I.T.S. Electric LLC

Residential Electrical Services, Light Commercial Projects, New Construction

203-228-7736

Updated Wiring and Electrical Panel Upgrades Can Keep Your Home Safe and Functional

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How old is your electrical system? Just like any other modern technology, residential electrical systems have continued to improve in safety and functionality. If you have an older home, or if you have an issue with the normal operation of your electrical system, find out how a professional electrician can help you improve your home and keep you safe.

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Poor Home Remodeling Creates Dangerous Attic Electrical Wiring

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While there are many remodeling projects that are safe and easy for a homeowner to take on, electrical wiring is best left to the professionals. There are a number of issues that could arise when a homeowner tampers with their wiring. The attic is a common place for inexperienced DIYer to alter their electrical wiring, so look for these signs of a dangerous wiring remodeling project in your attic.

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Rules for Hiring an Electrical Contractor for Your Next Remodel

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Electrician

One of the biggest challenges of owning a home is making sure you keep up with maintenance and repairs. It’s also important to update areas and systems to make sure they look nice, work properly and keep you safe. The electrical system in your home is one that you need to keep an eye on, especially when you’re doing a remodeling project. With all the parts, pieces and components involved, you want a professional involved to make sure everything goes smoothly. Before you hire an electrical contractor, do your homework and ensure your working with someone you can trust.

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Why You Should Consider Installing a Pool Light

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pool

Having a backyard pool can be one of the most enjoyable parts of your home in the summertime. Due to that, you likely want to make the most of it, especially if you live in an area where your pool is only accessible for part of the year. One way to extend the amount of time you can swim is by considering pool lighting installation, opening up the evenings for cool, illuminated swims. However, is it worth it, and how should it be done?

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Is Your Home Wiring Safe?

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electric panel

Electrical wiring is an area that is best left to the professionals. There’s plenty of ways that improper wiring could leave your home unsafe. From outdated wiring and small breaker panels to improper light bulbs, find out common mistakes made in home wiring and discover how to keep your home safe.

Outdated Wiring

Ever since electricity was introduced into the home, there has been a wide range of improvements made. Many of these improvements were designed to make the electrical wiring safer. Some of the earliest wiring, which may still be used in homes built in 1920 or before, is called knob and tube wiring.

Knobs and tubes are used to keep two wires apart as they travel through your house to your outlets and fixtures. This type of wiring doesn’t feature a ground wire and is prone to accidental electrocutions and fires. If you have this or another type of outdated wiring in your home, it’s essential that you contact an electrician for an upgrade.

Undersized Breaker Panel

Breaker panels have also changed throughout the years. Your panel size is typically measured in amps. A smaller amp panel is only designed for a specific amount of use. As home wiring is asked to power larger electronic devices and appliances, make sure your home uses a correct breaker panel to support it. Outdated panels have glass fuse plugs, which should be replaced with modern circuit breakers for safe and efficient use.

Improper Light Bulbs

Perhaps one of the most common home wiring mistakes is improper light bulbs. Each light fixture has a specific rating, typically 60 watts. Using a bulb that has a higher wattage than the fixture could cause it to overheat. Keep your home safe by using only the recommended bulb size and wattage, having an electrician inspect your panel and replace any outdated wiring still being used in your home.

Common Home Wiring Problems

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Minsk. Belarus. January 19, 2019. Shield in the wall of the house. wrong connection, automatic distribution, wires are tangled. will lead to short circuit and fire wiring

If your home has outdated or improperly installed electrical wiring, it could be putting you at risk. Find out if your home is suffering from these common home wiring problems and learn how to restore your electrical systems with the help of a professional electrician today.

Overloaded Circuit

One of the most common issues in a home is an overloaded circuit. This is particularly common in older homes. In the past, your home’s largest electrical load came from lamps and ceiling lights. Now, TVs, electronic devices and large appliances require far more power. This is particularly true in your kitchen. Microwaves, hot pots, blenders, coffee makers and a wide range of other appliances can draw far more power than you realize.

A common sign of an overloaded circuit is a circuit breaker that continues to trip. Your circuit breakers are only designed for a specific load. If your breaker trips, you may need to add additional breakers to split up your outlets or invest in a breaker with a higher amperage capacity.

Missing GFCI Outlets

A critical safety feature in your kitchen and bathroom is GFCI outlets. Your home wiring can be especially dangerous in these rooms because of the presence of water. Water and electricity create an unsafe situation that can easily lead to electrocution. Thankfully, homes are required to use GFCI, or ground-fault-circuit-interrupter outlets in any area that may be exposed to water.

Check to see if your home has GFCI outlets in these rooms. These outlets include Test and Reset buttons, which you should use to periodically check the outlet. If the test feature doesn’t immediately turn off power to the outlet, you should immediately contact an electrician to replace it.

For more information about common home wiring issues and for a complete inspection of your home, contact a local electrician. Don’t let these simple issues increase the risk of electrocution or fire in your home.

The Benefits of Timely Electrical Repairs

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You eat when you’re hungry, put gas in the car when it’s empty and answer the phone when it rings. With all these automatic responses that happen every day, why do people ignore electrical repairs when something goes wrong? Perhaps it’s a lack of money, perhaps it’s a lack of knowledge or perhaps it’s simple procrastination. One thing is for sure: these repairs need to be done in a timely manner so you can avoid additional problems and enjoy the following benefits.

  1. Safety – Faulty or exposed wires pose a health hazard to individuals living in or even visiting the home. Damaged electrical outlets or appliances also pose a threat. When the repairs are taken care of immediately, fires, injuries and even death can be avoided.
  2. Preparedness – When you have a faulty electrical situation, having it repaired quickly will keep you prepared for the future. For example, if you notice the breaker flips every time you use the microwave, it could eventually cause permanent damage and leave you without any way to cook your dinner.
  3. Convenience – Contacting the professionals for immediate electrical repairs will almost always be the most convenient solution. It might not be the most convenient situation to be in, or even the most convenient time of day. When the damage is repaired quickly, however, you can get on with your day and have access to the electricity you need to run the multiple devices and appliances in your home.
  4. Savings – Some electrical damage will cause more damage as time goes on. Rather than waiting for this to happen, it’s more cost-effective to have the initial problem repaired on time.

It’s obvious the right thing to do when faced with electrical repairs is to have them taken care of in a timely manner. If you suspect electrical damage in your home, contact the professionals to see what they can do about it and when they can have it taken care of.

Don’t Try This at Home: Why You Don’t Want to Mess With Electrical Repairs

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DIY projects are all the rage. With the rise in home improvement television shows, blogs and other quick resources, homeowners are realizing there are a lot of things they can do on their own to save a little money.

What you need to keep in mind is while it might be easy to reupholster your dining room chairs or resurface the bathroom counter, there are some projects that should always be handled by the professionals. This includes electrical repairs. The smallest amount of misinformation and the tiniest lack of knowledge can have largely devastating effects.

The Whys

Electrocution isn’t a small issue in the United States. Statistics point to over 4000 non-fatal injuries and 400 electrocutions each year as a result of unsafe electrical practices. Additionally, over 140,000 fires per year are reported to have started from electrical problems.

These things are happening because the untrained homeowner doesn’t understand how electricity works. They may not know the difference between a live wire and a dead one. They might not understand whether the breakers need to be flipped or not. They can’t assess a situation and recognize the serious hazards facing them. Trained, experienced professionals can, and that is why you should always contact a professional electrician when you need to tackle any type of electrical repairs.

The Results

Contacting a professional electrician will offer any homeowner some of the most positive results when it comes to their needed repairs. They include:

  • Time – Tackling DIY projects on your own can cost you a lot of time. When something goes wrong, you’re out even more time. Hiring a professional eliminates this issue.
  • Money – After trying an electrical repair on your own and having it go wrong, you have paid for the parts, the repairs to any additional damage you created, possible medical costs and still have to pay a professional to do the job correctly. Hiring a professional in the first place will save you money.
  • Safety – Because of their experience and training, licensed electricians will ensure the job gets done safely.

As you can see, it’s important you contact the professionals when it comes to electrical repairs. The next time you find yourself in need of an electrician, don’t hesitate to call.