Month: March 2019

Purchasing a new home is an exciting time! Although the move in the process can seem overwhelming, there is so much to look forward to. Before moving in, it’s important to inspect the home thoroughly to ensure your home is safe and move in ready. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t fret. Below is a checklist for new homeowners to use when inspecting areas of their new home.

Electrical Service Panel

You can find an electrical service panel in every home. They are typically located on the home’s exterior, in the garage or in the basement. The panel should be checked for any residue and damage. If any fuses are outdated, give Professional Electric a call to replace the circuit breaker switches.

Check the Wiring

The round fuses in the service panel will give clues as to how old the home’s wiring is. Houses that were built before 1950 may have knob-and-tube wiring. Homes built between 1965-1973 may contain aluminum wiring. As a homebuyer, you need to be aware of any wiring that needs to be replaced to help improve your home’s safety.

Outlets in Wet Areas

Now it’s time to head to the kitchen and the bathrooms. It’s critical to have ground fault circuit interrupters installed in any wet areas. Light switches should also be several inches away from water. Ground fault circuit interrupters should be tested periodically by homeowners and should be checked during your home’s walkthrough.

Interior Outlets, Light Switches, Appliance Chords

Interior outlets, light switches, appliance chords and ground fault circuit interrupters should be tested and inspected often. Be sure to tighten any loose outlets or replace them. Check them for any black smoke and to see if they are cool to the touch.

Test Detectors

Before moving in, test all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The home needs to have a well-working smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, so remembering to test these is critical. Lastly, change any batteries if needed or purchase new alarms.

To avoid dangerous situations, make sure you are thoroughly checking all breakers and outlets. If you discover any of the issues listed above, be sure to call a licensed electrician to analyze the problem. Our electricians are licensed, insured and bonded to provide the best knowledge and leave you feeling safe and secure in your new home.

If you are in need of any residential or commercial electrical services or have an electrical issue in Baldwin County or Mobile, Alabama, look no further than Professional Electric! Visit us online at www.ProfessionalElectric.biz and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter! We are available 24/7 for emergency services. Call us at (251) 473-5788. Remember, when it comes to your electrical needs, Keep It Professional!

Most older homes have two prong outlets instead of three. The third centered hole is called ground and works equivalent to the left neutral slot because they are connected. There is a reason why the third slot is now included in newer outlets. Forget about the rewiring or even worse, reversed polarity and read about why you should replace those two prong outlets for good. Besides, the third time’s the charm!

The Ground Prong is Truly Groundbreaking

The ground prong plays a vital role in safety uses and access of metal-encased appliances. A ground prong can also be called an earth prong by electricians who know that it is not a floating ground, meaning it is not an original ground. It is meant to protect yourself from electrical shock and your appliances from any damages such as loose wiring in circuits. You will also be able to save some money from outlets shorting out and having to replace them each year. Avoid these risks from shock injury and make the switch today.

Avoid Outside Add-On Outlets or Prongs

While there might be additional temporary solutions such as adding a cheater plug to make the two-prong outlet compatible with a three prong, your safety risks reduce, and that shock factor becomes higher due to the actual ground prong not being there. Many who decide to upgrade by doing it themselves, can face breaker box grounding problems. Some people also decide to go with the three GFCI outlet route which will also put your electronics at risk and add further damage to them over time. The key is to stick with the original standard three-prong outlets because the ground prong itself is what protects from fuses.

Other Attachments are Not Fully Equipped

A GFCI outlet, for example, will not allow you to run a ground outlet or to even feed other outlets from it because most older boxes are not grounded. You would also have to accommodate the device with bigger metal boxes for wiring. Any additional outlets added to the two-prong not grounded style of outlet must go by electrical code for allowance of proper installation. Even so, the risk for ungrounded style attachments versus standard grounded outlets is all in the shock protection, meaning there is no guarantee you will be fully protected with the add-on attachments.

Making the switch from a two-prong outlet to a three prong is crucial for the work of a professional electrician for safe installation. Upgrade today to hassle-free plugins and let our Professional Electric team install your system at a low cost.

If you are in need of any residential or commercial electrical services or need your plugins upgraded in Baldwin County or Mobile, Alabama look no further than Professional Electric. Visit us online at www.ProfessionalElectric.biz and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter! We are available 24/7 for emergency service. Call us at (251) 473-5788. Remember, when it comes to your electrical needs, Keep It Professional!