• Electrical Maintenance Tips

    When you encounter an electrical problem like a loose outlet in your home, you shouldn’t ignore it. Not maintaining your electrical system properly could lead to much larger electrical problems in the future. Watch this video to see why you should call a certified electrician near San Jose to help you maintain your electrical system at home.

    While you should never attempt to fix an electrical problem without the assistance of a certified electrician, there are several things you can do on your own to maintain your system. You can check your electrical panel every so often to make sure that your circuit breakers aren’t warm. You can also keep an eye out for flickering lights as they could indicate an electrical issue. By being proactive about maintaining your electric, you can avoid the need for costly repairs and keep your electrical system in good working order.

  • What’s Tripping Your Circuit Breaker?

    Is one of the circuit breakers in your fuse box tripping on a regular basis? If so, this is a sign that you may need to have an electrician come out to take a look at your electrical panel in San Jose . It’s also a sign that you may need to rethink the way you are using your electricity. In most cases, you can avoid tripping a circuit breaker simply by not running two appliances that require a lot of energy at the same time. Check out a few of the common household appliances that can cause circuit breakers to trip. Causes of circuit breaker tripping in San Jose, CA

    Hair Dryers

    Most hair dryers are small, so you might not think that they would require much power. However, in order to deliver a steady stream of hot air, hair dryers use a tremendous amount of electricity . If possible, you should use a hair dryer in the bathroom where you have a ground fault circuit interrupter installed. It can cut off electricity for that specific outlet without causing a circuit breaker to trip.

    Irons

    Much like hair dryers, irons will put a serious strain on your fuse box because they heat up quickly and need a lot of electricity to do it. This is especially true when you turn an iron up to its highest setting. By turning down your iron’s heat, you can scale back on how much electricity it uses.

    Fans

    While running one fan in your home shouldn’t cause a circuit breaker to trip, you may run into issues if you attempt to run multiple fans at the same time. Most homeowners will run a fan all day long when it gets warm, and this will use up electricity throughout the day and increase the chances of a circuit breaker tripping.

    Older Refrigerators

    If you have a newer refrigerator, you probably won’t have to worry about it tripping one of your circuit breakers, but older models may present problems. You may need to hire a certified electrician to hook an old refrigerator up to its own circuit breaker to avoid electrical issues.

  • Electrical Services for Mobile Home Parks

    Mobile home parks have unique electrical requirements. Whether you are designing a new mobile home park or are seeking to upgrade and improve your existing facilities, an electrician serving San Jose can help you choose the right electrical services for your property. At Delta Electric , our electricians are highly experienced in performing all of the special electrical services that are required for mobile home parks. For example, we can assist you with pedestal repair or replacement. In addition, we also offer main house panel upgrades, as well as full panel replacements. To help you ensure that your mobile home park is safe for all residents, we can also help you with hanging lights along streets and driveways. We provide substation circuit breakers, which will ensure that all of your residents are properly connected to the grid. Whether you are in need of minor electrical repairs or are planning a new circuit breaker installation, the experts at Delta Electric will be there to assist you. Electrical Services for Mobile Home Parks

  • How Do Smoke Alarms Work?

    Your home’s electrical system is designed to provide you with convenient power at all times of the day and night. Whether you are planning on hanging lights or installing new circuit breakers in your home, it is essential to entrust these tasks to an electrician serving San Jose . With the help of your electrician, you can make sure that all of the components of your electrical system are working great. One of the most important electrical devices in any home is the smoke alarm. To highlight the importance of keeping your smoke alarm properly maintained, here is a look at how these devices work. Smoke Alarm Installation in San Jose, CA

    The Different Types of Smoke Detectors

    In order to understand how smoke alarms work , it is helpful to understand the different types of smoke detectors that are available. When you are selecting a new smoke alarm, you will have the choice of either an ionization detector or a photoelectric detector. Each type of detector relies on innovative technology in order to pick up on the presence of smoke in your indoor air.

    Ionization Detectors

    Ionization detectors rely on an innovative process that is known as ionization radiation. Inside each ionization detector, there is a tiny amount of an isotope that is known as Americium 241. This isotope decays at a predictable rate. In the event that smoke passes through the detector, the Americium 241 will suddenly start to decay more quickly. This process creates positively charged atoms, which will turn the smoke alarm on and cause it to sound.

    Photoelectric Detectors

    Along with ionization detectors, photoelectric detectors are also commonly found in the home. Unlike ionization detectors, which work due to a chemical reaction, photoelectric detectors are equipped with light-emitting diodes and sensors. The light emitting diode sheds a steady stream of light into the sensor. When smoke enters the chamber, it will partially or fully block the stream of light. As a result, the smoke alarm will know when to turn on.

  • Identifying Common Electrical Issues

    When you are building a new house, you will need to hire a residential electrician in San Jose . With the help of your electrician, you will receive valuable assistance towards all aspects of planning and installing your electrical system. For example, your electrician will be able to help you with hanging lights throughout your home. With properly positioned and wired lights, your indoor spaces will be beautifully illuminated. In addition, an electrician can place and installed light switches, circuit breakers, and more. When you hire an electrician to help you with every step of your electrical installation, you can rest assured that your home’s wiring will work great. For a closer look at some common home electrical issues, watch this video from ehowhome.

  • Getting the Facts About Circuit Breakers

    Your home’s electrical system is made up of many sophisticated components. From your fuse box to your electrical panel, each part of your electrical system is important to its overall function. When you hire a residential electrician in San Jose , your technician may suggest that you schedule an inspection for your circuit breaker. Your circuit breaker is responsible for turning off individual power sources in the event of an electrical surge. Without a properly working circuit breaker, your home could be unsafe. Let’s take a look at some important facts about circuit breakers. Circuit Breaker Facts

    How Circuit Breakers Work

    When you are learning about your home’s circuit breaker , it is helpful to understand how these devices work. A circuit breaker is typically installed in an out of the way location, such as a basement or garage. Each breaker switch on the panel is connected to a different wiring system in your house. For example, you will have specific switches for your kitchen and bathroom.

    The Common Causes of Tripped Circuit Breakers

    There are several different scenarios that can cause your circuit breaker to trip. First, you may find that your circuit breaker trips when you turn on a certain electrical appliance in your house. In addition, large appliances, such as air conditioners, can also trip circuit breakers. Circuit breakers are designed to trip when they sense that one or more electrical circuits has been overloaded. This mechanism will help prevent an electrical fire or other emergency in your home.

    Knowing When to Call an Electrician

    When your circuit breaker trips, you will be able to reset the switch on your own. However, there are certain scenarios that will require you to contact your electrical contractor. For example, if you find that a certain switch in your circuit breaker trips frequently, this could be an indication that your wiring is faulty. By updating your wiring with the help of your electrician, you can improve the performance of your circuit breaker.

  • A Look at Amp Panel Upgrades

    AMP Panel Upgrade Services in San Jose, CA Electricity comes into your home through your main electrical panel. The panel then distributes it to the various parts of your house through individual circuit breakers. Over time, these breakers and the electrical panel itself can wear out due to age or constant overloading of your electrical system. Delta Electric can install a new electrical panel near San Jose and upgrade the electricity in your home for you.

    If the circuit breakers in your electrical panel trip on a regular basis, this is a surefire sign that you could benefit from an electrical panel upgrade. Additionally, if you have en electrical panel manufactured by Federal Pacific or Zinsco, it’s probably a good idea to explore an upgrade since electrical panels built by these brands are known for being faulty. By taking a look at your electrical panel, electrical contractors will be able to tell whether or not you need an upgrade almost immediately. Let Delta Electric inspect your electrical panel today, and we will check your circuit breakers and all of the other aspects of your electrical panel to let you know whether or not we would recommend an upgrade for you.

  • Essential Tips for Purchasing a Generator

    Do you want to make sure your home doesn’t lose power in the middle of the next storm or natural disaster? If so, you should purchase a generator. You can buy a portable generator that will allow you to keep your power on for a short amount of time or invest in a more permanent option that is designed to turn on automatically if your home ever loses power. A residential electrician can help you make your decision and take care of any electrical wiring in San Jose that needs to be done. Here are some tips for picking out the right generator for your home. Tips for purchasing Generator in San Jose, CA

    Decide how much you are willing to spend on a generator before you start shopping around for one.

    You can usually purchase a portable generator for as little as a few hundred dollars, but a permanent generator will typically run you a few thousand dollars. Therefore, you have to come up with a budget for your generator from the start. If you don’t have the money to spend a few thousand dollars on a generator, it’s probably not worth it to spend any time looking at permanent options. Instead, focus on portable options that will suit your needs.

    Make sure the generator you choose is large enough to power your home.

    When you turn your generator on, it has to be able to provide your home with all the power that it needs. Sizing a generator for your home can be very difficult, though, and it can require a lot of calculations on your part. Your best bet is to work with a company that deals with generators so that they can help you find one that’s the right size for your specific home.

    Ask an electrician to install your generator for you.

    If you ultimately decide that you want a permanent generator for your home, hire a residential electrician to install it for you and handle all the electrical wiring. You want to make sure that it is properly installed and that it works when your power goes out.

  • The Process of Adding an Electrical Outlet

    Do you have a room in your home that could benefit from the addition of an electrical outlet? It’s easy for an electrician to install one into just about any room in your home. Watch this video to see how quickly you can have an electrical outlet in San Jose installed today.

    While it’s not difficult to add an electrical outlet, it’s a good idea for you to leave the job to the professionals and steer clear of trying to do it yourself. In fact, there are some cities and towns that don’t permit residents to do their own electrical work, so you should pick up the phone and call an electrician if you are thinking about adding a new outlet. Within about an hour or two, an electrician can run electrical wiring to any part of your home and add an outlet for you.

  • Features to Look for in an Electrical Contractor

    Whether you need a small electrical job taken care of in your home or you need your entire business rewired by a commercial electrician, you should do your homework before hiring an electrical contractor. Finding good electricians in San Jose shouldn’t be too difficult, but you want to make sure you bring someone into your home or business that is qualified to do whatever job you need done. Check out some features you should look for in an electrician below. Professional electrical contractor in San Jose, CA

    License and Insurance

    Any electrician that comes to work at your home or business needs to have a license. A license will show you that he or she is recognized by the state as an electrician and that he or she has the proper training that is required to be an electrician. It’s a major flag if an electrical contractor cannot provide you with a license number on the spot. In addition to having a license, an electrician also needs to have insurance. Insurance will ensure that your home and those working on it will be covered financially in the event of an accident during an electrical job.

    Experience

    When you start the process of trying to find electrical contractors for a job, you should consider how much experience they need to have to finish the project you want them to complete. If you only need a small job done, you might consider hiring a journeyman electrician who only has one or two years of experience. However, if you need to rewire your home’s electric, then you want a master electrician on the job. A master technician will have the ability to tackle any electrical work you need done.

    References

    Once you have found an electrician that you feel comfortable with, it will be time for you to dig into their past work a little bit to see how other people have enjoyed working with them. Ask the electrician for references and call several of them so that you can hear about what you can expect when you work with that particular electrical contractor.