southernviewmedia, Author at Professional Electric

Getting the Most from Your Electrical Inspection

Posted on February 18, 2019December 1, 2022 by southernviewmedia

Every homeowner should always have their electrical system inspected regularly to ensure that you are as safe as you can be in your own home. You need to make sure you are speaking to a properly certified electrician and ask all questions you have before even starting the inspection. It is key to make sure that the electrician can check all components of your home, find whatever issue is causing problems, and efficiently repair that issue.

Following the electrical codes

The first important question you should always ask is a pretty simple one, ask if your house follows all the electrical codes in your region. All electrical components should be running in accordance to the proper codes relating to those electrical components. It is also important to make sure you have the necessary permits to put said electrical components up. If your election is unable to tell you this information, it is probably time to find another election to do your inspection!

Safety comes first

Electrical safety is an extremely important aspect of being a homeowner. Without safety comes injury and dangerous electrical threats. Your safety is essential, and electrical components can put that safety at risk. It is always of utter importance to have your electrician check exactly how well your electrical systems are running. Even if everything is up to code, there could be dangerous threats still lurking throughout the electrical components. Turning on a simple switch and it causing a fire, later on, is definitely a problem you never want to run into.

Voltage numbers

You always need to be aware of the voltage numbers your electrical components are putting out into your home. Larger homes are sometimes upgraded with more and more electrical components, but the electrical systems are never upgraded. This can cause big problems down the road and can easily be found out during your electrical inspection. Your electrical panel should be able to easily hold the power of all electrical components running on your system, but this can not be done if you do not upgrade the voltage in relation to the components. When your electrical inspection is going on, the inspector will check the voltage levels and find out what correct levels your home requires currently. Different appliances in your home require different amounts of voltage, it is important that your outlets provide the right amount of voltage for these appliances.

Final check up

After all repairs have been done and the inspection is complete, it is your turn to do the inspecting! Go through your home and check each outlet, switch, etc. to make sure that they are all in the best working order. Making sure everything is running properly in your home is key to staying as energy efficient as possible.

If you are in need of any residential or commercial electrical services 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!

Mobile: (251) 473-5788
Baldwin County: (251) 929-8957

Electrical Humor

Posted on February 18, 2019May 12, 2023 by southernviewmedia

Who knew electricians had such a keen sense of humor? Here are a few of our favorite puns and jokes that are sure to SPARK a giggle or two!

If you are in need of any residential or commercial electrical services 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!

Mobile: (251) 473-5788
Baldwin County: (251) 929-8957

The “What” About Watts!

Posted on February 18, 2019December 1, 2022 by southernviewmedia

With all the terms out there in dealing with electrical work, people tend to get lost in between definitions. For this guide specifically, watts will be discussed and you will gain a whole new understanding of what exactly a watt is and how it relates to your home electricity.

In simple terms, watts are the gauge of how much electricity an appliance consumes. Watts are also used by your electrical company in order to find out your monthly bill amount. So the more watts that your appliances consume on a daily basis in this 30-day period, the higher your electricity bill will reach. To further explain watts, we will breakdown a simple home appliance and its energy consumption, for this a lamp will be used.

Electric lamps

Whether you are using an incandescent, LED, or even fluorescent light bulbs, they are do the same thing: consume energy using watts when turned on. An example of this would be when you flip on your incandescent light bulb and leave it on for an hour, you have consumed 100 watts of energy. The reason for this being because the incandescent light bulb uses about 100 watts of energy, which will be stated on the side of the light bulb as 100w or 100 watts. The cost for that hour of lighting should run you somewhere around one cent, depending on various conditions, electrical company, etc.

If you do not want to use a lightbulb that uses around 100 watts, there are many other options available for you. You could pick up a fluorescent or LED lightbulb in order to lower your wattage consumption for the lighting in your home. For example, fluorescent light bulbs use around 13w or 13 watts. By having such a low wattage, the light would have to be on for at least seven hours in order to reach the cost of an incandescent light bulb being on for only one hour.

Watts and your energy bill

As being discussed earlier, your energy bill relies on the amount of watts you use. When reviewing your energy bill, you will notice that the electrical company will have your energy usage in kilowatts consumed instead of watts. Every 1,000 watts consumed is equivalent to one kilowatt. For instance, if you use an incandescent light bulb for 10 hours, you have consumed about 1,000 watts, or one kilowatt.

If you are in need of any residential or commercial electrical services 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!

Mobile: (251) 473-5788
Baldwin County: (251) 929-8957

Lighting Your Patio for the Summer

Posted on February 18, 2019December 1, 2022 by southernviewmedia

With summer just around the corner, there are a wide variety of activities for you and your family to enjoy outside. But of course some of these activities are at night and you want these activities to be well-lit during the summer nights! Activities could range from outdoor games, cook-outs, scavenger hunts, and more because the ideas are endless. Make sure that you can see everything that needs to seen outside, while still making your patio look stylish and beautiful. This guide will help you with coming up with some great lighting ideas to help entertain on these beautiful summer nights on your patio.

Hanging lights

One of the classic and most beautiful forms of patio lighting you can use for the summer is a system of hanging lights. These looks very modern and fit with almost any patio style. They add a sense of elegance and vibrancy to your patio immediately when the sun sets. The most important part to remember when installing hanging lights is that you ensure your wiring can stand all types of weather! A way to get around worrying about weather-proof wiring is to switch solar hanging lights, these will charge up during the sunny summer days and turn on at dusk.

Tiki torch

This option is an old-fashioned homerun choice for anyone looking to light up their patio. A few tiki torch lights scattered around your patio can create a whole new environment from its form of lighting. These also come in great use when trying to light up specific pathways and trails in order to prevent guests from tripping on something in the dark of the night. You can also set up these torches with oil in order to keep bugs from pestering you and your family!

Readymade chandelier

To add an extra sense of elegance to your patio for the summer nights spent dinning out in the stars, add a readymade chandelier above your favorite dinning spot. A simple, small chandelier will fit perfectly over your patio dinning area and add that perfect amount of lighting you need to enjoy your meals at night. This will emit a much greater amount of light and the overall better option when compared to pillared candles.

Party umbrella

This form of patio lighting involves more of a DIY role into creating the lighting setup for these beautiful summer nights with your family. And what exactly that means is that you’ll be designing and decorating the lighting yourself! First you will start off with a plain, canvas umbrella for dinning tables outside. Then once you have the umbrella picked out, you will start decorating it to your liking. This can be done by adding various hanging lanterns and string lights along with colored fabrics to make your umbrella stand out! If you’re not a fan of DIY, then you can also purchase battery powered umbrella lights that clip on to the center pole. These range from $20-$100 online.

If you are in need of any residential or commercial electrical services in Baldwin County or Mobile, Alabama look no further than Professional Electric! Visit us online atwww.ProfessionalElectric.biz and connect with us onFacebook and Twitter!

We are available 24/7 for emergency services!

Mobile: (251) 473-5788
Baldwin County: (251) 929-8957

Professional Electric Presents Making a Hurricane Safety Plan

Posted on February 18, 2019December 2, 2022 by southernviewmedia

Like with any natural disaster, damage can be greatly minimized with a set plan. One that outlines everyone’s responsibilities, plans for safety, and enacts the best ways to go about the worst situations. That’s no difference in the event of a hurricane, or even a tropical storm. Severe thunderstorms can also leave folks without power or daily necessities, and having a plan of action in place that will help minimize those effects can help make life far easier.

Start making your own personalized hurricane survival kit so that your plan can be customized to your individual needs.

Consider your family’s needs. Do you have kids? What about a family member who has special needs? Make a list of any necessary medications or items that will be needed in order to get them through a natural disaster. Next, add on obvious items like, water and non-perishable foods so that all members can stay fed and hydrated. Collect plenty so you can have enough supplies for several days. Some sources even recommend up to two weeks worth of items.

Other items to be packed away include flashlights and batteries, as well as a hand-crank radio so that you can gain access to news, even if you don’t have enough battery power. A first-aid kit will come in handy, especially when surroundings are rough and potentially dangerous. Comfort items, such as pillows and blankets can allow for a comfortable sleeping space, too.

Keep all of these belongings together and in a sealed plastic box so that bugs or water cannot get inside. (Especially while it’s just sitting for months, potentially years, waiting for a hurricane to take place. Though it’s also a good idea to refresh your emergency box each year.)

Now, it’s time to make a plan for the entire family. Make sure all know where the safety box is located. Talk about what everyone should do in the case of an emergency and how you can get in contact with one another. You can also discuss basic survival skills, locations of public meeting points, and more. Talk with a local safety planning committee, or check websites that are available with community safe

havens, and more. The more you and your family discuss this information, the better chance you have at remembering it under pressure.

Finally, make preventative plans so that you’re covered after a hurricane. Property and flood insurance should be updated appropriately. As well as life insurance and one’s will. Though these are unpleasant subjects to discuss, taking a few extra minutes so that everything is squared away will eliminate the stress of planning or financial insecurities later on.

With a little know-how, you can create a thorough and effective plan for you and your family. Take each of the worst-case scenarios into account – and though you hope they never take place, it offers peace of mind to know you’ll be covered just in case they do.

Professional Electric wants you to be prepared!

If you are in need of any residential or commercial electrical services 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!

Mobile: (251) 473-5788

Baldwin County: (251) 929-8957

3 Things You Should Know About GFI Outlets

Posted on February 18, 2019December 2, 2022 by southernviewmedia

Ground faults happen when the electricity in your wiring doesn’t stay there, but finds another, faster way to the ground. If a person happens to be between the power and that ground, it can be deadly. Approximately 200 people in the United States are killed in ground fault accidents every year. In order to mitigate this danger, the ground fault interrupter, or GFI, was invented in 1961. You may even be familiar with them already. Outlets that have the red and black “reset” buttons between the plugs contain this special technology. Beyond the familiar bathroom plug, however, there are a few other important points to understand:

GFI’s are sometimes called GFCI, for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. Essentially, these special outlets monitor how much electricity is going in and how much is coming back out of the circuit when it is in use. When this amount doesn’t match, the device opens the circuit preventing dangerous electrical “leaks,” protecting you, your appliances and your home against shock and fire. Commonly, what you experience is the sudden shut off of your appliance and the need to push the button on the outlet to get it started again. What you may not realize is just how close you were to danger before the ground fault was “interrupted!”

Anytime electrical outlets are near sources of water, such as bathrooms, kitchens, unfinished basements and other extremely humid or wet conditions, a GFI is a good idea. Since water is such an excellent conductor, these areas are more prone to the kinds of problems these special plug adapters can eliminate. In fact, the National Electric Code (NEC) requires GFCI/GFI outlets in all new unfinished basements, kitchens, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and, of course, outdoor receptacles. In older homes, retrofitting in damp conditions can cost as little as $10 per outlet, or a breaker switch can be installed in the main panel for about $150 total.

Because lightning from storms or power surges from your main lines can damage the circuits in your GFI, you should test them at least once per month. It’s simple to do, and you don’t need an electrical degree to do it. Just plug in an appliance, like a lamp or hair dryer. Then turn it on and push the “test” button on the outlet. If the light stays on, it’s time to replace it! If the light goes off, however, you can rest assured that your unassuming little outlet is indeed, protecting you from deadly ground fault accidents.

3 Examples of Under the Cabinet Lighting and How it Changes Your Kitchen

Posted on February 18, 2019September 26, 2023 by southernviewmedia

We all know that lighting illuminates areas that you need to see. Did you know that with a little creativity and inspiration, lighting can also aide in the creation of space?

Everyone could use a little extra space in the kitchen! Cabinet lights are one of the newest lighting trends. Innovative kitchen lighting is stylish, convenient, and can be done with just about any budget and in any kitchen! See how under the cabinet lighting can change your kitchen! Here are 3 examples for inspiration.

⦁ LED Lighting

This style is not just for businesses or outdoors! LED track lighting under your cabinets will give your kitchen the ultimate upgrade! These are the perfect follow-up for new countertops. Bonus tip: If you are considering selling your home anytime soon, LED lighting anywhere will add long-lasting value and appeal due to the lower energy costs and longer lifespan.

2. Halogen Lighting

Halogen lights can make your cabinets shine like no other! They come in several options, include dimmable. Halogen lights tend to run hot, therefore they do have the potential to add heat to your kitchen.

3. Xenon Lights

Xenon lighting is very similar in appearance to the beams of the halogen lights. One major difference in the two is that xenon do not produce the heat that halogen lights produce. This can be a deciding factor if the materials your cabinets are made of are unable to withstand the heat from other types of light.

No matter what type of lighting you choose, be sure to call on the professionals for safe and proper installation! Check the materials of your countertops and see if they are susceptible to damage from certain types of light. Always seek help from a professional electrician when it is time for installation!

Are you upgrading and updating? Don’t forget to call on Professional Electrical for all of your lighting and electrical needs!
If you are in need of any residential or commercial electrical services in Baldwin County or Mobile, Alabama look no further than Professional Electric! Visit us online at www.ProfessionalElectric.bizand connect with us on Facebook and Twitter!
We are available 24/7 for emergency services!
Mobile: (251) 473-5788
Baldwin County: (251) 929-8957

Back to School Special: 3 Reasons to Become an Electrician

Posted on February 18, 2019December 2, 2022 by southernviewmedia

As the world moves forward in the realm of technology, more and more jobs are needed to aid in managing this growing demand. From electricians to IT specialists, the career path is flowing with jobs for people that can help keep up with the required increase in service needed to keep everything powered on at all times. Electricians are needed to ensure that your many devices are running with the proper power it needs to sustain a long life. From residential to commercial, there are endless electrical grids that require maintenance by a licensed electrician. Here are a couple of key benefits of joining this occupation.

Salary

We will start with what is one of the most important factors to pursuing this profession, the average salary. Jobs in this field start out between $35,000 and $48,000. The national starting average is on the higher end of that spectrum. The type of electrical work you are qualified and licensed to service and install are two prime factors in determining your pay rate. Working under a contractor can provide a higher starting salary but working independently can pay off big in the long run.

Work Environment

One of the major reasons why people become electricians is because you are not stuck behind a desk. As an electrician, you have the ability to work at a different place with every job you take on. Whether the location be residential or commercial, you will be out and about in the world. This is one of the best things about being an electrician, every day is a different experience and a different location.

Lifetime Work

Another great thing about pursuing a career in electrical work, you can be sure that your job will stand the tests of time and will always be in high demand. Technology is constantly changing and advancing pushing the need for qualified electricians. Electricity is a fact of life for the foreseeable future. This high demand also leads to starting and average salaries constantly being driven higher.
This career can last you a lifetime and comes with many great benefits and is a significant skillset to have mastered. The salaries are very competitive and the work environment changes daily. Electricians will always be needed to keep up with the constant increase in population and the demand that puts on our electrical infrastructure.

5 Things You Should Ask Your Electrician Before Hiring Them (And How They Should Answer)

Posted on February 18, 2019December 2, 2022 by southernviewmedia

Living in the South, you know more than anyone how important it is to have reliable electricity. With the high levels of humidity and abundant heat, knowing you can count on your HVAC system is simply a necessity. If those uncomfortable conditions creep into your home, you can only imagine how frustrating it would be to lose power, whether that be to an appliance, lights, or your entire home.

Wouldn’t it be so much better – and more comfortable – if your power never went out in the first place? Or was repaired quickly, before you noticed the effects?

To ensure you have power that’s running properly, find an electrician who’s quick on their feet. Finding a knowledgeable professional can help eliminate that potential frustration (and expense) later down the line. In order to locate the best electrician, ask them these industry questions; consider it their interview in order to prove they’re qualified for the job.

1. How Efficient is Your Setup?

Is your wiring decades old? Do you have newer high-efficiency models that have years ahead of them? It’s likely that you got a brief rundown when you moved in, but it never hurts to get a second opinion. (Or to check and see how much the electrician knows.) Pick their brain and decide if they gave an honest review.

2. What Type of Upkeep is Needed?

Ask your potential pro what steps you should take to help keep your home or office in the best working condition. They might recommend upgrades, appliance or connection checks, or servicing appointments. Additional maintenance, such as cleanings can also help power move more efficiently. Listen to their tips in order to gauge if this is the pro for you.

3. How Much Will That Cost?

When an electrician is evaluating a problem with your setup, chances are you’re going to need some new parts and/or service time. Before getting surprised with a bill, ask how much X repairs will run. You should get a detailed answer, even if they let you know that Y or Z might be the cause, along with estimated prices with each outcome.

4. How Long Have You Been in the Business?

Experience is key. Don’t be afraid to ask a tech how long they’ve been in the power business, and what type of trainings they keep up with to continue their skills.

5. What is the Electric Company’s Employee Screening Process?

At Professional Electric, we know the best questions to ask electricians because they’re the questions we ask ourselves. How experienced is a pro? How much are they willing to help customers? Will they get the job done the first time? If the answer is no, we won’t consider putting them in your home, either. By following these detailed questions, you can be more confident about who you’re letting in your home, as well as their abilities to fix your power needs the first time around.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT THE WIRING IN MY NEW HOUSE?

Posted on February 18, 2019December 2, 2022 by southernviewmedia

Congratulations on your new home! Unless you were on the building site every day, watching your home go from an empty lot to a beautiful, finished home, there are some things you probably missed. And even if you watched your home construction, there were many things going on at once. What you did see may have confirmed that you may not understand what you were seeing. We thought you might have a few questions, so here are just a few very basic things you might like to know about Professional Electric’s quality electrical work.

1. YOUR HOME WAS WIRED BY QUALIFIED, LICENSED ELECTRICIANS.

Our electricians are highly skilled craftsmen, trained in their field of expertise. We take pride in our work, and your home was built with the same level of craftsmanship that we would use in our own homes. We didn’t leave your home until we were content that your home was completed to our high standards.

2. WE USED HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS.

Your home was built with high-quality components, and should remain trouble-free for many years, if not your lifetime.

3. IT WAS INSTALLED TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF YOUR FAMILY’S POWER NEEDS.

Today’s families have high power demands compared to families a generation or two ago. These needs are considered, and your home should have adequate power available in every room. Media, electronics, charging stations, and internet should be easily accessed wherever you want to use them.

4. IT WAS INSPECTED AND APPROVED BY THE LOCAL BUILDING INSPECTOR.

Not only are our electricians highly skilled, but they are under the magnifying glass of the local building inspector, whose job is to assure that an expected level of safety and quality is met.

5. IT MEETS THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTRICAL CODES.

The National Electrical Code is very specific, and details exactly what may and may not be done when building a home. These codes change almost yearly. Our job is to know these changes and perform in a manner consistent with them. In addition, state and local codes may be even stricter.

So, although we can’t really tell you a lot about the plumbing, gas, masonry, or siding, we can tell you anything you want to know about your electricity. We hope that this knowledge is reassuring for you and that you rest easy, knowing the quality and care we have built into your home. Your safety is our utmost concern, and our reputation depends on your safety and satisfaction. Thank you for allowing us to wire your new home.