And if there was a fire they could contribute to the build up of flames and prevent you from exiting.

Overheated clothes could ignite and spread throughout the house. Hence It is also not advisable to dry clothes behind the fridge or portable heaters. There are also numerous cases of dryer fires so we urge you to not leave your clothes drying unattended.

Regularly check your cables if they have become loose, have tear or damage, especially the cables you use for appliances and gadgets as they are often the most common to cause a house fire. Torn and frayed wires have significant risk issues, replacing cords that are worn out.

Electric blankets are another example of household items that often cause fire. Make sure that you are using it correctly and when storing, prevent it from getting tears that could damage the electrical components.

Curious kids tend to stick objects and even their fingers on electrical sockets. If possible, cover wall sockets to prevent children from getting injured, or worse accidentally setting the house on fire.

Installing or replacing an electrical component is not as simple as it sounds. Hiring a local electrician is the best route to choose. An Arvada electrician should be able to help you identify electrical problems and how to resolve them properly.

We hope these electrical safety tips can help you rest better. Follow these practices to best prevent small problems from getting bigger. Being mindful of the different household hazards and taking the appropriate actions will help keep you and your family safe.

There could be a lot more serious electrical issues in your house that are not visible. We can help you keep your home more safe for you and your family.

If your home needs an electrical upgrade and if you need more electrical safety tips, our Arvada electrician can assist you. We provide electrical services in the community. Call us to schedule an appointment.

The Benefits of Copper Wiring

Did you know that copper plated wiring will change your home for good? The benefits of copper wiring are immense that you would not want any other kind of material for your own home’s electrical system.

When to replace your electrical wiring

If your home was built between 1965 and 1985 when aluminum wiring was predominantly being used as an electrical conductor for most commercial and residential buildings.

If your outlets show discoloration or stains, it means that it has been in use for quite a while and have endured enough power surges.

If your light fixtures are always flickering whenever you plug an appliance, that means the electrical wiring cannot handle the power load and needs to be updated immediately. Moreover, if the breaker is tripping every now and then, that shows the need for replacement as well.

Contact our qualified electricians right away if you are noticing signs of faulty electrical wirings.

The benefits of installing copper wiring in your home

Is copper wiring in a house safe? Yes, it is. Copper wiring is the ideal material to use for any electrical wiring system. It trumps other materials like Aluminum for these top three reasons:

It is non-corrosive, which means it will not rust or degrade even when placed in a rough environment. And because of that, this kind of copper wiring lasts for over 50 years. This is an important benefit considering houses tend to be exposed to excess humidity or moisture that could make other metal materials rust.

The primary copper wire properties are ductility and malleability which simply means it can be formed into very thin wires and bent without breaking.

It is not only an excellent conductor, but it is also known to have an impressive coefficient of expansion. So even as more current flows through it, the copper wiring will not easily heat up, expand, and break.

It has an impressive melting point. Compared to other conductors, copper is unlikely to melt and start a fire, which is why professionals and qualified electricians choose this material.

It is easy to work with which makes the lives of Arvada electricians less stressful. Copper wiring can be stripped easily, bent into shape, and soldered with ease. For that reason, it is so much safer to handle.

It is durable, requires low maintenance, and resilient to changing temperatures.

It is compatible with other electrical components and materials installed in residential or commercial buildings. Copper works well with other metals without causing damage.

Why electrical copper wires are better than iron wires

First of all, there are different types of copper wires that are being used extensively in different industries like car manufacturing and commercial and residential construction. It has high electrical conductivity and the electricity passing through is not heating the wiring too much for it to break or spark and cause a house fire.

Many Arvada electrician experts would prefer to use copper when doing residential wiring repair. That is because they know that copper wire is durable which means it is capable of withstanding the changes in weather conditions. And because copper wires are braided with multiple threads, they are so much better connectors for electrical appliances and devices that need to be recharged like mobile phones and laptops.

Now, you are probably questioning what is wrong with aluminum and is aluminum wiring safe?

Just like copper, aluminum is another common material used as an electrical conductor in both commercial and residential. However, unlike copper, aluminum is not as strong as an electrical wiring material.

Long before copper wire became the standard for circuit wirings, aluminum was the ideal option for its cheaper price and flexibility. Unfortunately, if your house is using aluminum wiring, you might find yourself in a constant aluminum wiring fiasco. Since this kind of material has high thermal expansion and contracts when cooled, it can easily become loose, break, and trigger fire hazards. Hence, you will be doing aluminum wiring repair constantly.

Numerous factors could cause the failure of aluminum wiring connections. That includes its contact resistance against other materials, corrosion, and its Creep or the rate of change it undergoes over time.

When it comes to aluminum wiring mitigation, you have few options. One method is to rewire the whole structure and install copper wiring and follow the local building code. This may not be the most affordable way, but it will completely remove the aluminum wiring from your home.

Another method is to install a thermal strip known as AlumiConn or COPALUM which is a sealed terminal. Either of these two can be attached to the old aluminum wire to avoid the extensive and costly process of rewiring the whole electrical system.

If you are unsure whether your home has aluminum wiring, checking the electrical panel on your own might not be the best idea. Have the professionals do the investigation for you.

Our expert electricians can tell you more about the benefits of copper wiring, get in touch with us before you begin rewiring your home.

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.

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!

Plumbers

Around Arvada, electricians and plumbers work well together because they have a lot in common. From installing, repairing, maintaining, to troubleshooting, both should be skilled and knowledgeable of local codes for safety and building. Each must be capable of performing their tasks, especially to ensure the proper functioning of the properties’ electrical systems.

Contractors building a home or homeowners having renovation are usually not experts on plumbing and electrical works. That is why getting the help of plumbers and Arvada electricians are important to a successful process.

Both professionals depend on each other for routing crucial pipelines. Just imagine drilling to water lines while there are exposed electrical wires underneath. That is very dangerous that might even cost you your property.

An Arvada electrician and plumber working together will prevent issues from happening. Electricians like us are professionally trained to ensure the completion of the project in the most efficient and safe way.

What is the main difference between an Arvada electrician and a plumber?

ElectriCall works on anything related to electrical work. That includes:

Creating electrical plans for new buildings or simple renovation projects. For example, kitchen electrical plan and planning for electrical panel replacement cost.
Doing home electric repairs such as a kitchen remodel electrical work, basement renovation electrical wiring, and electrical panel upgrade.
Wiring an electric panel properly, especially when the system is next to water lines.

Meanwhile, plumbers focus on installing and maintaining water piping systems in commercial or residential properties. Piping systems for the kitchen, bathrooms, basement, etc. must be braced into place for safe and efficient installation of electrical components.

Both professions have their own specialties that contribute to the success of the construction project.

Can electrical wiring be next to plumbing?

Building codes do not specifically prohibit electrical cables and plumbing lines to be in the same trench. Both plumbers and Arvada electricians work on metal and plastic conduit for safely channeling fluid or sealing electrical wires.

An electrical conduit is necessary to route and protect the electrical wiring of the structure, most importantly when the lines are going to be close to a water system. There are different types of enclosures used to protect the electrical wiring.

Non-metallic tubing
Metallic tubing
Liquid-tight flexible conduit
Flexible metal conduit
Intermediate metal conduit
Rigid polyvinyl chloride
Rigid metal conduit

Plumbers install pipes and plumbing fixtures. They can easily assemble, alter, repair, and maneuver parts even in tight spaces. They do the piping and plumbing fitting that makes it easier for electricians to do their job, and vice-versa.

A lot of things can go wrong from improper wiring, improper installation, and using damaged or wrong materials. Errors in the installation of electrical conduits can create risk and cause electrocution or fire. Frustrating problems like faulty breakers, power outages, improper grounding of outlets might also bring costly repairs, replacements, or adjustments.

To avoid that from occurring, hiring skilled professionals and not just any electrician nearby is pivotal. Plumbers and electricians should get the job done quickly and effectively, with fewer repairs necessary.

How close can an electrical pipe be to a water line?

An electrical wire running next to the gas line is not allowed, but it can be in the same wall as the plumbing system. When it comes to the water line a feet away from the electrical conduits, there should not be an issue if the electrical wires are properly concealed and insulated.

Since plumbers and Arvada electricians work together, both can prevent and resolve dilemmas that may arise from planning, installing, or repairing. And because both have exact responsibilities, know the types of materials needed, and can follow designs and blueprints, project success is highly likely.

Electrical violations will not only result in huge fines but can make systems malfunction and cause unsafe conditions during or after the construction. It takes careful planning, effective communication, and attention to detail of an Arvada electrician and plumber to make a project succeed.

So if you’re a plumber in Arvada or the Denver area and need to work with a certified electrician, give ElectriCall a ring. We can help make your life easier by taking the necessary steps to efficiently help you complete your plumbing project or anything to do with the electrical system.

As a local home service company, we work with other business owners by referring out residential and commercial jobs. If you’re looking to team up or just network, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.