Practical electrical advice, safety tips, and updates from the licensed electricians at Harrison Electric.
Winter is nearly upon us in the Twin Cities, and that means most people will be spending a significant amount of time indoors over the coming months. With more time spent indoors comes greater electricity usage, and that increased usage can present homeowners with a few common electrical problems. But avoiding seasonal winter electrical issues is fairly simple, and we’re sharing the details on how you can do that below.
Do you take it for granted that you can easily flip on the lights at home, plug in and charge your phone, or use your household appliances? Most people do—until those modern electrical conveniences suddenly have issues. And while an electrical inconvenience may be frustrating, it’s not just irritating; it can be remarkably dangerous.
Do you keep electrical devices plugged into your outlets at home? Have you thought about what could happen to those things if your electrical system experienced a major power surge? Without adequate surge protection, even a single electrical surge could cause irreparable damage to your computers, televisions, electrical appliances, and anything else you have plugged into your receptacles at home.
Just how long does it take to charge an electric vehicle? Unfortunately, there’s really no definitive answer to that question. Battery recharging time depends on a variety of factors, including the type of charger you’re using, the amount of range your battery has left, the number of kWh your battery can accept, the length of the charging cable — the list goes on.
Although they’re more necessary than ever in our modern age, many homeowners tend to overlook their electrical outlets and the importance of keeping them up to date. But that’s a major mistake, and one you definitely don’t want to make! Outdated outlets can damage your pricey electronics, overload your electrical system, and even spark a house fire, so it’s important to ensure yours are in excellent condition at all times.
Do you know if your laundry room and outdoor receptacles are up to code? If not, you definitely should because in many homes, these electrical components are seriously outdated. Ensuring your wiring and receptacles comply with the National Electric Code is the best way to protect your home and family from an electrical fire. Furthermore, in the event you decide to sell your house, up-to-code-wiring can be an attractive selling point.
Do you own a home that was constructed between 1950 and 1990? Then it may still have an old electrical panel that was discontinued decades ago for safety reasons. Read on to learn about three types of old electrical panels that are now considered obsolete and hazardous and should be replaced immediately.
Did you know electrical problems are the second leading cause behind house fires? Or that every year, electrical issues cause approximately 51,000 residential fires, almost 500 fatalities, and well over a billion dollars in combined property damage? Most of these fires are due to an inability to recognize potential household electrical hazards and as a result, a lack of proper system maintenance and necessary repairs.
Do the major appliances in your home run without a hitch? Or do you frequently trip breakers when you run too many things at once? If your circuit breakers seem to trip more often than you know is normal, there’s a good chance your home needs more dedicated circuits.