| Q: Why do we need Qualified Electricians? |
A: To insure safe and proper installations of electrical devices and equipment. To reduce and minimize the exposures to electrocution and fire. |
| Q: Why should we be concerned about electrical safety? |
A: Electricity can cause electrocution or fires if not properly installed and/or maintained. |
| Q: Why can't I use a larger fuse or circuit breaker on an existing circuit? |
A: If a 20-amp fuse is used on a circuit rated for 15 amps, it could cause the wire to overheat and potentially cause a fire. |
| Q: How long will the food in my refrigerator last when the power goes off? |
A: There are a few variables that affect this, but basically, if you keep the door shut, about 4-6 hours. |
| Q: I changed the light bulb in my light fixture and it still doesn't work, what else can I do? |
1.Try another light bulb (or a light bulb from a working fixture), sometimes even new light bulbs are bad.
2. Be sure that the light switch and/or dimmer switch is turned on and all the way up.
3. Check the circuit breakers or fuses for that room and be sure they are OK.
4. If it’s a fluorescent lamp, be sure the lamp is properly seated in the lamp holders. |
| Q: I have a dimmer switch, and it’s hot to the touch. Is this normal? |
A: It may be normal. In the normal function of a dimmer switch, electrical current passes through the dimmer switch and produces heat. The number of light fixtures the dimmer switch controls and the wattage of the lamps in the fixtures will determine the amount of heat the dimmer switch will dissipate. A dimmer switch with one 75-watt lamp will be considerably cooler than a dimmer switch with six 100-watt lamps. It’s always advisable, if you're not sure or uncomfortable, to call a Qualified Electrician for more specific help. |
| Q: My lights flicker once in a while in certain parts of the house, but not all the time. How can I figure out what this is? |
A: Intermittent problems are the most difficult to troubleshoot. Just like when you go to the dentist's office, as soon as you're there, your toothache goes away. Similarly, the intermittent problem may go away when the Qualified Electrician walks in the door. The best thing to do to aid in diagnosing the problem is to keep a log of the problem's activities. Note the time of day, weather, activity in the house (e.g., dishwasher or washing machine running, vacuuming, overhead garage door opening, etc.). Then you can review your findings with your Qualified Electrician when he visits and help make the troubleshooting process more cost effective. |
| Q: My toaster doesn't work, but everything else does. Should I call a Qualified Electrician? |
A: Maybe, but first try plugging in a known working appliance and see if it works in the toaster outlet. If it does, the problem is the appliance not the outlet. If not, check the fuse or circuit breaker. Also, outlet may be ground fault protected by a GFCI duplex outlet device. These devices are commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms and are used to help reduce the possibility of electrical shock and electrocution. The GFCI duplex device is a rectangular device installed in place of a conventional duplex outlet device and it has two buttons on the face of it. One is a test button that you should use once a month to be sure the device is working. The other is a reset button used to reset the device after a test or fault condition. If these are OK, then call your Qualified Electrician for assistance. |
| Q: I have a terrific painter who says he can install some recessed lights in my house, and he's a lot cheaper than most electricians. Can he do it? |
A: A good painter does not a Qualified Electrician make! You can always find someone to do anything cheaply. The proper question should be, "Is he Qualified to do this work"? The answer is, "Most likely not!" You should always keep in mind the safety of your family and security of your property when making these decisions. . .we do. |
| Q: The home inspector told me that some of wiring in the family room was unsafe. We don't use the family room very much, and I don't want to spend the money right now. Isn't it safe enough to leave it the way it is? Besides, it’s always been like that, and we've never had any problems before. |
A: Feel fortunate that Lady Luck has been with you. There's no such thing as "a little bit safe." It’s like being "a little bit pregnant"; either you are, or you aren't. The fire codes, electrical codes and local village codes are very specific when it comes to safety. The best advice is to call a Qualified Electrician and have him do a through inspection. Eventually, even the best gambler's luck will run out. After all, they didn't build all those fancy hotels in Las Vegas on winners. |
