10 Questions You Should to Know about Electrical Accessories

3. Replace or repair damaged electrical cords to keep your home safe.

Damaged power cords are a serious residential electrical safety risk, and they are capable of causing both fires and electrocution. All power and extension cords should be checked regularly for signs of fraying and cracking, and they should then be repaired or replaced as needed. Power cords should not be stapled into place or run under rugs and furniture. Cords under rugs pose a tripping hazard and can overheat, while furniture can crush cord insulation and damage wires.

The use of extension cords on a regular basis may mean that you don’t have enough outlets to fit your needs. Have a qualified electrician who understands electrical safety rules install additional outlets in rooms where you often use extension cords. When purchasing a power cord, consider the electrical load it will carry. A cord with a load of 16 AWG can handle up to 1,375 watts. For heavier loads, use a 14 or 12 AWG cord.

Pro tip: AWG stands for “American wire gauge.” The lower the number, the thicker the cord!

4. Keep your used and unused cords tidy and secure to prevent damage.

Electrical safety tips don’t just apply to power cords when they’re in use—cords also need to be stored safely to prevent damage. Keep stored cords away from children and pets (who may chew on or play with the cords). Try to avoid wrapping cords tightly around objects; this can stretch the cord or cause overheating. Never rest a cord on a hot surface in order to prevent damage to the cord’s insulation and wires.
 

5. Unplug all your unused appliances to reduce potential risks.

One of the simplest electrical safety tips is also one of the easiest to forget: when an appliance is not in use, unplug it. Not only does this save you power by reducing any phantom drain (the amount of energy the device consumes even when not actively in use), but unplugging unused appliances also protects them from overheating or power surges.

It’s often difficult to remember to unplug unused appliances, but the new generation of smart plugs offers a solution, allowing you to set power schedules for each outlet.
 

6. Keep electrical devices and outlets away from water to prevent shock.

Water and electricity don’t mix well. To follow electrical safety rules, keep electrical equipment dry and away from water prevents damage to appliances and can protect against personal injury and electrocution. When working with electrical appliances, it’s important to have dry hands. Keeping electrical equipment away from plant pots, aquariums, sinks, showers and bathtubs lowers the risk of water and electricity coming into contact.
 

7. Give your appliances proper space for air circulation to avoid overheating.

Without proper air circulation, electrical equipment can overheat and short out, and can become an electrical fire hazard. Make sure your appliances have proper air circulation, and avoid running electrical equipment in enclosed cabinets. For best electrical safety, it’s also important to store flammable objects well away from all appliances and electronics. Pay especially close attention to your gas or electric dryer, as these need to be situated at least a foot from the wall to function safely.
 

8. Ensure that all your exhaust fans are clean to prevent fire hazards.

Some appliances have exhaust fans, which can get dirty or clogged with debris and make the appliance work harder. This can shorten the life of the appliance and can cause a risk to the home due to overheating, or even cause a buildup of dangerous gasses that can lead to an electrical fire hazard. Cleaning exhaust fans regularly helps prevent such hazards.
 

9. Check that you’re using the correct wattage in all your fixtures and appliances.

Using the right bulbs can prevent electrical problems, so check all lamps, fixtures and appliances to ensure you’re using the correct wattage. If a light fixture has no wattage listed, use 60-watt bulbs or less. For unmarked ceiling fixtures, choose 25-watt bulbs.

Pro tip: LED bulbs consume less power and reduce the risk of fixtures overheating. Learn more about LED light benefits.

10. Be aware of heaters and water heaters to prevent potential accidents.

Combustible items should be kept away from portable heaters and built-in furnaces. For furnace safety, store combustibles far away from any heating appliances. Portable heaters should not be operated close to drapes, and to prevent tipping, they should only ever be placed on a stable surface.

On a related note, do you know what temperature your water heater is set to? High temperature settings eat into your water heater energy usage and can cause burns and unintentional scalding, especially in homes with small children.

April 27, 2017

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Excel Electric LLC

Electrical repair is vital if you expect to live comfortably in your Jupiter, FL home. When lights begin flickering, outlets begin misbehaving, and circuits start tripping, you need to call up a licensed electrician to fix those problems immediately. But don’t just think calling any professional will do the trick. Unfortunately, not everyone claiming to be an electrician is actually qualified to provide the quality work that your home needs. While there are plenty of good electricians out there ready to help you, you need to watch out for the scam artists who are more interested in how money they can make off you. An inexperienced or unlicensed contractor may also provide faulty installation or repair work that makes a replacement or further repairs necessary. This can become quite costly, not to mention hiring a person who provides low-quality work can raise a number of safety concerns for you and your family. Before the wrong electrician brings you headache after headache, you need to ask questions before hiring. If you want to make sure you are getting electrical service worth every penny, showing a little bit more consideration in who you hire for service can go a long way ensuring you get the high-quality you deserve.

Why Should You Call Excel Electric?

If you’re looking for highly reliable electrical service in Jupiter, FL, you should make Excel Electric your first choice. We have a team of licensed, fully-trained electricians who will provide high-quality work for any need whether it be rewiring or switch & outlet installation. We give you upfront pricing so there are no curve balls when it comes to pricing and will consult with you before we conduct any electrical work. Also, thanks to our amazing customer service, you can ask us any question and be sure to get an answer that’s to your liking. After all, you need to make your electricity is working and incredibly safe, especially when it can put your family’s well-being at risk if anything goes wrong. With our help, you will be able to live in your home conveniently and worry less about any electrical emergencies, especially when you’re receiving an electrical service in Jupiter, FL you can trust for anything.

The 10 Questions YOU Should be Asking

Before you go right ahead and have that contractor work on your home, make sure you ask them these 10 questions to ensure you’re getting the right electrician:

1. How many years of experience do you have? Even if the electrician is licensed, they may not have enough experience to provide the service you need. Experienced professionals not only know how to provide effective electrical repair, but they also excel at customer service. By asking about their years of experience in the field, you can determine how qualified they are to handle your particular project.
2. Are you licensed? When searching for an electrician, you want to make sure they have a valid electrical contractor’s license. This shows that the electrician has the necessary education and training to perform quality work as they are being held to high standards required to become a licensed professional.
3. Do you offer warranties/rebates? Ask the contractor whether the parts, labor, or both are under warranty. An effective and experienced electrician will offer a warranty on their products and services because they are confident in the quality and effectiveness of their work.
4. Do you have insurance? In addition to a license, you want to make sure that the electrician has bonding and insurance given the high liability for this type of work. There are many risks to hiring an unlicensed electrician, including faulty work.
5. What are your service fees? Ask about all of the fees involved in the project before you choose a contractor. You don’t want to end up with any surprise expenses after the project is finished so make sure to ask for a detailed cost estimate including all service fees and incidental costs.
6. What work will you perform? The person that you speak with initially may not be the one performing the actual work. Make sure you ask upfront what work will be performed and by who. If you feel that your project requires a master electrician’s expertise, make sure that the person performing the work has these qualifications.
7. Do you offer estimates? Any quality electrician will provide a cost estimate before they begin work. In addition to the work itself, there may be other costs involved with incidentals such as repairing drywall or other factors that may be impacted by the electrical work. If you call Excel Electric, you’ll be delighted to know we offer free estimates.
8. What is your availability? In addition to finding a qualified and experienced electrician, you also want to make sure that the contractor is available to complete the project within your timeline. No matter the job, you have time constraints, and you need to make sure they are met.
9. What work will you perform? Make sure you ask upfront what electrical repair work will be performed and by who. If you feel that your project requires a master electrician’s expertise, make sure that the person on the job has enough qualifications.
10. May I see the work in progress? Depending on the nature and extent of your project, you may want to ask the contractor if you can see a work in progress at a current job. By taking a look at the contractor’s electrical repair work, you can get a better understanding of their methodology and process.

Contact Excel Electric today if you want to live comfortably in your Jupiter, FL home thanks to our high-quality electrical repair!