Circuit breakers are designed to protect your home by breaking the circuit when the device is overloaded. In San Jose, circuit breaker tripping is most often caused by simply having too many electric appliances and devices running at the same time. Electricians also find that tripping breakers are caused by electrical wiring damage. For instance, an extension cord may have been damaged or a wire in the wall might have broken.

You can watch this featured video to find out more about circuit breakers. However, do call an electrician to make any needed repairs, instead of trying a potentially dangerous DIY approach. In some cases, homeowners may need to upgrade the electrical panel or replace some wiring.

Business owners have a lot to worry about, from expenses and payroll to sales and marketing. A commercial electrical safety inspection is much more than one more item on your to-do list—it’s an effective way to protect your customers, employees, and business. If it’s been longer than a year since your last electrical safety inspection, call a commercial electrician in San Jose right away. If you wait too long, you may learn the hard way that putting off preventive maintenance is a costly mistake.

By Protecting Your Customers and Employees

The main benefit of having an electrician inspect your commercial property is that it protects your customers and employees from harm. Electrical fires are particularly dangerous, since they can spark and smolder behind the walls, and stay undetected for a long time. By the time the fire is noticed and the firefighters arrive on the scene, it’s possible that your employees or customers have already been hurt. Even if the flames don’t burn them, the smoke inhalation can be deadly.

By Keeping Your Investment Safe

You’ve worked hard to build your company. You’ve probably gone through a number of ups and downs, but a devastating fire could be a problem that you can’t weather. Electrical fires cause more damage to companies than just property loss. Even after you rebuild, the fire will have kept your business closed for weeks, if not months. In the meantime, your customers will have gone somewhere else, and your employees will have found other jobs. As a result, you might have to start all over again. An annual commercial electrical inspection is a cost-effective and time-efficient way to protect your business.

By Maintaining Code Compliance

“Liability” and “code non-compliance” are scary words for business owners. If your electrical system isn’t up to code, you may incur penalties such as fines. And if a fire does happen, any affected customers and employees may file lawsuits to hold you liable for their medical expenses. Give yourself the peace of mind that comes from knowing your commercial property is safe from electrical meltdowns.

If you have an older home, there’s a good chance it has aluminum wiring. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the price of copper rose considerably, and so new homes were constructed with aluminum wiring instead. A residential electrician in San Jose can confirm whether your house has this type of wiring, and he or she may recommend converting to copper wiring to reduce the risk of a house fire. Only licensed electricians should perform this conversion.

Aluminum wiring by itself isn’t risky, but the way it connects to devices is. Electricians recommend converting to copper wiring because it doesn’t expand and contract with temperature changes the way aluminum wiring does. Over time, this can loosen the connection between the aluminum wiring and the circuit breaker, electrical fixture, electrical outlet, or switch. Loose electrical connections can cause overheating, which consequently, can trigger a house fire. Hiring a residential electrician to convert your aluminum wiring can give you peace of mind knowing that your family is safer.

It’s difficult for homeowners to determine if they need to have a residential electrician in San Jose rewire the building. The most effective way to protect your family from electrical fires is to schedule a professional inspection by a certified electrician. Inspections can be beneficial even if you haven’t noticed any problems, but you should definitely schedule an appointment soon if you’ve noticed any of the following issues.

You have an older home.

Have you recently bought an older home, or are you considering purchasing one? Or maybe you’ve been living in your current residence for decades, and can’t remember the last time an electrician visited. Any of these situations may call for electrical rewiring. The electrician will check for common problems associated with older homes, including the presence of aluminum wiring instead of copper wiring and ungrounded, two-prong outlets. In addition, if you have an extension cord at nearly every outlet, the wiring is likely inadequate for your family’s modern needs.

You’ve recently made major renovations.

Not every home renovation affects the electrical wiring. Simply replacing your kitchen cabinets, flooring, or bathroom vanities, for example, doesn’t necessarily mean an electrician should upgrade your system. But if your renovations include adding major appliances, like a hot tub or an extra chest freezer in the basement, then an electrician should inspect the system. It’s possible that you’ll need to rewire the home so that it’s capable of supporting the increased electricity needs.

You’ve noticed warning signs of electrical problems.

Your electrical system can give you some warning signs that a major malfunction could happen soon. Your electrician may need to rewire the home or upgrade the panel if the circuit breaker trips frequently. Other warning signs may include the following:

• The odor of something burning that isn’t caused by meal preparation
• Loose electrical outlets
• Sparking or arcing from an outlet when a cord is plugged in or unplugged
• Lights that frequently flicker or grow dimmer inexplicably
• Sizzling or buzzing sounds
• Frequently burned-out lightbulbs
• Light switch plates that are discolored or feel hot

Do not attempt to fix these problems yourself, as electrical malfunctions can be dangerous.

In the workplace, a great deal of focus is put on using the latest computer technology and choosing ergonomic office furniture. However, the importance of good lighting is often overlooked. If you’re considering calling an electrician to upgrade your commercial lighting in San Jose , then watch this video to learn about the toll that poor office lighting can take.

Bad lighting can refer to insufficient lighting, but it is often lighting that is too bright or has the wrong spectrum. Inadequate lighting can cause eye strain and affect your sleep, mood, and health, each of which may lead to poor work performance. To remedy bad lighting in your office, contact an electrician about LED lighting installation.

Tripped circuit breakers are electrical issues that most homeowners face at least once. If you’ve run into this problem with one of your circuit breakers in San Jose , then read on to learn about some of the possible causes.

Purpose of Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers play an incredibly important role in protecting you, your family, and your property. The purpose of these safety devices is to cut off the flow of the electricity through an electrical circuit when the current running through it gets too high. By doing this, circuit breakers can help protect your property from electrical fires.

Causes of Tripped Circuit Breakers

An overloaded circuit is the most common cause of a tripped circuit breaker. In this situation, more electrical load is trying to go through the circuit than is safe, and this problem is caused by plugging in too many devices. As each of the devices is turned on, more and more electrical current runs through the circuit until it exceeds safe levels, causing the breaker to trip. Another common cause of a tripped circuit breaker is a short circuit. One type of short circuit occurs when one of the wires leading to the power plant, called a hot wire, touches another hot wire or the wire leading into the ground, called the neutral wire, which can allow too much current to run through the wire. Short circuits can also be caused by problems like ground faults, faulty wiring installation, damage to an electrical component, or plugging in an improperly wired device.

Troubleshooting a Tripped Circuit Breaker

If one of your circuit breakers trips repeatedly, then start considering what devices you are using. If you have several devices plugged in and drawing power from a single circuit, then unplug all but one of these. After doing this, if the breaker doesn’t trip again, then an overloaded circuit is probably the problem. If unplugging devices doesn’t solve the issue, then you may be dealing with a short circuit and should have an electrician look at your breaker box.

There is a lot to think about when it comes to home renovations, and among the most important of these is the electrical system. Depending on the project, your home’s wiring may need to be addressed to account for the structural changes or new construction. For this reason, it’s important that you consult a home remodeling electrician in San Jose and learn what modifications or upgrades will need to be made to your electrical system. Also, by addressing the electrical aspects of the project early on, you can avoid having to make costly or time-consuming changes after beginning the remodel.

An electrician will be able to assist you with the electrical aspects of just about any home remodeling project, such as those for bathrooms, kitchens, basements, offices, dens, and room additions. Also, your electrician will be able to address everything from adding new circuits to rewiring your new home. Lastly, because electrical work should not be completed by inexperienced individuals, remember that upgrades like these should be left to the professionals.

Whether you just moved in or you’ve been working out of your office for years, having a good electrical system is important for many reasons. Keep reading to learn what signs mean that it’s time to call a commercial electrician about upgrading your office’s electrical wiring in San Jose.

You Have an Unsafe Electrical Panel

Old and unsafe electrical panels may lead to poor electrical function, power failure, and electrical fires. Some signs that can indicate that your panel needs to be replaced include insufficient power, flickering lights, and strange sounds. Also, if your electrical panel is more than thirty years old or was made by either Federal Pacific or Zinsco, then it may be time to upgrade this part of your building’s electrical system. Finally, safety codes require that your electrical panel have sufficient clearance, have a dead front, and be readily accessible. If your electrical panel isn’t up to safety standards, then it’s time for an upgrade.

You Don’t Have Enough Power

Have you been dealing with tripped circuit breakers in your office? If so, then this is a good indicator that it’s time to upgrade your electrical wiring. It’s not uncommon for businesses to run into this issue as they expand and add more lighting and electrical devices to their building. If your electrical panel isn’t equipped to handle the amount of power that your office requires, then you can look forward to more tripped breakers until you upgrade the system. For this reason, you should consider having an electrician make changes that allow adequate power to reach your switches and outlets.

You Recently Had a Safety Inspection Completed

Finally, if you had an electrical safety inspection performed in your office and were given recommendations for upgrades, then it’s important to take this advice seriously to help ensure that your building’s wiring works properly, safely, and efficiently. Some signs that indicate it’s time for an upgrade include too few outlets and wiring that is old, cloth-insulated, ungrounded, or made from aluminum.

It’s dangerous to mess with your electrical wiring if you don’t know what you’re doing, which is one main reason you should work with a professional electrician serving San Jose. The professionals can handle residential and commercial maintenance and repairs, but not all of them are equally trustworthy. Look for an electrician before you need one so you can take your time and go through your options. The right choice can save you from potential electrical fires and improve your efficiency. Here’s what you need to know about working with an electrician.

Why You Need One

Electricians perform much needed services that keep workplaces and living spaces safe and efficient. Old electrical appliances, fixtures, and wiring can pose various threats that can result in damage and injury, and in some cases, even death. In order to keep your family or your employees safe, you need to maintain these systems and repair them whenever necessary. Electricians can also come in handy when it comes to remodeling the house, adding some new landscaping lighting, or upgrading old fixtures so they’re more effective and convenient. These aren’t tasks you should handle by yourself, which is why you need a professional electrician.

How to Choose the Right One

You can’t just hire a new electrician blindly. If you end up with a sketchy “professional” who doesn’t appear to be licensed or even trained, you could completely sabotage your electrical systems. Think about who you’ll work with before you run into problems with your electricity. This gives you time to do your research and find a company that you can trust to do right by you and your family or company.

When to Call One

A good electrician can help out in the office building just as well as he or she can in the house. If your lights start to flicker or your outlets are blown out, you should have your professional take a look. An electrician can also be of service if you want to upgrade your old fixtures or appliances, or if you suspect that you might have wiring issues.

Today, we know LED lighting as a reliable and efficient alternative to traditional incandescent lighting, but it hasn’t been around for all that long. If you want to save money and make your residential or commercial lighting more environmentally friendly, talk to your electrician serving San Jose . Watch this video to see where LED lighting came from.

LED stands for light emitting diode, and it was invented by a man named Nick Holonyak, Jr. Holonyak studied at the University of Illinois in order to earn his PhD in electrical engineering, which was a step towards the invention of LED lighting. This new invention creates a brighter future for our electronics because it lasts longer and creates less heat when compared to incandescent bulbs. This helps homeowners and business owners save money on energy bills, and they won’t have to replace their bulbs as frequently.