Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between a Regular Breaker and an Arc Fault Breaker?

All breakers are designed to protect the wiring in your home from being overloaded, but turning off circuits that may be carrying too much load or in the case of a short circuit. An arc fault breaker is added security against damaged conductors; protecting you from fire hazards. If you have one of these devices is it recommended that you have it regularly tested monthly to ensure safe and proper operation.

Is Electrical Aluminum Wiring Dangerous?

If your house was built between 1965 and the mid-1970's, chances are that your house has aluminum wiring running through it. The wiring itself is not the issue, but in the faulty terminations either in switches, fixtures, and equipment. When the aluminum wiring is poorly terminated heat can be generated at points where the aluminum has naturally oxidized. Therefore, after extensive use of your of electric aluminum wiring, you can have deterioration behind your fixtures and devices, and this creates a dangerous fire hazard. If you believe that the aluminum wiring in your home or business may be an issue then have a licensed electrician come out and inspect your building.

Why Do My Light Bulbs Constantly Blow Out?

One of the most common reasons for a light bulb to burn out is heat or vibration. If your light fixture has an enclosed lens that does not allow for proper air flow the heat can fill up in the light fixture and it will cause your light bulb to burn out faster. If you believe that the cause of your light bulbs might be breaking due to heat consider using a lower wattage bulb.

Your light bulb could also be blowing out due to any loose circuitry in the socket. We see this as mostly a problem with the rivet inside the socket. A loose rivet or a poorly welded joint can produce a higher amount of heat than your light bulb or fixture can possibly take, causing your light bulb to blow out more frequently than it should.

Another reason could be blowing out could be caused by vibration. These tend to be problems with light fixtures and bulbs that are near doors and windows. This happens because all of the vibration is absorbed by the filament inside the bulb, and it gets rattled enough it will break and your light bulb will burn out. One of the easiest ways to fix this problem is to buy halogen light bulbs, these are light bulbs are stronger and more efficient.

Lastly, another problem that could be causing your light bulbs to be blowing out is that the voltage in your light bulbs does not match the voltage of your home. Most light bulbs have a voltage that runs between 110 volts and 120 volts, but homes can be as high as 125 volts. If an electrician has determined that your home runs on the higher end at 125 volts, then the solution would be to buy 130 volt light bulbs at your local electrical supply store.

Why Isn't My Outlet Working?

One of the most common reasons that your outlet may not be working is a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), also known as a Ground Fault Interrupter or Residual Current Device has been tripped. This device shuts off the electrical power to an outlet when it detects that the current is flowing along an unintended path. These paths can be dangerous and harmful, like water or through a human. In order to turn your outlet back on, simply press the red reset button on your outlet and test the connection. GFCI outlets should also be tested at least once a month to ensure that they are working properly. If the outlet is still not working after these tests, call a professional electrician immediately.
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