Panel Fitness Resolution
Each new year many of us make personal resolutions, such as to get more fit. Well, what’s good for the homeowner is also good for the home! It's important to make time to inspect your electrical service panel to see how fit it is and how it can be improved. For instance, many service calls arise from neutrals that have become loose over the years, causing arcing and power loss. Similarly, many homes in our neighborhoods are exposed to marine air that oxidizes buss bars, which impairs contacts and shortens the life of circuit breakers. This month, take a look inside your panel: If you see any black marks, white rust or unsecured wires, or hear any faint buzzing or popping, or smell ozone, it may be a good idea to have a professional perform a check-up to ensure your home stays as healthy as possible in the years to come.
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The #1 Service Call
The most common service call for an electrician begins when someone plugs something in and everything goes out. Flashlight in hand, you check the breaker but it doesn’t seem to be the problem. What could it be? Very often, the problem is caused by a tripped GFCI (often shortened to GFI). "GFCI" stands for ground fault circuit interrupter, and can be identified as the one outlet on a circuit that has two small, square buttons (labeled “test” and “reset,” colored either red and black or both white) between the two plug receptacles. This is a mini-breaker on the circuit and can be tripped by plugging in a device that is already turned on or has built up a charge of static electricity. By finding the GFCI on the circuit where the power is out and pressing its reset button, you might save yourself the cost of hiring an electrician and quickly get back to your day.
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