Identify, Test, and Address Wiring Problems at Home

October 18, 2021

How does someone know if they have bad wiring in their house? First, there are some clues that you may have faulty wiring. Suppose indicators of a wiring problem are present. It’s important to recognize these issues, so you’ll know when you may need to call an electrician. Signs That You May Have a Wiring Problem Electrical problems can have severe consequences if not addressed in a timely manner. Although many of the quirks that appear after you have lived in your house for some years may not be dangerous, there are some indications of problems that should never be ignored. Some of the signs that your home may have electrical issues include: Frequently tripped circuit breakers Hot outlets Flickering lights Burning smells coming from appliances or outlets Frayed wires Not all wiring problems require you to call a licensed electrician. For example, flickering lights may be simply a matter of tightening a light bulb. Another simple fix can involve the malfunction of half an outlet. Many times, a wall switch turns an outlet off and on. However, loose or faulty wiring in the outlet may cause the light to flicker. This type of issue warrants a call to a...

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5 Key Signs You Need Electrical Work in the Office

October 4, 2021

Just like you take care of essential systems in your home, your office systems also need care. Electrical maintenance is one of the crucial things you should always include in your office maintenance checklist. Checking for electrical issues and addressing them when found prevents potential hazards and may even help you save on your electricity bills. Here are several signs that may indicate your office needs electrical work. 1. Regular Circuit Breaker Trips When your circuit breaker trips frequently, you could choose to reset it all the time, but that won’t fix the underlying issue. Most circuit breaker trips result from too much current causing circuit overload. If this happens frequently, you should let our electrician check and make necessary repairs to avoid future office disruptions. 2. Flickering Lights Flickering lights can become a significant distraction in your office. It could result from an overloaded circuit, the bulb itself, or a severe issue like cable connectivity. Although a flickering light might seem like a minor issue, an expert should inspect it and rectify the problem. 3. Burning Smells If you’ve noticed a smoky or ozone smell in your office, it’s an indication of a problem. Ozone smells originate from burned...

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Why Does My Light Switch Crackle When It’s Turned On?

September 20, 2021

It’s easy to take electricity for granted. Most of us are accustomed to turning on the lights whenever we want to. However, what if your lights make a crackling sound when you turn them on? Is that normal? Noises Aren’t Normal A hissing or crackling sound can be an indication that something isn’t right. It could be likely you’ll need to replace the switch if you notice this happening. This might sound like a small job, but there’s always an element of danger when electricity is involved. Calling a professional electrician is always your best bet. Why Do Light Switches Make Noise? To answer this question, let’s first go over how light switches work. When you turn a switch on, two terminals are connected, and electricity is allowed to flow through your light. When you turn the switch off, the circuit is broken, and the light won’t have the electricity needed to illuminate your room. When electricity flows through the wires, heat is generated. As a safety precaution, wires are insulated. However, there could be loose connections. Older light switches could be worn down, and the flow of electricity may be interrupted. Whenever the flow of electricity is interrupted, a...

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What is an Electrical Arc?

September 6, 2021

Maybe you’ve seen a science experiment in which electricity jumps from one point to another. While it may look cool and interesting, do you want this happening in your home? The answer is no. That’s because it can be a major fire hazard and could lead to severe damage to your home. Understanding Electrical Arcs An electrical arc is an electrical current that crosses a gap between two electrodes. Think of an electrical circuit in which electricity flows. If there is a break in that circuit, the electricity may still be able to flow if it can jump over the area where there is no connection. An arc can allow electricity to flow along a path that’s not safe, and the flash can ignite certain materials that it comes across. It could ignite gas or even dust. The heat of an electrical arc can produce extremely hot temperatures that could be over 10,000 degrees. This could certainly melt the insulation on the wiring. Obviously, once there is any type of ignition, the issue could become very dangerous very quickly. Causes of Electrical Arcs In a home, there could be a few different reasons why an electrical arc would be created....

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6 Tips to Help You Illuminate Your Home’s Exterior With Outdoor Lighting

August 16, 2021

Lighting up your home’s exterior is a quick and easy way to make your house stand out, and there are many ways that you can improve the look of your home with outdoor lighting. In this blog post, we’ll go over six tips for improving the look of your home with outdoor lighting. 1. Select Energy-Efficient Lights A great way to improve the look of your home is to use energy-efficient lights. This can help you save money on your electricity costs compared to traditional incandescent lights, and it looks good as well. There are many styles of energy-efficient lights that you can choose from, so you should be able to find some that best fit your home’s layout and your personal taste. 2. Consider LED Lighting LED lights are a great option because they’re not only energy-efficient, but they also produce a nice warm light that gives your home an attractive glow. LED lighting can be found in various designs to match your style. 3. Use Motion-Activated Lights Motion-activated lights are a great way to keep you and your property safe. When you install these lights, you’ll never have to worry about whether or not you remembered to turn...

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5 Signs You Need to Replace Your Home Electrical Panel

August 2, 2021

Electrical panels are necessary to power homes but can gradually degrade over time. If your home has an older electrical panel, it’s important to look for these five signs of age that indicate it may be time for a replacement. 1. Flashing Lights Flashing lights indicate there may be problems in the electrical panel. This could be an issue such as circuit breakers, lights or fuses. If you see your lights flashing and the breaker or fuse box isn’t working, your electrical panel may need replacing. 2. Sliding/Non-Equilibrium Panels If the panel feels like it is moving or not staying in place properly, this could indicate the housing of the electrical panel is coming loose and moving around inside. The housing could have been damaged by water and may need to be replaced. 3. Unusual or Unexplained Rumbling This could be a sign of an aging panel. It could also indicate a problem with the electrical system itself. Unusual or unexplained vibrations in the panel could be a sign of problems with the insulating material. If you’re hearing rumbles and buzzes coming from your home’s electrical panel, call a professional to check if it needs replacing. 4. Power Surges If...

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5 Common Electrical Questions Answered

July 26, 2021

Electrical problems in your home can happen over time. Understanding the various terms in the industry is important, and it’s a good idea to have your home electrical system regularly inspected by a fully licensed, professional electrician like those at GVEC. The older your home, the more important regular inspections become. If you’re having problems with your home electrical system, an inspection can be especially important for diagnosing the problem and getting it fixed. Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions related to electricity in the home. 1. Why Are My Lights Flickering? Lights can flicker due to a variety of reasons, such as an outdated electrical system. You may also have a loose wire or an insufficient power supply that’s causing the issue. Getting your system inspected by an electrician is always a good idea. 2. What Is the Difference Between a Breaker and a Fuse? A breaker and a fuse are devices that can break the flow of electricity. However, the main difference is that a fuse will blow out and need to be replaced each time whereas a circuit breaker is simply a switch that can be flipped. Breakers can wear out over time...

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4 Reasons Why Your Circuit Breakers Keep Tripping

July 12, 2021

In a properly functioning home electrical system, circuit breakers will seldom trip. If you’ve noticed that the breakers in your South Central Texas home trip on a regular basis, this is cause for concern. Read on to learn about four of the possible reasons why your home’s breakers keep tripping. 1. Overloaded Circuit The most common reason for tripped breakers is an overloaded circuit. This means you have too many items plugged into a circuit or the item plugged into the circuit is demanding more power than the circuit can provide. For example, if you’re using a computer, monitor and printer plugged into an outlet in your living room, then you plug in and turn on the vacuum, the circuit may trip. 2. Short Circuits When a hot or live wire touches the neutral wire, this is a short circuit. It’s dangerous because it creates a lot of heat. That heat may start a fire. The circuit draws electricity, which trips the breaker. If an outlet feels hot right after a breaker trips, it may be due to a short circuit. 3. Ground Fault Surge A ground fault surge occurs when the hot wire touches the grounding wire. It causes...

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Why Upgrading to Electric Heating Makes Perfect Sense for Your Home

June 23, 2021

Understanding the best way to heat your home is important if you’re looking to save money while also hoping to stay comfortable in the cold winter months. Choosing to upgrade to electric heating is a great option for many homeowners due to its wide range of benefits. Reaching out to an AC/heating company that also provides professional electrician services in your area is always a smart idea to learn more about the many benefits of using electric heating for your house. Here are a few of the main advantages of upgrading to electric heating: 1. Electric Heating is Cost-Effective Upgrading to electric heating is an excellent investment that’s often more affordable than gas and oil heating. The costs of electric heating have remained stable for many years, and you won’t have to worry about any surprise expenses each month. You can also independently wire electric heaters from room to room, which gives you the flexibility to heat certain areas of your home to help keep costs to a minimum. 2. Electric Heating is Safe and Reliable Another advantage of electric heating is that it’s much safer and more reliable than other options. You will never have to worry about combustible...

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What Should I Do if a Home Circuit Breaker Won’t Reset?

June 9, 2021

Having a circuit breaker periodically trip is not an uncommon household problem, and homeowners in most circumstances can solve the issue on their own. They know where their circuit boxes are located and understand how to turn the given circuit back on. But what do you do if the circuit breaker won’t reset? This sort of problem can be due to a variety of reasons. Sometimes the situation can be easily corrected, but it might also require the services of a qualified local electrician for professional assistance. Here are some of the main causes a circuit breaker won’t reset. Circuit Overload An overloaded circuit is probably the most common reason for a tripped breaker. Fortunately, circuit overloads are much easier to fix compared to other problems. Usually, a circuit overload is due to external issues such as putting too many appliances on the same circuit. The simplest way to fix an overloaded circuit is to unplug the items that are drawing too much power and allow your circuit to cool down. Reducing the number of appliances on the circuit is essential to avoiding this problem in the future. Short Circuits Another common issue is a short circuit. This happens when...

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