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Circuit Breakers 101
Circuit breakers are designed to shut off power to a circuit if an electrical surge is detected. This video will provide you with some essential information about the circuit breakers in your home. When your circuit breakers are tripped, it will be up to you to turn the power back on. For example, if a single GFCI socket has been tripped, you will be able to reset the power on the outlet, itself. An electrician serving San Jose can answer your questions about circuit breaker safety.
If you have noticed that your circuit breakers are tripping frequently, it may be time to hire a residential electrician. An electrician can address issues in your electrical panel, and recommend any necessary updates or repairs. Rewiring certain areas of your home will help to prevent your home’s outlets from getting overloaded.
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Planning for Electrical Needs in a Kitchen Upgrade Project
Your home should reflect your style and personality. If you don’t like the way your kitchen looks, change it. However, you should be prepared for a long, complicated process. The new configuration of your electrical system is just one of many things you need to plan for. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be a problem as long as you work with a skilled San Jose electrician . Here’s a quick look at how you should plan for the electrical aspect of your kitchen remodel.
Normal Outlets
Like most homeowners, you probably use several different electrical appliances when cooking. For the sake of convenience, it’s a good idea to have a few outlets located above the counters and below the upper cabinets. Think about where you’re most likely to use your toaster, microwave, and other countertop appliances as you’re planning for your electrical needs, and make sure you aren’t over-relying on one circuit for all your appliances.
Appliance Outlets
It’s important to keep in mind that not all outlets are the same. For instance, you can’t plug a refrigerator or electric stove into a typical 110v outlet. Instead, you should have your electrician install outlets with dedicated circuits near where you plan to put your large electrical appliances. The best time to bring in an electrician for this kind of work is just after the old kitchen has been taken out and just before the new one comes in.
Lighting
Finally, you’ll need to have a plan for your kitchen lighting by the time you call your electrician. Recessed lighting is a subtle but bright option that can provide plenty of illumination as you entertain guests and prepare meals. You might also consider installing lights along the bottoms of your cabinetry to further shed some light on the situation. You don’t have to plan your whole kitchen around electricity—a good electrician can help make your dream kitchen a reality.
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What Causes Flickering Lights?
Flickering lights can be creepy, but in some cases they can also serve as signs of danger. In others, however, they simply indicate that you need to change your light bulbs. If changing your bulbs doesn’t work, you will need to call your commercial or residential electrician in San Jose to diagnose the problem and find out what needs to be done. Remember that working on electrical wiring on your own can be dangerous if you are not trained, skilled, and experienced, so play it safe and call the pros. Keep reading to learn what causes flickering lights.
In many cases you can fix a flickering light by simply taking out your light bulb and replacing it with a new one; however, you should make sure that you wait until the bulb has fully cooled down before touching it to avoid a burn. If it turns out that the light bulb is not the culprit, you will most likely have to call your electrician. Flickering lights can also indicate a problem with your electrical wiring. Try paying attention to when your lights flicker. If they happen whenever a certain appliance turns on or off, this appliance may be demanding too much power.
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Questions to Ask About Your Commercial Electrical Remodeling Project
Deciding to undergo commercial electrical remodeling is a responsible decision that can protect employees, customers, and even your building itself. When you meet with your commercial electrician in San Jose, you should have a few questions prepared before starting the process. Find out about the company’s background, specifically with regards to electrical remodeling. You should also ask about how long the project will take and how much it will cost to complete. Continue on for more on the questions to ask about your commercial electrical remodeling project.
What is your company’s background?
You are aware that you need a commercial electrician to help you with your remodeling project, but which one do you call? Not every electrician or commercial electrical service is equally reliable, so make sure you choose the right one. When you meet with your potential options, find out what each company’s background looks like. You will want to work with an electrician that has plenty of experience with commercial electrical remodeling so that you can rest assured that you will enjoy the results you desire. Find out how long the company has been in business, how they screen their employees, and who you can talk to about their past work.
How long will the process take?
Depending on the scope of the project and the nature of your business, commercial electrical remodeling can have a substantial effect on your company’s productivity. Thus, you will want to make sure that you can have the project completed in a timely fashion. Before you agree to their services or sign a contract, ask your electrical contractors how long they expect the project to take. This will help you plan accordingly and keep business on track.
How much will it cost?
Cost is always an essential factor to consider, and it should be one of the main points of conversation between you and your commercial electrician. Keep in mind that quality jobs are not often cheap, and that cheap jobs will typically not offer you the results you need. Get a firm price from your electrician for the entire project before beginning.
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An Electrical Safety Video to Share with Your Kids
You don’t have to be an electrician serving San Jose to understand how electrical outlets work and how to stay safe when using them. The earlier you learn about electricity, the more easily you can protect yourself, your family, and your house. Watch this electrical safety video and share it with your kids.
Electricity uses different kinds of mediums to travel, but some are more efficient than others. Water, wood, and metal materials are all conductors of electricity, so they help it move from place to place. Make sure you keep these materials away from electrical outlets to prevent serious accidents like fires and electrocution. You should also be sure to avoid power lines, especially during severe weather events like thunderstorms; even power lines that don’t necessarily look dangerous can still be hazardous to your safety. Remember to avoid plugging too many appliances into an outlet to avoid blown fuses and other electrical problems.
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Signs that You Need New Electrical Wiring
Proper electrical wiring in San Jose helps to keep your home or business place safe and efficient, but it won’t last forever. If you want to make the most of your electrical systems, you will need to recognize faults and malfunctions so you can call your electrician and have them addressed. You might need new electrical wiring if you don’t have enough outlets or if the ones you do have are burnt out. A circuit breaker that trips too frequently could also suggest a problem. Here is a closer look at a few signs that you need new electrical wiring.
Insufficient Outlet Space
Misusing your electrical systems can come with dire consequences. If you find yourself constantly unplugging appliances to power different ones, consider the amount of outlet space you have to work with in the area. If you don’t have enough outlets to plug in all of the appliances you need to, you might need new electrical wiring. Some people will use extension cords and power strips to plug in more appliances, but this is only okay to a certain extent; when you plug an extension cord into a power strip to maximize your space, you could be setting yourself up for a disaster.
Dangerous Fixtures
Sometimes it is easy to tell if your outlets are in bad condition, and other times it is not. If you see black spots around your outlet, chances are it could use a replacement—or at least a look from a professional electrician. Never assume that a charred outlet will be fine just because it has not yet contributed to an electrical fire, electrocution, or other disaster. Instead, call your electrician and have your outlet replaced.
Overworked Circuit Breaker
Your circuit breaker is designed to cut off electricity when too much power is sent to any given outlet. If this occurs, the appliances plugged into that outlet will lose power and shut down. If you notice that your circuit breaker trips on a regular basis, there is probably a problem with the power distribution; this is something that should be brought to the attention of a professional electrician.
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A Look at the Electrical Needs of Mobile Home Parks
Just like any other community, mobile home parks require certain electrical services near San Jose. Quality electrical contractors and the services they provide can keep people safe as well as improve the efficiency of the community. It’s important to realize that many electrical issues should be left to a professional and that attempting to handle them on your own can be risky and dangerous. Feel free to keep reading if you would like a look at the electrical needs of mobile home parks.
There are many common electrical components involved in apartments, houses, and dorm buildings, and they can typically be found in mobile home parks as well. A mobile home may be susceptible to a blown transformer, but your electrician can help you with a replacement. You might also need to replace underground cables or find underground faults, which will also require the help of your professional electrician. Your electrical contractor should also be experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to mobile home wiring, always offering professional results. If you are in need of pedestal or substation repair or replacement, street light repair, or coach cord replacement, your professional electrician should be the one you turn to for your needs.
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What You Need to Know About Federal Pacific Electric and Zinsco Panel Warnings
Although electrical wiring and appliances have become prime examples of the comforts of home in developed countries, your systems may not be entirely foolproof. Certain electrical panels near San Jose were once popular but fell out of favor when it was discovered that they presented an array of hazards. Federal Pacific Electric and Zinsco are two examples of circuit breaker panel companies that ended up threatening the safety of their customers. If you want to make sure your electrical systems are as safe as possible, you should have your professional electrician take a look at your panels and wiring. Continue reading to learn what you need to know about Federal Pacific Electric and Zinsco panel warnings.
Federal Pacific Electric Panel
For a few decades leading up to the 1980s, Federal Pacific Electric held one of the top spots on the list of popular manufacturers of circuit breaker panels in the United States. While this popularity was great for the company, it turned out to be extremely hazardous for consumers. It was ultimately found that the company didn’t test their circuit breaker panels to see if they met the standards set by UL; they clearly would not have met these standards, as they often failed to serve their purpose and caught fire.
Zinsco Panel
Like Federal Pacific Electric, Zinsco was another company that dealt with circuit breaker panels; and like Federal Pacific Electric, their products were hazardous for the homeowners who purchased them. In addition to creating a fire hazard, Zinsco panels also put consumers at risk for electrical shock. Faulty panels could even require extra energy, driving up your energy bills and reducing the efficiency of your home.
How to Practice Electrical Safety
Your electrical system is directly related to the safety and practicality of your home, but it can be complex to diagnose and address the issues you encounter on your own. It’s a good idea to hire and form a relationship with a quality electrical counter sooner rather than later so you can have your systems inspected and make sure your risks and hazards are kept to a minimum.
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Common Causes of Tripped Circuit Breakers
When your appliances shut off and your power goes out for no apparent reason, the culprit may be a tripped circuit breaker. If you don’t want to call your electrician serving San Jose every time this occurs, you will need to understand what is causing the issue. Watch this video for a look at some of the common causes of tripped circuit breakers.
The purpose of your electrical circuit breaker is to interrupt a circuit when too much power is introduced. Thus, your circuit breaker might trip if you plug too many appliances into the same outlet; when the circuit overloads, the breaker springs into action. Although this is a common cause of a tripped breaker, it’s not the only one. It can also occur if a wire inside your receptacle box becomes loose, you use a damaged extension cord, or you accidentally puncture an electrical wire when doing some home decorating or remodeling.
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Could Your Electrician Be the Key to Home Upgrades?
Every homeowner needs a team of professionals to make sure everything stays in working order. Your team might be made up of contractors like plumbers, landscapers, and electricians serving San Jose. If you have decided that it’s time to make an upgrade to your home, it’s crucial that you consult your electrical contractor first; while you might be handy, you probably don’t have the training and experience that a qualified contractor brings to the table. Read on to find out how your electrician could be the key to home upgrades.
Hazards of DIY
Planning and laying out the details for your home upgrade is one thing, but pulling it off by yourself is a different story. There are countless different factors that you need to consider, from your plumbing to your electrical wiring. Even if you have everything planned out in your mind, you will need to consult professional contractors to make sure everything goes according to plan. Attempting to manipulate your electrical wiring can come with serious consequences; you might suffer an electrical shock, or you could even experience a deadly fire. There are certain circumstances in which a DIY approach can work, but this is not the case when it comes to your electrical systems.
Professional Training and Expertise
It’s crucial that you work with a professional electrician when you make a substantial home upgrade. Your specialist can explain to you how the modification will affect your electrical wiring, and he or she will be able to ensure that the upgrade is performed successfully. Only professional electricians can offer this peace of mind, as they have undergone extensive training and have the necessary expertise in the industry. Unless you yourself have gone through the same training, you should call an electrician when working on a home upgrade.
Finding the Right Contractor
Not just any electrician will make sure your home upgrade goes off without a hitch. Find an experienced professional who has been in the industry long enough to know what types of mistakes to avoid and what to expect out of your new home upgrade.
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