You will find answers to all of your most common Electrical Services related questions located here.
GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter. An electrical circuit must have the same amount of power coming back as what goes out. A GFCI detects when there is a very small variance in the amount of power coming back within 6 milliamps. Once this difference is detected, it will shut down the circuit to protect you, the person, not the equipment.
Yes. This is a common occurrence when large motor/compressor loads start. These devices cause a minor momentary voltage drop, demonstrating itself as the blinking in your lights. This has no negative effect on the electrical equipment within your house.
Yes. Though, if the two loads exceed 20 Amps, your breaker will sense overload, do its job, and trip off. Under this condition, you must plug one of the appliances into a different kitchen outlet on a different circuit, in order to balance the load.
First, disconnect any additional devices that may have caused the breaker to overload and trip. Breakers are mechanical devices and must be turned all the way off before turning back on. Remember this is a mechanical device, so this may require several attempts. If this fails to reset the breaker, there may be a more serious problem. Call us.
Yes! When any product (plug, switch, light fixture) is being altered or replaced by a licensed electrician, they must have an electrical permit to do the work. The cost of the permit varies by jurisdiction and in some instances the electrician can use a minor label permit when the work is small enough to fulfill the minor label requirements. Therefore, a permit can cost anywhere between $30 and $300 depending on where you live and how much work you are having done. If you have a long list of electrical items to be done in your home, it is generally best to do as much as possible at one time so you can avoid having to buy multiple permits. It costs less to add to an existing permit than to close one and then open another one a few months later to do more work.
Except in the case of ground fault interrupters, which are susceptible to moisture and/or weather conditions, fuses and circuit breakers should not trip. Check to see if some type of plugged in appliance is causing the problem. If this happens regularly, it’s time upgrade the load-bearing capacity of your service panel.
Though it could be that your service panel is not equipped to handle the load of your appliances, we have found that in the Waukegan area, it’s often old or improperly installed wiring that is to blame. DO NOT RISK A FIRE. Call us today to find the problem for you.
Unfortunately, it can sometimes be hard to tell if the electrician giving you an estimate is truly knowledgeable about the work he is doing. Be sure to pay attention to how he answers your questions and the details he may or may not be giving you. If he just wanders around your house, asks few questions and gives you an estimate on the spot, there is a good chance he missed something and then you will have to discuss more costs with him later as he runs into issues during the work on your project. Also, the electrical industry is quite vast and there are big differences between working in an industrial setting, on a commercial project or in a person’s home. You want to make sure the electrician you hire to work on your home is a specialist in residential work and knows how to troubleshoot in order to make your remodel project flow as seamlessly as possible. No one is perfect, but with a little research into the company you hire, you can save yourself a lot of headaches!
