Electrician Advice for Electrical Work
by Owner on 08/23/15
Electrical work can be tricky and dangerous; cross the wrong wire and you can do serious harm to yourself or your home. Rather than put you and your family at risk, call Philadelphia Electricians. Our licensed and bonded electricians are more than happy to put their considerable knowledge and training at your disposal for any job, no matter how big or small. Of course, some jobs are more important than others; consider having the following electrical components installed or checked by Philadelphia Electricians.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), sometimes referred to
as a Residual Current Device (RCD),
is an electrical outlet designed to prevent electrocution by stopping the flow
of electricity when the switch detects that current is flowing down a
non-standard path, such as through water or a person. GFCIs are also useful in
preventing fires. CFCIs are so effective, the National Electrical Code requires
that they be installed in any area where there is a higher likelihood of water
and electricity meeting, such as:
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry
Rooms
• Anywhere
near a sink
• Exterior
outlets
You can identify GFCI outlets by the familiar “test switch” located between the individual outlets. If you don’t have GFCI units in the above places, Philadelphia Electricians can install these life saving devices in your home before it’s too late. We can also test any existing GFCI outlets.
Surge Protectors
Electric surges can harm electronic equipment and even cause
electronic devices to damage homes. Most electric surges occur during storms,
which is why many people take care to unplug their computers and other
expensive electronic devices during severe weather. Electrical surges can also
be caused by power line interruptions or even from an incident at the power
plant itself.
But what if you're not home during a storm? What if the power surge is the result of a mistake or damaged wire that occurs during a sunny summer afternoon? If these events happen, you probably won’t have the opportunity to unplug your computers and televisions, which could cost thousands of dollars in damage-not to mention the possibility of destroying any valuable data on your computer’s hard drive.
While you may think you are safe because your electronic devices are plugged into a “surge protector” power strip, this is not the case; although most power strips have a basic surge protector installed, this may not be enough to protect you from a power surge. In order to get the most protection, you need to have a true surge protector installed on your circuit breaker. This not only protects sensitive electronics such as computers and TVs, it also protects anything you have plugged in, from the refrigerator to your alarm clock. Because this surge protector is wired directly to your circuit breaker, it hold be professionally installed.
Generators
Power generators allow you to run your home’s electrical system on gas in the event of a power outage. Power generators are most useful to maintain temperature during the extreme heat of summer or cold of winter; since both air conditioning and heaters are connected to electricity, they stop running when the power grid goes down. This can be incredibly dangerous, especially if you have young children or elderly people living in your home.
Generators are plugged directly into your home’s
electrical system and provide power through its electrical lines. Installing a
generator is extremely difficult and if not wired correctly can cause a
generator to malfunction or even short out-which can be dangerous. Have one of
our experts install a generator so you know it will work when you need it most.
