Frequently Asked Questions
With regards to your home’s electrical system, you might want to deal with any repairs that need to be done on your own, however, if you’re not an experienced electrician in the industry, there is no reason for you to put your life in danger. Sure, a few small electrical tasks are safe enough for you to repair by yourself, but if you don’t know what you’re doing it’s advisable for you to employ a professional electrical contractor. Regardless of how new or old your house is, electrical problems can and will happen occasionally. If you know what signs to watch out for that signify electrical issues, you will be aware when it’s essential for you to hire an electrician. Remember that this isn’t an exhaustive list, but some of the most popular indications of faulty wiring and hazards.
Whenever your plug sockets all of the sudden feel warm when you touch them, you need to stay away from them. You won’t want to expose yourself or any family members to the potential for electrical shock because it can be deadly. Alternatively, contact an electrician and request that they come out at the earliest opportunity. Hot wires which get too hot can cause electrical fires, which are difficult to get in check.
Blown Fuses
Something which a lot of people don’t pay much attention to is the frequency in which they have blown fuses. It is perfectly normal for them to blow from time to time, but if they happen to go out more than once a month, there’s probably a problem somewhere in your house’s circuits. You shouldn’t need to guess and figure out which appliances you can run at any given second for fear of blowing fuses. Do yourself a favor and retain the services of an electrician to be sure your home is appropriately wired to deal with your appliances.
There are numerous reasons why you shouldn’t postpone calling an electrician when you are having electrical problems in your house. The most crucial is that it increases the safety of your house. Homes which have electrical issues present certain hazards for the occupants. Electrical problems are the largest reason for home fires every year, since most of the time, when a problem was found, the homeowner failed to take appropriate action immediately.
Electrical Contractor
Don’t assume right from the start that you can’t afford an electrical contractor. Whenever you take the time to employ one, you may find that there are several advantages that make the expense worth it. By having your house’s electrical wiring updated, you are able to increase the value of your property.
Be sure you hire a qualified electrician to service your house. You can always visit the National Electrical Contractors Association’s website to find a very good contractor, such as Dunman Electric. A qualified contractor is going to be insured and able to supply you with a warranty once they complete any work on your house. Protect your loved ones and your investment by making sure that your home’s electrical system is up to code.
Contact Dunman Electric today for more information about our certified electricians and to schedule an appointment with us!
The majority of states call for 100 amps minimum, but with all the new electronics, air conditioning and electric heat, our electricians would suggest 200 amps particularly in brand new houses. This also provides you with a little room for future additions. This isn’t work for an unlicensed individual to try. In most situations, it involves replacing anything from the service loop (this is the wire which stretches from the top of your meter to the utility tie in ) up to and including the primary panel.
Licensed Electricians
Our licensed electricians understand that electricity is among the most important features of a home. Without the right electricity, numerous amenities could be influenced. We would be unable to make use of lighting, home appliances, personal computers, air conditioning units, some cable and phone systems, and also our heating units or hot water heaters. Whenever you are thinking about a new home purchase, it is beneficial to check the home electrical systems to make sure your needs are met.
Electrical Systems
Below are a few helpful suggestions to think about when checking the electrical systems of a new house:
1. Understand what to expect. An electrical system consists of incoming utility lines, the electric meter, the service panel, subpanels, household cabling, electric boxes, the receptacles or outlets, switches, home appliances, lighting, and also additional equipment used for home entertainment or communication. These should all be part of a new home.
2. Ask about the age of the electrical system. There have been numerous upgrades throughout the years. You should know how old the electrical system is so that you can make sure it is up to code for the home you are purchasing. Older systems should get replaced to deal with your electrical needs and this could turn out to be really expensive.
3. Talk with the Electric Company or previous owners for an estimate on their utility bill. Even though you might use more or less electric then the current residents, you may get a general idea of what to anticipate.
4. Think about how you make use of every room. Be sure there are appropriate outlets and switches to fit your needs. You don’t want to set up your home office and realize you’ve got no phone or internet connection to gain access to. And, if you’re constructing a new home, it is a lot less expensive to make these changes before the home is finished.
5. Look at existing light switches and outlets to be sure they work correctly. A common problem is a switch which does absolutely nothing or an electrical outlet which isn’t working. These are problems that must be solved before buying the home.
6. Be sure the electrical system is sized to manage the electricity amount that you plan to utilize. A typical amp size is 100 or 200 but bigger houses might need up to 400 amps. Having the correct size electrical unit will protect against future “blown fuses” whenever a more substantial amount of electricity is suddenly required.
7. Make sure that the electrical box is correctly labeled. In the event that a circuit has to be reset, you will need to recognize which breaker to switch. You don’t want to be left cold and in the dark without a clue as to how to restore your lights and heat.
8. And, last but not least, be safe! Electrical systems are needed to successfully pass building codes. This enhances the safety of you and your loved ones. Circuit breakers protect against fires. Ground fault circuit breakers protect from electrical shocks, and smoke alarms notify occupants of an emergency. These should all be included and working properly in your new house.
Contact Dunman Electric today to learn more about our residential electrical services.
Any bathroom or garage electric outlet inside 6′ of a sink has to be GFI protected. The code also demands all kitchen outlets for countertop use to be GFI protected. GFI outlets have to be set up in any place where electricity and water might come into contact, which includes basements, swimming pools, spas, utility rooms, attached garages and also outdoor areas. A minimum of one GFI outlet is needed in an unfinished basement and for the majority of outdoor outlets.
The are two kinds of GFIs in houses, the GFI outlet and also the GFI circuit breaker. Both do the exact same job, but they both have different uses and restrictions.
GFI Outlet
The GFI outlet is really an alternative to a standard electrical outlet. A GFI isn’t reliant of a ground to work. It doesn’t measure shorts to the ground, it measures the current difference between the hot and neutral wires. An unexpected difference of 5 ma. or more, suggesting that there is another path for the electrical energy to circulate through will trip this gadget. The only disadvantage to this is there might be some annoyance tripping in highly inductive loads like big motors or even fluorescent lights or fixtures on the same circuit. But the newer models appeared to have fixed this somewhat.
It helps to protect any appliance connected to it, and may also be wired to safeguard other outlets which are attached to it.
GFI Circuit Breaker
The GFI circuit breaker handles a whole circuit, and is set up as a replacement for a circuit breaker on your house’s main circuit board. Rather than setting up a number of GFI outlets, one GFI circuit breaker can protect the whole circuit. There’s a test button and a reset button on these devices. If you press the test button the reset should come out. To reset, just press the reset button.
Please contact Dunman Electric to learn more about our GFI outlet and circuit breaker installation services. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
To be able to get all of their licenses and certifications, an electrician will have to undergo extensive training. Because of this training, an electrician is totally qualified to offer you a number of electrical services, including full home rewires, electrical generator installation and relocating electrical outlets. When joined with an advanced level of experience, and a quality crew to back it up, an electrical contracting company can help any house, business, new construction or apartment complex improve the overall safety and operation of the electrical components inside. Even though you can maintain, fix and troubleshoot some of your electrical components by yourself, you should know when to contact your certified electrician for their professional experience and expertise.
As a homeowner, you are able to go around your home and make sure that all outlets are working. If they aren’t, make note of the faulty ones. You can also check all cables and wires of your home appliances to make sure they’re in good shape. If any aren’t, again, make note of the defective ones. You can relay this information to your electrician for further assistance.
Electrical System Repair
Based on the size of your house, your electrical system repair is most likely a lot less complicated than that of a big industrial building or business. That does not, however, imply that it is any less crucial. We depend on functioning electricity every single day, which makes it paramount that everything works safely and efficiently. If you have a problem with a component, the first step is to look at your breaker panel. Surprisingly, flipped breakers are the cause of nearly all all residential electrical problems.
Licensed Electrician
If you find yourself without power, start by making certain that none of your breakers have tripped, and if this does not enable you to fix the problem, then it’s most likely time to contact your licensed electrician. Incorrectly maintained and repaired electrical wiring can result in electrical shocks and fire. As such, you should always have them serviced by an expert from Dunman Electric.
A convenience outlet is any kind of outlet which is in a convenient location for its use. A good example would be kitchen counter receptacles. Receptacles which are situated behind appliances or equipment aren’t categorized as a convenience outlet.
In each and every kitchen, family room, dining room, living room, parlor, library, den, bedroom, or similar room or spot of dwelling units, receptacle convenience outlets will be set up so that no point along the floor line in any wall space there is greater than six feet, from an outlet in that area. This is to avoid the usage of extension cords. Outlets are often put about 18 inches above floor level. Switches generally go about 48 inches from floor level. For convenience outlets, each single receptacle in a single branch circuit is generally figured for 1.5 amps, duplex outlets for 3 amps in estimating total amperage for that circuit. Air conditioners must be on one dedicated circuit.
Convenience Outlet Installation
If you are in need of convenience outlet installation for your home in Austin, our licensed electricians can help you! We have installed countless convenience outlets all over the region. These outlets are handy in virtually every room of your home. Live in comfort with useable convenience outlets.
Licensed Electrician
Dunman Electric has the best licensed electrician for whatever electrical repair or installation service that you need. With many years of experience working in the industry, we guarantee that you will be pleased with our services and hope that you recommend us to your friends, family, and co-workers in the area.
Feel free to contact Dunman Electric today to learn more about convenience outlet installation for your location in Austin, TX. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Kitchen GFCI outlets are needed by the NEC (National Electrical Code) to be set up along the countertop surfaces.
GFCI – (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
Actually, this requirement has been around since 1996 NEC, and an important thing to keep in mind:
When you have an older kitchen area, and for any reason decided to replace a standard electrical outlet – you should have a GFCI receptacle set up as a replacement.
Kitchen Electrical Requirements
- Kitchen electrical outlets installed over the countertops call for at least 2 small appliance branch circuits.
- Kitchen electrical circuits serving countertop outlets have to be rated for 20 amps (#12 wire)
- Kitchen GFCI receptacles set up on those 20 amp circuits have to be 20 amp rated
Please contact Dunman Electric for more information about kitchen outlets for your home in Austin, TX.
In each and every kitchen, family room, dining room, living room, parlor, library, den, bedroom, or similar room or spot of dwelling units, receptacle convenience outlets will be set up so that no point along the floor line in any wall space there is greater than six feet, from an outlet in that area. This is to avoid the usage of extension cords. Outlets are often put about 18 inches above floor level. Switches generally go about 48 inches from floor level. For convenience outlets, each single receptacle in a single branch circuit is generally figured for 1.5 amps, duplex outlets for 3 amps in estimating total amperage for that circuit. Air conditioners must be on one dedicated circuit.
Convenience Outlet Installation
If you are in need of convenience outlet installation for your home in Austin, our licensed electricians can help you! We have installed countless convenience outlets all over the region. These outlets are handy in virtually every room of your home. Live in comfort with useable convenience outlets.
Licensed Electrician
Dunman Electric has the best licensed electrician for whatever electrical repair or installation service that you need. With many years of experience working in the industry, we guarantee that you will be pleased with our services and hope that you recommend us to your friends, family, and co-workers in the area.
Feel free to contact Dunman Electric today to learn more about convenience outlet installation for your location in Austin, TX. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. PO Box 12157 Austin, TX 78711