electrician in arvada Archives

5 Reasons Why Your Electrical Bill Is Blowing

If you are like other people, perhaps you do not pay much attention to your electricity bill until you see it double or triple unexpectedly. There could be a lot of reasons why your electric bill is blowing or why it suddenly increased.

An unusually high bill is something you should be concerned about. From extreme weather, outdated appliances, to problems with the electrical box. These are the most common reasons your bill increased. Learn about these culprits before calling an Electrician in Arvada, CO to perform home electrical repair services.

Reason #1: Extreme Weather

Believe it or not, extreme weather can increase your electricity bill. But how does weather contribute to the sudden increase of electricity in your home? There are a few factors to look into, which are:

Temperature

As the weather changes from warm to cold or vice versa, the temperature takes a dip or soars drastically. electrical systems such as the HVAC system are running at maximum capacity and for a longer period of time.

The climate in your location

Residential utilities like electricity are more vulnerable to changes in the climate. A warmer climate can contribute to the inefficiency of energy production especially in electricity-generating power stations, nuclear or fuel, and fossil power plants which often use water for cooling. In turn, as the availability of energy resources decreases while consumer use continuously increases, that creates the rise and fall of the electricity rate.

Reason #2: Not Unplugging

Can unplugging devices and home appliances lower your electric bill? Yes, unplugging is a hassle, still, it will avoid power surges or fluctuation from occurring.

Our homes are filled with appliances that help make our daily routines easier like coffee machines, toasters, and microwaves. These small appliances consume energy while plugged into an outlet even when they are not in use and turned off.

Reason #3: Appliances & Lights Are Energy Suckers

According to researchers, the HVAC, specifically the heating system, uses the most energy at home. There are other appliances that are surprisingly energy suckers as well. They include items like a:

Clothes iron
Curling iron
Vacuum cleaner
Desktop computer
Paper shredder
Water heater
Boiler
Refrigerator

When it comes to appliances, always purchase energy-efficient models. You will not only save money for the purchase price, but you will also save on operating costs without sacrificing its quality and performance.

Reason #4: Improper Insulation Of The House

Another common culprit for the electricity bill suddenly increasing is improper or inadequate insulation of the home. Without insulation, the air conditioner can run 24/7 and still won’t make the room cool down. While it may not create a big spike in your utility bill, it still contributes in general.

Often, disconnected ducts and other physical signs like icicles hanging on the attic, and wall cavities show insufficient insulation. Sadly, you could be spending a lot of money on heating and cooling systems, only to stay uncomfortable due to improper insulation.

Upgrading your insulation is well worth the cost. It is the kind of home improvement that will pay off and improve your quality of life. An Arvada electrician or your trusted local residential electrician should be able to help you with investigating your home’s insulation.

Reason #5: Problems With Electrical Wiring

Faulty electrical wiring is another possible reason for the sudden increase in your electric bill. Electrical wiring gets damaged or frayed over time. And that raises problems for you.

Though copper wires can last up to 100 years, squirrels and rodents gnawing on wires or the deterioration of the materials can wear and tear the electrical wirings. Consequently, that can have a profound impact on your electricity bill, or worse, cause fire hazards. So if pests are a problem, hire a pest control service nearby.

In some cases, electricity usage suddenly increases due to faulty wirings. There could be areas in your home where the electrical wires are damaged and consuming excessive energy.

Call an electrician nearby to perform a thorough electrical inspection. ElectriCall provides home electrical repair services in and around Arvada, Colorado. Our team of electrical experts can give you insights into the reasons your electrical bill might be blowing up.

As a seasoned Arvada electrician, our team can recommend the right solutions including rewiring a house, upgrading electrical wiring and electrical outlets, and correctly wiring an electric panel. We have done various home rewiring jobs and are confident our team can offer top-notch electrical services.

If interested in our home electrical repair services, give us a call!

Do You Need An Electrical Update When Remodeling?

One of the first questions people ask an electrical company is whether they need an electrical update when remodeling. Whether it is a bathroom or a kitchen remodeling, contractors including the builders, architects, and electricians have to work together to ensure the integrity of the structure is maintained.

Any comprehensive remodeling requires planning and design concepts approved by local housing regulations. That means the new electrical routing and systems must be approved as well. For electrical wiring or any home rewiring jobs, hit ElectriCall with a message. Or call us! We can offer home electrical repair services in Arvada, CO.

Home remodeling and updating electrical systems

As a homeowner, you have probably thought about remodeling a portion of your house. Maybe you want to extend your kitchen or make your bathroom bigger. However, before you can even knock out a wall, you first have to consider the electrical routing of your home.

It is tempting to get on with the physical work, but planning for a large-scale rerouting of electrical systems is highly recommended to ensure the safety of the workers and residents. Here we have reasons why we advise our clients to upgrade their electrical systems during remodeling:

Added convenience before and after remodeling

One problem with residential properties is that some of them have been standing for over 30 years. Older homes tend to have fewer electrical outlets and poor placement. When you opt to upgrade your electrical system, you would not have to worry about the lack or poor placement of these power outlets.

Demand for electrical power

Depending on your use of electrical power, you should consider upgrading the electrical system of your home to more amps to fit your lifestyle and needs. If your property has an older electrical box or is using a fuse box, you definitely would want to talk with a professional electrical company.

Old power boxes often can not handle electrical fluctuations. They overload and cause fire hazards. ElectriCall consists of seasoned electricians. We are a trusted electrician nearby that will be at your location to assist right away.

Protect your family from dangers of electrical overload and electrocution

One of the best reasons you must hire an Electrician in Arvada, CO, is to make sure your family can sleep at night without worrying about the house catching fire. This should be one of your top priorities when doing a home improvement.

Remodeling does only pose health risks and safety issues from chemicals like sealants, paint materials, and adhesives. Safety concerns also come from incorrect wiring of electrical outlets or the use of substandard electrical components.

Typically, you want the remodeling to be inexpensive. However, you should not sacrifice health and safety for a cheap and fast home improvement. At ElectriCall, you can rest assured that your electrical rewiring is completely taken care of.

We are a team of local residential electricians who have been servicing the communities of Arvada, Colorado. Our electrical company offers home electrical repair services which include:

Electrical inspection
Wiring an electric panel
Rewiring a house

Our team takes pride in our excellent customer service, whether handling small or big projects. To protect your family from the potential dangers of electrical overload and electrocution, we will focus on:

Looking at any symptom that might indicate the need for an electrical upgrade
Accommodating your needs when it comes to the number of electrical outlets you need and their proper placement and distribution
Finding the right, top-quality electrical components that will bring more value to your life
Replacing any existing electrical wires that cannot handle more power, or have gone obsolete and are very dangerous
Giving you the peace of mind you so deserve

Do not wait for the sparks, remodel and upgrade now

Choosing to upgrade your electrical system sooner rather than later could be a lifesaver. That change could give you so much comfort in your home.

It is always exciting to remodel a house, and keeping your mind open to electrical upgrades like adding extra electrical outlets and receptacles, installing a thermostat, changing light switches, and rewiring and rerouting will save you a ton of trouble in the future. You do not really want to knock off walls and detach cabinets to make the necessary adjustments.

There is nobody better at giving advice and recommendations on electrical upgrades than ElectriCall. If you are looking to hire not just an electrician nearby, but a trusted Electrician in Arvada, CO, please give us a call.

Voltage Types: Low Voltage vs Line Voltage: What’s The Difference?

Before choosing the best lighting for commercial or residential infrastructure, you have to first consider the voltage type the building has. There are two kinds of voltages and knowing both will be useful when exploring your options. It will also help you when hiring an electrician in Arvada, CO to perform electrical works or home rewiring jobs on your property.

What does line voltage mean?

Line voltage refers to the standard voltage which is 120 volts that can be found on commercial and residential properties. It is common in most residential houses in the United States.

Since this is the standard voltage for most electrical outlets, line voltage fixtures commonly do not need a transformer to function. It works just about anywhere a low voltage fixture can be set up. Most often, it is integral to the infrastructure.

What does low voltage mean?

When talking about low voltage, unlike line voltage, this type requires a transformer for the lighting system to work properly. Generally, low voltage lighting systems only range from 12 to 24 volts. However, you will also notice that a low voltage fixture has a transformer installed relatively close to it.

Some examples of low voltage lighting include display lighting or anywhere it is difficult to have a standard voltage electrical wiring like landscape application.

What are the other differences between a lighting system that has line voltage or low voltage?

The electrical current enabling light fixtures, devices, and equipment to work play a significant role in our day-to-day life. Not having sufficient voltage in your home or office may result in electrical issues that could hinder your routine or work. That said, we encourage you to hire a professional electrician nearby to perform an electrical inspection on your property at least once every six months.

Other differences between line voltage and low voltage include:

Lifespan

Although most people will say that low voltage has a longer lifespan compared to line voltage, you have to remember that it cannot work without a transformer. Depending on the type of transformer and its operational intensity, in most cases, transformers would require constant maintenance and repair. So in reality, both actually have almost the same lifespan.

Quality of light

Line voltage allows the use of different types of light bulbs such as fluorescent, incandescent, sodium or orange street lights, and metal halide. These bulbs range from 60 to 250 watts, which is perfect for either indoor use or outdoor application. And since this type has high voltage, it produces a warmer and more diffused light.

Low voltage is considered an energy-efficient and low-cost alternative. Because low voltage bulbs are connected to a power pack, they typically have lower wattage that makes them efficient and last long. What that means is that low voltage fixtures can provide more consistent illumination. The low voltage lighting system also looks more natural and sharp than the line voltage lightings that tend to be more diffused.

Size and style

Low voltage fixtures are usually smaller compared to line voltage lighting systems. That is thanks to its smaller filaments and the use of a transformer. On the contrary, line voltage fixtures are so much bigger in size and style because they have to be able to handle colossal amounts of electric current.

Understanding the differences between voltages will allow you to make informed decisions about the lighting systems you should use. But, it is always the best option to have a skilled and seasoned Arvada electrician assist you.

Movability

The low voltage lighting system is usually not permanent, unlike the standard line voltage. That said, it is quite easy to set up or re-arrange when needed. And you can add more fixtures to the system as long as the transformer can handle it.

Safety

The current that flows through the transformer is less powerful than the line voltage. This feature makes the low voltage more attractive to use, especially for outdoor and landscape applications.

To learn more about what makes low voltage different from line voltage, or if you have any electrical issues that need immediate troubleshooting, contact us. ElectriCall offers a variety of home electrical repair services to homeowners in Arvada, CO.

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.

Take a look at Gfci Benefits That Should Finally Convince You to Invest in the Device

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.