Home Testimonials Helpful Tips Contact

Welcome to Gary's Electric!!

Replacing an Outlet Do I need a new Electrical Service? What about a Generator? Holiday Safety... Electrical Style

Replacing an Outlet - Do It Yourself! Most people are afraid of electricity, and that is a good thing, but did you know that by following a few simple safety rules you can do it yourself. Lets say that you need to replace a simple outlet in your home, how should you go about it? Always make sure that the power is shut off to what ever electrical device that you are working on. Once the power is off, remove the outlet cover and the two screws that are fastening the outlet to the box. Now pull the outlet out of the box with the wires still attached. Examine the replacement outlet to be sure that it matches the old one. If they are the same then take one wire off of the old outlet at a time and relocate it to the new outlet in the same location. You will notice that the outlet will have silver screws on one side and brass screws on the other and a green screw at the bottom. The neutral or white wires go on the silver screws and the hot or black wires go on the brass screws. the bare or green ( this is the ground wire) goes on the green screw. By relocating only one wire at a time you will be less likely to get the wires mixed up and will wind up with a more satisfactory job. You are now ready to put the outlet back into the box. Carefully fold the wires into the box being sure not to short the wires together or against the box if it is metal. Now simply secure the new outlet to the box with the screws that are provided and replace the outlet cover. Turn the power back on If you discover that there are more wires in the box than expected or they don't follow the above description, then you may want to have a more experienced person look at it first. Most of the time, however, it is a relatively easy job to do and you can say that I did it myself! Of course there are many who have no interest in tackling a job like this and that"s ok. Just contact a qualified electritian and they will be happy to do it for you. Do I need a new Electrical Service? Probably one of the most commonly asked questions that we hear is, "Do you think that I need a new electrical service? I think that most of the time when that question is asked, they already know the answer. Just so you know, if you see water dripping from the bottom of your panel, that is not a good sign. Some other dead giveaway signs are rust at the bottom of the panel, indicating that rain water has been entering the panel, probably for a long time, circuit breakers that feel warm to the touch or have needed replacing before. Another indicator is a buzzing or humming sound coming from inside the panel. Replacing an electrical service may seem daunting to some, but it is a job that an expirienced electrician can complete in a one day visit. While there are lots of hoops to jump through, (ie. pulling an electrical permit from the town or city, scheduling a date with the power company, co-ordinating with the customer, and ordering all the parts), as long as you have remembered everything, the actual day that you do the job goes quite smoothly. One thing to keep in mind is that when a qualified electrician does the work, he will always have the local electrical inspector look at the job. This is a good thing, because that way you know that the job was done correctly and is safe for you and your family. If you ever have someone tell you not to worry about a permit or have an inspection, he may not be the best choice to do the job. While you may have to wait a while for a good electrical contractor, it will be worth the wait. Most of the time we are very busy, the good ones usually are. Just get on his list and he'll be calling you soon. What about a generator?? Another product that is high on the list of items people are requesting is generator hook ups. This is a very important item to have if you have a problem with frequent power outages or are just concerned about the occasional storm that can cause a loss of power for a few hours or maybe a few days or worse. Do you remember the ice storm of 1998? We recently celebrated the 10th aniversery of that event. It is a great feeling to know that you are ready for a situation like that one, and a generator that is ready to go on a moments notice, prepares you for that scenario. There are different types of hook ups that can very the price. The most basic set up is a 10 circuit manuel transfer switch. This type allows you to put 10 circuits of your choice on the generator. These usually consist of items like, your furnace, sump pump, refrigerator, freezer, water pump, microwave, a few lights, oh and don't forget the T.V. The next step up would be a manual transfer switch that would control your entire electrical system. This is a little more involved because it usually requires that your electrical service gets an upgrade, which is a bonus all by itself. There are different ways to accomplish this, and that would depend on your particular situation. The electrician will need to inspect the service and choose the best option for you. The benefit of this second type of transfer switch is that it allows you to run anything in the house that you may need. Now, you must keep in mind that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. When I say that what I mean is, that if you choose this secound option, your generator needs to be up to the task. Most portable generators will not run everything in your house at once, especially things like ranges, dryers and electric water heaters. This would require a least a 10,000 watt generator. The reason that this type is so popular, though, is because if you don't run everything at once you can have power anywhere in your house, as you need it. Most people can get along without there electric range or dryer for a few hours, or even days, if necessary. The last step up is an automatic transfer switch. This type of equipment is definitely the most convenient of all. There are, however, some requirements needed to make this work. You will need to have propane fuel available on the property. It, like the secound option will probably require some type of a service upgrade. The way this system works is that it senses a loss of power and will turn on the generator with out your assistance. This type of generator usually comes with a minimum of 10,000 watts of power. While the convenience is nice, most of my clients prefer the first two options because of the cost, especially when they consider how often it will be needed. In my home I have a gas stove and dryer, along with an oil fired hot water boiler, so for me the best choice was option two. In my case I can run my whole house with a 6500 watt generator. So, if a generator is something that you have been considering, give your favoite electritian a call. I'm sure that he would be glad to advise you on any of these options. Holiday Safety... Electrical style It seems that from Thanksgiving on, till about New Years Day, everyone's house resembles a runway at the Portland Jetport, lights as far as the eye can see. Hey, we all love Christmas, but with all those lights, did you consider the effect it is having on your home electrical system? Most of the time everything seems to be working just fine, but it is very easy to overload a circuit to the point that it trips a breaker or blows a fuse. If this has happened to you, don't get angry at your electrical system, it's just doing it's job! With a properly wired home these types of problems rarely occur. Even if you have an adequate electrical system you still can have a fire hazard on your hands if you fail to follow a few saftey rules. Did you know that nearly 160,000 house fires occure at this time of year. That's alot! Here are 10 ideas that may help you avoid having a blue Christmas. Be sure that the lights that you are using have a U.L. lable Of course, always check for frayed wires or broken bulbs When in doubt, throw them out. They don't cost that much Be sure to read all instructions on the packaging, no matter what kind of decoration you are considering using Never change a bad bulb while the lights are plugged in. Ouch!! Only use your lights for the purpose for which they were intended Most christmas light manufacturers recommend not connecting more than 3 sets of lights together I don't recommend using extension cords at all, but if you decide to, keep it to a minimum. The safest bet is to have a qualified electrician install a few outlets in the areas where you would like to see your decorations set up. If the lights are outside, don't forget to plug them into a ground fault outlet Finally, never ever leave your lights on with no one at home or while you are sleeping Just a few simple suggestions that can make your days merry and bright, just not too bright! Merry Christmas, from Gary's Electric! Legal Disclaimer Performing any electrical work yourself can be dangerous, and certain events may arise that are unexpected. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTION MANUALS AND SAFETY WARNINGS ON ANY ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS YOU BUY. And electricity is especially dangerous, so always use common sense. Any tips, advice or guidance provided on this website cannot be completely aware of your specific needs. If you are at all unsure about how to complete an electrical task, contact a qualified electrician to do it for you. There are electrical codes to be followed in your area. Make sure you know them and follow them. YOU AGREE TO HOLD GARYSELECTRIC.COM HARMLESS FOR ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR DEATH, OR ANY OTHER LOSS OR DAMAGE THAT MAY RESULT FROM YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED. No information given on garyselectric.com indicates the creation of any warranty.