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Electrical
When do I need
an electrician If fuses blow or circuit
breakers trip in your home; if lights flicker when
appliances are turned on; if appliances do not operate
on full power; if your TV image shrinks when you turn
on appliances; or if fuses blow, or if circuit
breakers trip inside your appliances and electronic
devices; you may have a wiring problem in your home.
If you have never worked with electricity before, of
if you have knowledge, but do not feel comfortable
working with electricity in your home, the think you
want to do when having a wiring or other electrical
problem, is to call a licensed electrician. If you are
familiar with working with electricity, and know some
of the basics of home wiring, you should find out
about local electrical code from your City Building
Inspectors Office. Some cities do not permit you to do
your own residential wiring. Other communities will
let you install new circuits up to the service
entrance panel, but require that you have a licensed
electrician do the final hookup. If it is legal for
you to do the wiring yourself, you can save money by
having an electrician do the final hookup. In any
case, make sure that the work you are doing confirms
to local fire safety and building ordinances. Also be
sure to check with your utility company to be certain
that the lines leading into your home have the
capacity to deliver any extra power your new circuits
will require.
Rewiring and
Repairing Working with electricity is easy and safe if
you work logically and follow the safety precautions.
Before beginning any electrical repair, turn off power
to the circuit breaker at the house’s main service
panel. Then use a voltage tester to confirm that the
power is off. Before deciding whether you should
attempt a repair, be guided by your own confidence and
the tools an time available to you. For more complex
or time-consuming repairs, you may wish to call for
professional service. You still will have saved time
and money by diagnosing the problem yourself.
Fuse box,
circuit breaker checklist Labels on service panels
are often incorrect or out of date. Before performing
any work on your home’s electrical system, it is
important to locate and correctly label the branch
circuits served by the service panel. Clearly number
each fuse or circuit breaker. To identify the devices
on the circuit, find the switches, outlets and
fixtures that are no longer receiving power. Work only
in dry conditions. Use one hand and do not touch any
metal parts with the other hand. If the problem is not
a short-circuit, or an overload, have an electrician
inspect the panel.
Electric
Heat When an electric furnace fails to operate,
there are only three things you can do before calling
a serviceperson. first, be sure the furnace is
receiving adequate power. Check the fuse box to make
sure the circuit breakers or fuses are not blown.
Second, turn off the main power at the breaker and
open the furnace. Each of the heating elements have
its own fuse or circuit breaker. Make sure none of
them have blown or tripped off. Third, check the
thermostat to be sure it is functioning. If these
measures don’t expose the problem, it is better to
consult a professional electrician.
Ceiling
Fans Ceiling fans produce a cool breeze in the
summer and circulate trapped warm air in the winter.
To start a stalled fan, make sure the power is off,
then slowly rotate the fan blades a few turns. Turn on
the power and gradually turn the switch to test.
Wobble or excessive vibration can result from worn
pins that connect the shaft to the motor assembly.
Replace these pins if they are faulty. If you suspect
the motor has failed, take down the fan and test it.
In most cases, the motor of the ceiling fan is a
sealed unit and must be professionally serviced.
Attic
Fans Attic fans are really large exhaust fans and
consequently have a power capacitor start motor. The
fan is often installed behind an attic vent, apart
from the motor and driven by a pulley belt
arrangement. Any time a fan does not work, first check
its cord and plug, inspect the cord for breaks or
cracks, particularly near the plug. Also check the
contacts where the cord is connected to the motor and
switch, to be sure they are clean and tight.
Selecting an
Electrician It’s important to find a good electrician when
building or remodeling your home. Here are some
important tips in selecting an electrician. Be sure
the contractor is licensed and find out if they are
licensed by city, county, or state. Different cities
and states have specific code requirements which must
be followed. Next, find out the type of work they do.
Do they do new construction and remodeling, or are
they a repair service only. Make sure there is a
master licensed electrician with the company, because
this is required to hold a license. Check some recent
references. For repair work, find out the hourly
charge. For remodeling or building a house, get a bid
on the entire project. For more information on this
subject, consult an electrical contractor. link to
nowhere
More
Electrical Projects For major electrical
projects it is best to consult an electrical
contractor as early as possible. This will keep costs
down. In a new construction project, an electrical
contractor will know about the construction needed and
can coordinate the electrical work with the builder.
Your electrician can keep labor costs down by
scheduling telephone and burglar alarm installation at
the same time as the other wiring. The electrician
will advise how many circuits you will need. Don’t cut
corners. At this stage, installing circuits is cheaper
than after construction is complete. Rewiring or
replacing old wiring throughout an older home can be
one by a skilled electrician who knows how to minimize
drilling, which will save on expensive plastering and
repairs. The best way to keep costs down is to get
advice before you begin to work.
Minor
Electrical Projects No matter how small the
project, dealing with electricity can be very
dangerous of you don’t know what you are doing. It is
usually best to call a professional electrical
contractor. This will not only give you the expertise
you need, but also the piece of mind that your system
is being properly repaired. Also, calling a
professional for a minor project may save you from
calling a professional for a costly major project. If
a circuit breaker switches off or fuse blows usually
means there is some type of problem with the system.
Don’t try to repair the breaker or fuse until the
problem has been found and corrected. If there is any
sparking, turn off the power and call an electrician.
If smoke, fire, or sparking continues, leave the
building and call the fire department.
When you have
a problem with electricity... Electricity is potentially
dangerous. The first rule is to attempt to make
repairs at all unless you are 100 percent sure you
know how to proceed safely. If you have any doubt in
your ability to make even a minor repair, contact an
electrical contractor. A circuit breaker flipping off
or a fuse blowing is your first clue there is
something wrong. Unplug appliances in the circuit and
shut off wall switches also. Don’t restore power to
the circuit until the problem has been corrected. If
sparking occurs, and then stops, unplug the appliance
or turn off a wall switch and then contact an
electrician. Take care to stand in a dry area and
protect your hands with heavy work gloves or a thick,
dry towel. If smoke, fire, or continued sparking
occurs leave the building immediately and call the
fire department from another location.
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