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The Importance of GFCI Outlets

Written by THE SEO CONTRACTOR on February 1, 2023. Posted in Electrical Safety. Leave a Comment

Throughout your home, you are using outlets to plug in lamps and appliances and to use your tools, but have you been testing them and making sure you have the proper ones installed in the correct places? Outlets throughout your home, especially those by water or located in the garage or outside of the home, should be GFCI outlets. These outlets are most commonly found throughout your kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and even your garage, where you work with power tools.

GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, which means the outlet prevents electrocution and protects human life or even house fires. The GFCI can “sense” the amount of electricity that flows out of the outlet and react quickly, within a fraction of a second, to trip the circuit and shut off the power to that outlet. The GFCI outlet is designed to prevent severe, or even fatal, electric shocks by shutting off the power.

It can also prevent some electrical fires or reduce the severity of them by shutting off the power in those alarming and unfortunate cases. However, some appliances already have a ground fault circuit interrupter on them. Throughout the 80s, there were reports of multiple accidents a year from hair dryers coming into contact with water, so many that in the 90s, manufacturers were required to have GFCI outlets on the hair dryer themselves to prevent such accidents. You will find that all hair dryers have a GFCI plug already established on the cord and should be tested with the rest of your outlets as well.

There are many other benefits to GFCI outlets and even a few different types that can be utilized throughout your home and any projects you may be working on. Osha recommends being up to date with their capabilities and utilizing the different types of GFCI outlets to prioritize safety. Even what appliances should and should not be plugged into GFCI outlets. Reviewing these throughout your home is not only responsible home ownership but also prioritizing electrical safety for your family.

Testing GCFIs In Your Home

While we have many GFCI outlets throughout our home, most people only regularly test them. This is primarily dangerous because although the GFCI outlet could malfunction, electricity will still be running to the outlet and any appliance you plug in, so the “tripping” mechanism could be damaged. Unfortunately, you wouldn’t know of the malfunction without testing it until it’s too late. Without it, you could be shocked. There is also a potential for overheating in the wires or even electrical damage to your home. To test these outlets, the easiest way is to plug in a small appliance to the outlet, turn it on, and then press the “test” button on the outlet.

The ground fault circuit interrupter should work if the appliance turns off and the “reset” button on the outlet pops out. If this does not occur, you immediately need to call an electrician for a GFCI repair in Woodland Hills, CA. If the test works properly and the “reset” button does pop out, remember to push the “reset” back in. Pressing the “reset” button back in re-establishes power back to the outlet so you may continue to use it. Testing all of the GFCI outlets in your home should be done once a month. This will also allow you to see if any outlets in your home need to be replaced and if any GFCI outlets need to be installed. Focus on any outlets that could come in contact with people and water.

Different Types of GFCI Outlets

There are two other types of ground fault circuit interrupter outlets, which are important to test before each use, mainly due to the type of tools plugged into them. One is a portable version and can be used not only on outlets that do not have a GFCI safety measure but are most commonly used by construction crews or in outdoor settings for high-power tools such as trimmers.

If they are designed to be used in the rain, they should and will be clearly marked as waterproof. For safety, check these before any use in the rain. Another type of GFCI outlet is a cord-connected type, an attachment cord that protects the cord and any equipment using the cord.

GFCI Outlet Installation

When building a home or even renovating your home, you should make sure that all of the electrical work is done by professional, licensed electricians. Having an established company to perform the jobs and even test the products will provide you with safety in the home and peace of mind about your home’s electric capabilities. When working on your home, especially regarding the electricity and the electric panel, you must use a professional electrician mainly for your and your home’s safety.

Accidental shock, or even fires, can be prevented using a licensed and insured electrician who has undergone many hours of education and experience to handle these repairs or installations. Plus, when trying to DIY an electrical issue in your home, you’re risking your safety and could be making the problem worse. Most electrical repairs done by proper electricians can solve the actual issue at hand, and if any other issues arise, they can come back to troubleshoot the problem.

Using Prime Electric will ensure that you have the best team working on the safety of your home. They even have a place where you can redeem some electrical coupons for their services and book anything you need online. While testing your outlets, or even if you find some outlets that need to be replaced to become GFCI outlets, make sure that you call them or even book online to have the service done asap.

Electrical Safety Tips For Parents And Kids

Written by PrimeElectric on November 9, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

As a parent or caregiver for toddlers or young children, keeping them safe is always a top priority. But as your kids grow, so do their curiosity and independence. As they find balance and footing, anything and everything becomes a potential hazard to them, electrical outlets and cords included.

But not to worry, there are plenty of ways to childproof your home and keep your kids safe from electrical hazards. Here are a few tips:

Use Outlet Covers

Outlet covers are an easy and effective way to childproof your electrical outlets. They’re inexpensive and widely available online or in most hardware stores. Just make sure to choose covers that fit snugly and cannot be removed easily by small children.

Insert outlet covers into any empty outlets around your home. For outlets in use, you can buy outlet covers with built-in plugs, so you don’t have to remove them every time you need to use them.

Keep Cords Out Of Sight And Reach

Loose or exposed electrical cords can pose trip/fall hazards and electrocution risks for everyone in the household. By keeping cords tucked away and out of reach, you can help prevent accidents.

Use cord shorteners or cord management devices to keep cords tidy and close to the wall. For example, you can use velcro or temporary adhesive cord clips to keep lines close to the baseboard.

Inspect Your Electrical System

Generally, it’s always a good idea to have a certified electrician inspect your home’s electrical system every few years. Checking your electrical system is especially important if the house you live in is older, as the electrical wiring could fall short of meeting current safety standards.

An inspection will help ensure that your home’s electrical system is up-to-date and functioning correctly. It’s also an excellent opportunity to have any necessary repairs or upgrades made before they become dangerous or cause an accident.

(In Woodland Hills, CA, homeowners can rely on the professionals at Prime Electric for high-quality electrical inspections, repairs, and installations. Check out Customer Reviews here.)

Teach Your Kids About Electrical Safety

As your kids grow, they’ll naturally become curious about the world around them – including electricity. Therefore, teaching them about electrical safety is essential to avoid accidents and incidents.

Luckily, more resources are available now than ever to help with this.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides an excellent website dedicated to electrical safety for kids. In addition, you can find coloring books, games, and other resources to teach your kids about electricity safety.

With some knowledge and preparation, you can help keep your kids safe from electrical hazards around your home. By following these tips, you can create a safe and child-friendly environment for your family.

Should I Rewire My Home?

Written by PrimeElectric on March 3, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

How Do You Know That The Wiring Needs To Get Changed? There can be several signs that indicate you need to change your wiring. Humming noises of switches when turned on, sparks, and even weak currents. Many times people just overlook the need of wiring thinking it quick and unimportant problem to resolve. Or they dismiss it because of costly repair. Regardless, it is important to know that the cost of rewiring the house is much less that the cost of repairs and damage caused by inefficient or old wiring.

Signs To Tell You Need to Rewire Your Home!

Old or incorrect wiring can be quite hazardous for any type of construction. It not only affects the consumption of electricity but also hampers the safety levels of a home or business. Therefore, one needs to make sure that wiring is replaced whenever required.

How Do You Know That The Wiring Needs To Get Changed?

There can be several signs that indicate you need to change your wiring. Humming noises of switches when turned on, sparks, and even weak currents. Many times people just overlook the need of wiring thinking it quick and unimportant problem to resolve. Or they dismiss it because of costly repair. Regardless, it is important to know that the cost of rewiring the house is much less that the cost of repairs and damage caused by inefficient or old wiring.

Reasons to Rewire Your Home:‍

Age of Home

Wiring isn’t like the ordinary electrical appliance used in the kitchen. It takes plenty of time to wear down and start showing a lack in performance. However, if your house is older than 30 years then this would probably be a good time to have it rewired.

Overloading

This is another situation faced by the ones residing in outdated homes. If you overload the existing switches by plugging in a heavy appliance, it could lead to tripping, sparking and circuit breaks. You can opt to rewire with help of an electrician in Los Angeles and increase the number of plug-ins and switchboards present in the house in this situation.

Failures

Are you experiencing sparks when plugging in your microwave? Or do you hear noise from the switches once you switch them on? These are some basic signs that show the house needs rewiring because outdated wiring causes damage to appliances, electrical shock, and possibly fire.

Burnt Smells

If it smells like something is burning in a corner of your house and you cannot make out where it is coming from and what the source is behind it, call Prime Electric right away. This could be due to the burning of wires behind the socket inside of the wall. It is a clear sign that you need to rewire your home and replace the sockets, plugs and outlets by calling the best electrical Contractors in Los Angeles.

Rewiring is not as difficult and time-consuming as it seems. Especially when carried out by professionals and experienced service providers such as Prime Electric Inc. in Los Angeles. If you also feel that you need a home inspection then start looking for a good electrician immediately! Call us!

We at Prime Electric strive hard to provide fast and reliable electric repairs to our customers. Our experience of more than 35 years has allowed us to resolve every electrical issue faced by people in both residential and commercial buildings. All you need to do is dial our number and get a free estimate for your problem instantly if the job is done by us!

How Do I Choose A Good Electrician

Written by PrimeElectric on February 17, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

Choosing a good electrician can be challenging. There are so many electrical contractors to choose from – how do you know which one is reputable and will do the job properly? How much is too much for a specific job? Customers frequently ask us, ” Do I really need an electrician or should I try to do it on my own?”

These are some questions that many people just like you ask every day. The simple answer is that it is best to hire a professional to take care of your electrical issues. Why? Contrary to other trades, when electrical hazards happen, many times you find out about them when its too late and the damage has already been done! You need a professional to make sure the job is done correctly and safely. But how do you choose that professional? What should you look out for? This article will shed some light on this topic and will hopefully give you a better understanding of how to choose a good electrician.

Check the License and Insurance

Many electricians will claim that they are licensed and they are not. Others will claim that they are licensed for a certain duration of time, but they have just passed the exams and became licensed a short while ago. The first step would be to ask for the contractors license number and verify it with the Contractors’ State License Board. You may visit the CSLB website at http://cslb.ca.gov. There you can enter the license number and find out when the license was issued, whether or not it is active, and who it belongs to. Only because a contractor states that they are licensed, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are! Our license number is C10-484543. We are licensed since 1985. Feel free to click here to check!

In addition, any insured electrical contractor should be able to prove that they have adequate liability insurance. This is extremely important and it protects you, the home/business owner in case something were to happen. Also, when checking the insurance information, make sure that it is up to date.

Check out Qualifications and Experience

As in any other profession, some electricians will have more experience and knowledge than others. An electrical contractor who is confident in its work should be able to offer a workmanship warranty of at least one year. Contractors in Los Angeles such as Prime Electric provide a lifetime warranty on workmanship, because they trust that the work being done will last for life! When choosing an electrician, ask him about his experience and the type of jobs he has done. Remember, you are looking for someone with a proven track record.

Use Your Social Network

Use your network of friends, colleagues, family, and business associates to get recommendations of qualified electrical contractors in your area. Reach out to social media and ask people for their opinion on a good electrician. Make a list of a few different companies and compare them. If you have evidence that people you know had a good experience with a specific contractor, thats a good endorsement.

Read Reviews

Any references that you ask your electrician are likely to be glowing. You should do your own research and check reputable review websites such as Google Reviews, Yelp, and Facebook to read about peoples experience with a specific contractor. You need to weight things up carefully when you choose a residential electrician. You need to be sure it is someone that you can work with.

Trust Your Instincts

If you feel that your tradesmen has a poor attitude or doesn’t seem to know the answer to your questions, this should be a sign for you to move on. Also, if the electrician does not show up in a proper uniform, does not have the company name and logo on his truck, or the interaction simply doesn’t seem right, it may not be the right electrical contractor for you.

In addition, all invoices out to have the company name, address, telephone number, and license information printed on them. If the invoice being provided is missing this information or this information is hand-written, this should be a red flag.