Your home’s circuit breaker is a valuable line of defense in protecting your home. All your electrical appliances rely on your home’s circuit breaker which makes it that much more important. Replacing your circuit breaker can be such an economical investment in protecting your home. Dealing with flickering lights, poor performance from your appliances such as your stove or microwave, and a smoking scent from your panel are just a few of the warning signs when it comes to your circuit breaker. Learn more about the warning signs so you can avoid a catastrophe and replace your circuit breaker before it’s too late.

One way to tell if you need a circuit breaker replacement is to sniff around and see if you smell a burning odor coming from the panel. If so, that means the wires and insulation have become overheated. Ultimately your circuit breaker is failing to protect your home from an electrical short elsewhere. Shut off the main power to the house immediately and call an electrician for an home, potential buyers are going to be hesitant to put down an offer. Everyone wants to purchase a home that is safe and secure, which is why an upgraded breaker is that much more valuable.

Generators can serve as literal lifesavers in the event of an emergency—providing power, light, and heat whenever a disaster strikes. But to be able to do its job, it has to be ready to go right when the situation demands it. This means making sure it’s well maintained, and repaired quickly when service is needed. Of course, this also means that you need to know when your generator needs repair service. Keep reason for 3 reasons that this may be the case.

When our electrical professionals inspect your generator, they’ll take a close look at your wiring, buttons, and any other electrical components. If any of these show a sign of damage, then the unit likely needs to be repaired.

Indications can include frayed wires, loose connectors, buttons that stay stuck when you press them, or electrical overloads that shut the generator down at improper times. Additionally, the voltage on the generator battery needs to be tested to make sure it’s not in disrepair.

The longer your generator lasts, the more likely it is to develop a leak from a hose, a line, or storage pan. Leaks can include oil or fuel—depending on the type of generator you own—in addition to coolant designed to keep the engine block from overheating. Check around the appliance for puddles and be sure to give us a call if you notice any.

If you’re lucky, you won’t have to use your generator for years (but it’s great to have that peace of mind when you do need it!) Unfortunately, however, when generators sit for a long time without being used, the battery can be drained, and other parts of the engine can start to fall into disrepair. This can be avoided by investing in yearly generator maintenance.

When you’re purchasing LED strip lights, there are numerous details and specifications upon which to base your decision. Color, length, and intensity are some of the major deciding factors, but there are many unthought-of product aspects that further customize light strips and what they’ll require when it’s time to install them. For example, a decision between 24-volt strip lights could change the products needed for your project.

While it depends on a light strip’s current draw, LED type, and number of LEDs, 24-volt LED strip lights tend to have longer maximum runs than 12-volt strips. This is because higher voltage carries more power. All strips have a maximum run, which is the length of continuous strip that can be powered without experiencing voltage drop. Voltage drop happens when the supplied energy of a power source is reduced as electric current flows through wire (or any other pieces of equipment that do not supply voltage on a circuit). If a run of strip is too long, reduced energy across the strip will lessen its intensity near the end.

Because they can handle more power, many 24-volt LED strip lights tend to have brighter LEDs, dual-row LED configurations, or single-row configurations of more LEDs. In these instances, maximum run might be the same as a 12-volt strip. However, keep in mind that these are more powerful strips with more LEDs or higher LED intensities. An identical 12-volt LED strip light would have a shorter maximum run.

Make sure to check any light strip’s specifications or description for its maximum run.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.

There are many handymen all over the world, and while we salute them, we have to remind everyone that there are licensed professionals in place for a reason. Your brother-in-law might be able to get the quick odds and ends completed, but if the job is not being done right or a larger problem surfaces, take care of it correctly or you could be paying more than you expected to save.

Licensed electricians are licensed because they have gone through the training and testing necessary to do the job safely and correctly. After years of training on the job and in the classroom, licensed electricians are required to complete an exam that tests their full understating. This process allows electricians to enter the field with the right knowledge and experience under their belts.

As a licensed electrician, we can obtain permits on your behalf. Some work requires you to apply for a permit from the city. If you do work that is not permitted you can be slapped with a fine you didn’t budget for. An Expert Electrician will help to identify the required permits and avoid costly fines.

Part of all the training that licensed electricians go through is to sharpen their sense of safety and make them aware of any dangers on site. When our electricians begin their work they will identify any hazards that could harm the home and its occupants. This means when a job is done, all safety issues will be addressed and you can have peace of mind about the work completed.

When you hire a licensed electrician you can be sure they understand all the safety codes and building codes. Any work performed will be done up to code so it does not need to be redone in the future.

So while we respect all those handy people out there that like to get the job done themselves, we want to encourage you to use the experts when the occasion calls for it. Don’t let your home end up on a disaster DIY show.