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Common Electrical Problems in Commercial Office Buildings

It is not recommended to attempt common electrical repairs by yourself. Even if your staff is skilled and has access to a few tools, there are still chances that your maintenance methods are not up to current codes.

You can find many DIY videos and instructional manuals to help keep your commercial property’s electric system in Alamance County in working order. However, you should be aware that DIY electrical maintenance can create a lot of liability.

You should also be aware that many commercial insurance policies prohibit electrical self-repairs and repairs not performed by licensed professionals. Your insurance company may not cover repairs if you attempt to fix the problem yourself. A shock or fire can also cause personal injuries to others.

Even the most skilled property manager can find it difficult to know what you can do and what you should leave to an electrician. We compiled a list of common electrical problems in buildings and showed you how to spot them.

Lamps with burned-out bulbs

The most common electrical problem in Chapel Hill, found in residential and commercial properties, is the failure of lightbulbs. Professional offices must always have working light bulbs. It’s not necessary to hire an electrician if the problem is a simple one. You should leave the job to professionals if the lightbulb goes out suddenly or shows other problems. It could include:

1. A light fixture that buzzes
2. A light fixture that burns out bulbs too early.
3. Recent roof replacement or water leaks in the region
4. Near the light fixture, there is a strong smell of burning.
5. Dimmable light fixtures

It’s best to call a licensed electrician if you notice any of these signs. They will be able to take all safety precautions to diagnose the problem and fix it.

Lights that flicker or dim

It can cause severe damage to your business if the lights in your office are dimming or flickering. This problem can sometimes be fixed by replacing the bulbs. Although most times, replacing bulbs alone is not enough. Flickering or dimming can often be a sign that there is a bigger problem.

These can be short circuits, electric arcing, or problems at the circuit panel. If you have trouble with a lightbulb, such as flickering or dimming after changing it, call a professional electrician immediately.

Frequently Tripping Breakers

Circuit breaker fuses and circuit breakers in Chatham County are designed to trip or go out whenever the circuit’s power demand exceeds safe limits. Circuit breakers that keep tripping can indicate that your circuit uses too much energy and may be at risk of overloading.

It is possible to flip the breaker or replace the fuse. Ignoring the problem could result in an electrical fire. If the circuit is tripping despite reducing the load, it could be a sign that there is a more serious problem. Professional diagnosis and repair are required.

Dead Electrical Outlets

The purpose of electrical outlets is to last for a long time. It could indicate a bad circuit connection. If this is not addressed, it could cause excessive heat buildup and arching. It is best to completely turn off the circuit at the panel before calling an electrician. It’s possible that the outlet is defective and needs to be replaced. It’s better not to risk it and avoid an electrical fire.

Unprotected Wiring or Exposed Wiring

To avoid problems with power supply, every office or professional space within a commercial building must have protected and secure wiring. To protect the wiring from damage by the elements or human tampering, there are specific building regulations. You should immediately block any exposed or unprotected wires in commercial properties. Call a licensed electrician to repair the problem and restore compliance with all codes.

Loose connections and unsecure wiring

Wires must be installed according to specific standards. Stitches that are too tight can lead to damage to wires. If there is an electric fire, this can lead to serious liability. Additionally, any connections damaged or reworked in the past can cause dangerous arcing and overheating. This can cause injuries or even ignite a fire. To ensure that electrical connections are safe and secure, licensed electricians must be hired.

Too Few Outlets

Commercial properties and older office buildings in Burlington were constructed before businesses could rely on electrical devices. Electrical demand has increased over time. Some more senior offices can adapt with surge protectors and extension cords that have multiple plugs to power their essential electrical devices.

This poses a high risk of damaging older wiring and can also overheat a circuit, which could lead to an electric fire. Instead of adding power strips in haste, call a professional electrician to add outlets or expand the number of circuits available in your space.

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Electrical Safety Tips for Children

Electricity lets you heat your home, cook meals, and watch your favorite films on TV. While electricity is vital for your family’s safety and health, it can also threaten your children’s safety. Today’s blog will discuss tips you can use around your home and teach your children to ensure your electricity works safely.

Electric Safety around Your Home Avoids Overstuffed Outlets Surge protectors and power strips are excellent because you can plug multiple devices in at once. The more plugs you have in one place, the greater chance that your child will find them and consider them to be something they can play with. You may see them pulling plugs out of sockets all the time, increasing your risk of an electric shock.

You might consider distributing your devices in different rooms of your house, but not in the areas your children frequent. If you must use a power strip for safety reasons, ensure it is high enough that your children cannot reach it.

Put a safety cap on all unutilized outlets. Children are naturally curious about wall outlets. Placing plastic plugs in unutilized sockets is a good idea to prevent children from sticking or poking anything into them. You can also save energy by covering up your outlets, and these covers will prevent cold drafts from entering electrical outlets. This sounds like it is a win-win situation for us!

Children cannot play near electrical equipment outdoors; playing is an excellent place for kids to have fun and run around. A lot of electrical equipment must be installed in the backyard for kids to play tag or throw a ball. Talk with your children about how to avoid the transformer box in your back or front yard. The final voltage transformation is what distributes power to your home, and it can be dangerous if this box is not used correctly.

Talking to your children about the importance of not flying kites or throwing balls around power lines is a great idea. Your child should know that if a toy gets stuck in a powerline, they must immediately call the electrical service provider. They should also know that getting the toy out by themselves is impossible.

Do not keep appliances near the sink. Most adults know that electricity and water are incompatible, and your kids might not know as much about this topic as you. It may also be a great idea not to discuss the dangers of electricity and water around your children. When not in use, store hair straighteners or blow dryers in a cabinet in the bathroom. Ensure that the blender, toaster, or any other electrical appliance in the kitchen is not too close to the sink so your child cannot move it.

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Reasons you should request an Electrical Inspection

A significant decision, such as buying a new home, is making a purchase. Pest inspections and building inspections are great ideas. What about common electrical issues at home. They can be a hidden danger. They are not the legacy you want to leave behind when you buy your dream home.

To ensure safety and avoid costly repairs, you can arrange an electrical inspection during a building or pest inspection. Building inspections include the structure and foundations of the building. They may also inspect the plumbing and fire hazards and the heating and cooling systems if necessary. Although they may examine your home’s electrical system, builders are not licensed electricians. An untrained eye cannot see many threats to a home.

To comply with current safety standards, a house’s smoke alarm testing and wiring must be done. While your home may meet the applicable standards, this should not be a reason to take a chance. If your home is not to par, or you need to make other electrical repairs, you may be able to subtract the cost from the purchase price. Local electricians can conduct an inspection and provide a quote on the estimated cost of repairs.

Inspecting the electrical outlets will reveal defects such as cracks and loose screws. The inspection will reveal the age of the wiring as well as the suitability and safety of the power box. Your power box must be able to handle new appliances as well as the possibility of an addition or expansion. You should invest in a new power box if your current one is inadequate before moving in. You might be able to lower the price if it’s a fire hazard.

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Tell-tale signs it’s time for a rewire.

It doesn’t matter if you are superstitious or skeptical about the supernatural. That flickering light at the bottom of the hallway stairs could signify that it is time to rewire your home. There are quite a few signs that your home needs to be reviewed by an electrician. We have a list so you can call your local electrician rather than your nearest seance service if your home is ready for wiring.

Dim and Flicker Older homes may require that your wiring be inspected periodically, usually every two to three years. If you didn’t know this, your house might need some TLC. You may notice a slight shock when you turn on your light, a flickering overhead, or a sudden darkening in a dimly lit area; these are all signs of an electrical problem.

Shock value you can see the wiring in your home as a sign that you need to hire an expert.

Power Tripping, We are not talking about politics, but older homes tend to have their power circuits cut off when they become overloaded. When one of our older electrics was being pushed too hard by one of our children, I can recall my parents running to the fuse box in panic. They added a hairdryer and a toaster to ensure the cycle time was the same as the washing machines. Modern houses and those rewired to Australian standards will likely have multiple circuits. This means your electrics won’t suffer overload problems. It is time to contact residential electricians if you have a lot of tripped fuses at your house or business.

Ambitious DIY It’s easy to overspend on a home purchase, especially an older home, and this can lead to a temptation to cut corners. This is true for painting and plastering, but you can also cut corners on landscaping and other chores. A qualified electrician for all electrical work would be best, and safety is paramount.

Timing is essential to verify the date of the last electrical rewiring. If unsure, consult an expert to get an estimate before signing the contract. An inspection by a residential electrician will reveal the age of the wiring, as well as whether additional work is required to make the house safe. This could help you save some serious money when renovating your home.

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Saving money on your electric bill while working from home

COVID-19 is here, and there’s one certainty: We will spend much more time at home. Online school is available for children and adults, as well as schools. You might not have taken the time to consider how the coronavirus will affect your utilities. Naturally, more time spent at home can lead to a higher utility bill. We are an excellent resource for saving money on your electricity bill. These four rules will make your wallet happy!

Rule #1: Don’t leave everything on all the time Look around you. What number of devices are you seeing? Many prefer to work from home with only “the works,” a TV, several monitors, and many other devices. It is possible to lower electricity consumption by not having the TV, Netflix, or Hulu open on one tab of your computer. You may want to limit the number of children playing video games. Encourage your family to spend time outside or to engage in hobbies that don’t require electricity, such as puzzles and art.

You can also turn off power trips when the devices they are connected to and all the instruments at your computer are not being used. Limit the number of devices that are running simultaneously in your home.

Rule #2: Let the sun in through the curtains! Although you may be indoors, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t allow the sun to shine. Let the sunshine through your windows and open your curtains. It will enable you to get some Vitamin D, and you won’t need to use as much electricity during the day. Your family should do the same. Explain to them how many lights are left on in excess and how it can affect utility costs.

Rule #3: Use Energy-Saving Options on Your Computer Make sure everything is energy-friendly by going to the settings of your computer. This can do by making sure your monitor and hard drive go into sleep mode after a set time. It might be best if you didn’t put the time too short, or it can become annoying to log in every time you take a break to think. You might consider setting the timer to 10 minutes. You can also lower your screen’s brightness to save electricity.

Rule #4: Using a grill or backyard fire pit if you have one in your kitchen is an enormous energy source. You’ll likely use your kitchen more often after you cook all your home meals. You can use your backyard grill or fire pit for outdoor cooking and grill hot dogs and tin foil meals. You won’t need to heat the oven, and your family will have an excuse to go outside.

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Electrical Outlet Home Safety Tips

What is new in electrical outlet installation?

No matter how old or new your home is, there are probably a few upgrades that could be made to your outlets. Modern outlets offer many more options than the two-pronged, older models. To get an idea of the various outlets, you can look at the following.

USB Outlets

Many devices use a USB cord for power. However, they cannot use traditional outlets without an adapter. This isn’t very pleasant for many reasons. Today, outlets are available that can integrate multiple USB ports, eliminating the need for an adapter. The USB outlets come with either two standard ports or two USB ports. They can also have four USB ports without any standard ports. It all depends on your family’s needs and the locations where outlets are needed. You can have a technician help you identify critical areas.

Smart Outlets

Smart outlets can be controlled by voice commands or apps from devices plugged in. It is easy to turn devices on or off, and homeowners can set a lighting schedule. You can program lights to turn on and off at specific times when you aren’t home. This makes it appear that you are there to stop thieves from entering your house. This can be done to reduce your energy costs and improve the efficiency of your outlet. Although smart outlets are more expensive than regular outlets, their benefits and use are numerous.

AFCI Outlets

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets are designed to interrupt the flow of electricity if a ground fault is detected. Ground faults are conditions where electricity does not follow the intended path and can lead to dangerous situations. This outlet prevents you from getting electrocuted if water is introduced to the outlet. It is required in bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area near the water. Although they look like regular outlets, two buttons can be used for resetting the outlet if it trips. It is a good idea to have an electrician in Burlington or Chapel Hill, NC replace any outlet located within six feet of a water source. This will protect your family against accidental shocks.

GFCI Outlets

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets are designed to interrupt the flow of electricity if a ground fault is detected. Ground faults are conditions where electricity does not follow the intended path and can lead to dangerous situations. This outlet prevents you from getting electrocuted if water gets into it. It is required in bathrooms, kitchens, and other places near water. Although they look like regular outlets, two buttons can be used to reset the outlet if it trips. It is a good idea to have an electrician in Burlington or chapel Hill, NC replace any outlet located within six feet of a water source. This will protect your family against accidental shocks.

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What you need to know about aluminum wiring

Aluminum Wiring

Many people don’t think about the constant electrical currents that run through their homes. Modern life is possible because of the wiring in your home, and everyday life was different before wiring. Nearly all modern homes are wired with copper, but aluminum wiring as standard from 1965 to the mid-70s. People are now being warned not to buy aluminum wiring and to rewire their homes using copper if it was used. Aluminum wiring is a fire hazard. Don’t worry; Electrical Service Providers will inspect your electrical system to rewire your Burlington and Chapel Hill, NC house if necessary. This will ensure that your family is safe.

Why was aluminum wire used?

Between 1965 and 1972, aluminum wiring was common in many homes due to skyrocketing copper prices. Burlington and Chapel Hill, NC were not spared from rising costs and switched to aluminum like everyone else. There is a possibility that your home could have aluminum wiring. At the time, aluminum seemed like an attractive alternative to copper because it was inexpensive, plentiful, and had similar conductivity to copper. Although it was not immediately apparent that aluminum wire was inferior to copper wire at the time, the issues have become more evident as wiring ages.

Is Aluminum Wiring Dangerous!

The dangers of aluminum wiring in your home include overheating, loose connections, electrical damage, and fire. There are many reasons why aluminum wiring can become hot and cause problems.

How to Find Out if Your Home Has Aluminum Wiring

If you are unsure if your house has copper wiring and was built between 1965-1972, you can check the wiring in the electrical panel or any area with visible wiring like the attic. Once you have located the wires, you can inspect them to determine what kind of wire they are. You should label aluminum wiring with one of the following.

1) AL
2) ALUM
3) ALUMINUM

Electrical Service Providers can help you determine if your house is wired with aluminum wiring if there are no labels. We will gladly come to your home in Burlington and Chapel Hill, NC, or the surrounding area to perform an electrical inspection.

Less Ductility

Aluminum is not as malleable as copper, and this means it can’t withstand being bent, stretched, and manipulated in similar ways. Over time, aluminum wiring begins to deteriorate internally, and this causes the wiring to resist more electric current, decreasing its efficiency and causing excess heat to build up.

Aluminum is also malleable and highly sensitive, and it can be bent easily without any resistance. This is not as easy as it sounds. Because aluminum wiring is malleable, it should only be used with screws.

Oxidation

While all wires eventually oxidize, the aluminum oxide oxidation, which is what causes aluminum wiring to oxidize, is a poor conductor. The wires will become less efficient and more susceptible to overheating as they accumulate more oxidation. Copper wiring that has oxidized can still conduct electricity.

Greater Thermal Expansion

When exposed to heat, aluminum wiring expands faster than copper wiring, and the wiring’s constant expansion and contraction cause it to become loose and brittle over time. Loss of connections can lead to fire, sparking, overheating, and even fire.

Stronger Vibrations

A copper wire vibrates slightly when an electrical current flows through it. However, electrical current flows through a copper wire and vibrates somewhat. Over time, however, the vibrations can be stronger and cause connections to become loose.

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Are your home’s electric systems working properly? You may not need to inspect your wiring, outlets, or fixtures if it is working well. No matter how good your system looks, regular inspections are necessary to ensure that it is working efficiently and prevent any problems from getting worse.

Electrical hazards like electrical fires can quickly occur and there are few warning signs. These are the most important steps to take to prevent a serious electrical problem in your home or pocket.

It can be overwhelming to manage all the upkeep and maintenance that homeowners have to do. There is so much to do and so many things to consider for you and your family. Safety is a top priority when it comes to your electric system. An electrical safety inspection is essential.

Professional Check and Fix of Breakers

Circuit breakers in your home are electrical switches that can stop electricity flow when there are signs of danger. The breakers will immediately stop the flow of electricity if there is an overload. This prevents any damage to wiring and fixtures.

Everybody has had to experience a breaker trip. While a few trippings are not a problem, it could indicate that your home circuit breakers are experiencing more serious problems. This could include an overloaded circuit or a short circuit.

When multiple fixtures or appliances are connected to a circuit, it can cause an overload. Overheating or fire can result in circuits becoming overloaded. An electrical fire can quickly result if your breaker fails to do its job correctly.

A short circuit is when a live wire meets a neutral wire. The contact can cause too much current to travel through a circuit, which results in more heat than it can handle.

Ground fault surges are caused by a hot wire coming in contact with a grounded wire. This creates a similar situation to a short circuit. This can be a serious electrical hazard and it is extremely important to inspect your breakers regularly.

Professional Check and Fix of Lights

It is important to ensure that your light fixtures are equipped with the correct wattage light bulbs when you check for electrical safety. This can be done by checking the brightness of your light fixtures or noticing if they flicker often. It could be that some fixtures are brighter than others. This could indicate that the bulbs are not working correctly. It could also indicate that the main neutral connection is not working properly.

Bad lighting could also indicate bad wiring.

It is important to inspect your lights regularly to prevent these problems from happening or worsening. Even something as small as a light bulb can be the cause of an electrical problem.

Professional Check & Fix for Outlets

Your home’s outlets can cause a variety of problems if they aren’t properly maintained. The outlets are the main source of electricity for your appliances. They have many moving parts that can become worn down over time. This wear and tear can lead to friction and heat buildup, which can eventually cause a circuit breaking down or trip.

If the outlet gets warm or becomes discolored, it is time to have it replaced.

These scenarios could lead to electrical problems you want to avoid, both for safety and economic reasons. If you are experiencing any of these issues with your outlets, we recommend that you have an electrical inspection.

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What is power surge?

Simply put, a power surge is an unintentional fluctuation in current, voltage, or power that can cause harm to electronic items in the home.

Common reasons for Power Surge

1. Electric Overload

Electrical overloads, as the name implies, are situations in which you try to draw too much power out of a single circuit. Overuse of extension cords, overloading appliances or using an appliance that exceeds the circuit’s amperage limits can all lead to electrical overloads. Overdrawn circuits can cause power surges. This is because the overload circuit could experience a huge spike in current as a result of the excess power being drawn.

2. Faulty wiring

The distribution of electricity is dependent on the wiring. A power surge can occur if the wiring is exposed or damaged. A wire that is exposed or damaged offers very little resistance to electricity, so any conductive material could spike the current to dangerous levels. We have listed a few indicators that may indicate wiring problems without going into your drywall.

1) Outlets have visible burns marks or a burning smell
2) Vibrations or buzzing sounds coming from outlets
3) Circuit Breakers Trip Frequently

Contact Electrical Service Providers (ESP) if any of these signs are true.

3. Lightning

Lightning strikes can easily cause damage to your electrical system that is designed to channel electricity. Your electrical system will accept an excessive amount of current if lightning strikes it. This causes a huge surge, which can cause a power outage. If you don’t have surge protection, it is a good idea to unplug all unused appliances and devices during severe storms.

4. Blackout/Power Outage

A power outage can be expected during a storm or a power grid breakdown. It’s possible for it to be unexpected, but it can still cause damage. After power is restored, the surge in current can cause a power surge that damages any appliances previously unpowered.

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