Category: Professional Electric Blog

If you have a feeling that there is some electrical issue in your home, whether it be a circuit breaker trip or a flickering light, you may want to find the root cause before it becomes a major issue such as an electrical fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2011, a total of 47,000 fires where caused by electrical issues in the home that were neglected.

1. That is Not Dinner Burning in the Oven
Short circuits and loose connections are a probable cause for this odd smell. Be on close watch for charred outlets and switches when you smell this, and you are not cooking dinner. This should not be overlooked, and you must have someone come and inspect the issue to prevent a disaster that should be avoided by fixing the wiring in your home.

2. Historical Homes May Need Some TLC
Older homes that are quite dated likely have been renovated for cosmetic purposes. This also applies to homes that are not considered historic but are 50+ years old. During renovation, take a look at the wiring in your home to make sure everything is up to date and nothing is old and hazardous.

3. No, Casper is not Flickering the Lights…
These days people can be a little over-superstitious at times. Before you come to the faulty conclusion that your home is haunted, turn off the circuit breaker and look for loose wires. Wires that are loose are one of the leading causes of house fires.

4. Dead Outlets
It is definitely not normal to plug in your laptop without the laptop being charged. If the outlet works but it is hot to the touch or even makes a buzzing noise, there is a chance that the wiring surrounding the outlet is bad.

5. Aluminum Wiring
Homes that were built in the 60s and 70s were not built with copper wires like they are today. Copper is a much safer conductor of electricity. Homes that were built in the time periods described above-had aluminum wires installed. Aluminum expands and contracts as the seasons change which can cause wires to become loose over time. If replacing the electrical system with an updated copper wire system is out of the budget, at least look into pig-tailing wires with copper endings.

6. Burning Plastic Odor
You will know when the odor of plastic or even vinyl is prevalent in your home. Sometimes it is hard to find the source of the smell. Take a sigh of relief because you smell the burning of plastic. Oftentimes, you will not notice a thing when there is an electrical issue. You are very lucky to have caught a warning sign of a potential fire.

Signs of faulty wiring are not always present, but when they are, you will likely smell it before it gets out of hand. Consider it a blessing that you are able to catch it in time as this is very rare. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, builders used aluminum wires in the homes. This caused issues with expanding and contracting wires in extreme temperatures. Unfortunately, this eventually caused wires to loosen and at times fail. Many people believe their home is haunted and will go as far blaming a ghost before they dare to consider short-circuited wires. A dead outlet is quite an inconvenience when you need to charge an electronic device. This could be a symptom of a bad outlet altogether. Homes over 50 years old likely need to be updated with not just new paint, but a new and improved electrical wiring system.

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 Remember, when it comes to your electrical needs, Keep It Professional!

© Southern View Media 2018: Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited. All Rights Reserved. “Get Online or Get Left Behind”

In our homes, it’s often the kitchens and bathrooms that we dream of being the most glamorous. Unfortunately, they’re also the two that receive the brunt of the work. So how do you marry the two? What is the best way to keep things functional while also maintaining your aesthetics? Professional Electric is here to help with these under the cupboard lighting solutions for kitchens and bathrooms.

The Type of Lighting 

Rope Lighting

Don’t let the idea of Y2K décor detract you from this great option. The rope fits perfectly into the molding crook under cabinets. This can work well below upper cabinets to provide a soft uniform illumination across counters. It’s an even better option as a late night solution. Whenever you stumble to the bathroom in the middle of the night or go searching for a midnight snack, don’t worry about bumping into things thanks to the addition of rope lighting. It will fit under the footboard of cabinets and vanities to provide just enough brightness for your eyes to adjust.

Puck Lighting

This type of fixture is more suited to the kitchen than the bathroom. The name is indicative of the shape, which resembles a hockey puck. It’s best for areas where you will prefer concentrated lighting. This means areas of the countertop where you might stand to read a recipe or over a spice rack. It is important to remember that you want to create a cohesive look. So, if you choose to install both pucks and rope, they should be separated or installed in a pattern.

Lighting Bars

The most uniform choice will be lighting bars. They shed an equal amount of light across a surface area and can be extremely vivid or more of an accent depending on the brightness level you choose (see more information below). Because of the different directions this option can go, they’re great for everything from the entire area under cupboard to accents above a coffee or wet bar.

The Logistics

Plug In

Perhaps the easiest and quickest option for your fixture is plugin. This means you can simply plug the fixture in to your nearest outlet. This is no fuss, no mess. However, it will generally require being turned on by a switch, as opposed to the following choices.

Wired

You could wire the lighting directly into your electrical system, especially if there’s no easily accessible outlet. By wiring straight into your home, you won’t have to replace batteries or deal with wires hanging out of the wall. This can also be connected in such a way that anytime you turn on your kitchen lights, the under cabinet fixtures will come on as well.

Battery

Keep things simple by choosing a cordless battery option. You will have to replace them at times but the installation will be modest. It will also make things easier if you decide to remove the fixtures at a later time.

Motion 

No matter which of the previous options you decide on, ones that operate off of a motion detector can be great for those times you run into the bathroom or kitchen for a quick minute. This is also perfect for those late night lighting solutions. If you don’t want to risk it flickering off during those times, you are going to be still for a while, then keep the more prominent lights on a manual switch while making the nightlights motion detectable.

Brightness Level

Fluorescent

If you’re looking to light an industrial kitchen or a high traffic bathroom, then fluorescents are a very viable option. The brightness level is high and the low heat efficiency makes it safer for long periods of time and around produce.

Soft White

For those night fixtures and accent areas, choose a soft white level. It casts a lax glow that keeps the room warm while still providing ample illumination.

LED

The best long-term choice is also the most efficient. LED gives off great radiance for cooking or over beauty prep tools. The dimmer option will also allow you to set the mood you’d like in each room.

These under-the-cupboard lighting solutions for kitchen and bathrooms from Professional Electric can help turn these two working rooms into pleasant spaces. 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 Remember, when it comes to your electrical needs, Keep It Professional!

© Southern View Media 2018: Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited. All Rights Reserved. “We Put You Online So You Don’t Get Left Behind.”