Things An Electrician Can Help You With | Irving, TX
Electrical work should be left to professional electricians. Many people like DIY projects and homeowners frequently handled electrical work in the past. Our homes have much more complex electrical systems now than ever before. The difference between current homes and a standard home just 30 years ago is huge.
Electricity powers so many appliances, entertainment devices, power tools, and other electronic gadgets that our homes really wouldn’t function well without intact wiring and a reliable source of electricity. There’s a good chance that we’ll use even more electronic devices in the future, so hiring an electrician and investing in a home’s electrical system is a good bet. Upgrades can be extensive if you want whole-house rewiring or general updates, but you can also choose to have a few smaller improvements done to enhance daily life or increase the value of your home in Irving, TX.
A Finished Basement
Turning an unfinished basement into a finished room offers plenty of opportunities for your family and increases the value of your home. Call an electrical service to assess and wire the basement. A new sub electrical panel may be necessary as well. Ask your electrician if other maintenance tasks or upgrades, such as a new control panel or replacing older wiring in other areas of the house, can be handled at the same time. A new electrical panel may be necessary if you’re planning to install new appliances or devices that use a lot of power. This is even more important if you live in an older home that still has the original electrical panel. A panel installed in the 1980s wasn’t expected to handle anything like the amount of electricity we use today.
Smoke Alarms
Although it may sound strange, electricians across the country actually get a lot of calls about smoke detectors. Many of these calls resulted from unsuccessful attempts to reset the device. A malfunctioning smoke detector isn’t safe, and it’s also quite aggravating. High-pitched that doesn’t stop making it nearly impossible to concentrate on anything. Sleep is out of the question. However, leaving the smoke detector disconnected to shut off the noise is very risky.
The first step in resetting most smoke detectors is cutting off power sources. Some devices are plugged into an outlet, but most have batteries as a backup or primary source. Unplug the device and remove any batteries. Hold the reset button until the capacitor is completely drained. Put brand new batteries in the device and turn it back on. If this doesn’t work, you can replace the old model with a new unit or contact an electrician to see if the unit can be repaired.
Smoke alarms aren’t the only essential safety feature you should have. Carbon monoxide detectors are also very important. Every home should have at least two carbon monoxide detectors. Keep at least one device in a common area and make sure each bedroom has its own alarm as well. Check your alarms regularly to make sure they’re working correctly. Your electrical professional can also check carbon monoxide alarms.
GFCI Outlets
Electricity traveling to the ground through an unintended route is called a ground fault. GFCI, or ground fault interrupter, outlets contain safety features that shut off the flow of electricity when the outlet detects a difference between input and output currents. Electricity always flows through the path of least resistance. Wires are covered with rubber or plastic to keep electrical currents in the intended path to switches and outlets. Damaged wires can let the current escape, which may lead to fires or electrical shock. The risk is higher in locations where water and electricity are in close contact. Homes should have GFCI outlets in bathrooms, basements, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages, and outdoor areas.
Lighting
New light fixtures are a relatively small project that offers outsized benefits. Although replacing a light bulb isn’t difficult, installing a new fixture is a different matter. It’s easy to get confused if you run into wiring issues, and any mistakes will probably lead to a call to your electrician anyway. Mistakes can also lead to short-circuits and potential fire hazards, so it’s much easier to have a professional installation in the first place. You can choose from all sorts of lighting options such as LED bulbs, recessed lighting, dimmer switches, or ceiling fans.
Outdoor Projects
Other outdoor projects that add value to your home include exterior lighting and patio heaters. Some homeowners even have outdoor kitchens installed. The long stretches of warm weather in Irving, TX, let you cook outdoors quite frequently. Outdoor kitchens can be as simple or extensive as you want. Some people choose basic things like grills and a small fridge or cooler, while people that really enjoy entertaining outdoors can choose stoves, freezer and refrigerator combinations, smokers, and even bar units with everything needed to serve mixed drinks. Hot tubs are very popular as well. These appliances and devices use a lot of power, so you should contact an electrician for help with the project.
If you’re considering a new electric car in the future, you’ll need a car charging station. This is also something to think about if you plan to put your home up for sale. An electrician can install a 240-volt car charging station outlet in your garage while minimizing drywall damage and other disruptions.
Surge Protection
Every home should have house-wide surge protection. Power surges can destroy expensive appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers, and other devices including televisions, computers, game systems, and all the other electronics found in modern homes. Surge protection can be installed when you need electrical work done for some other purpose too. You can also choose to install protective units for phone or cable systems. The NEC national codes may require surge protection in all new homes sometime in the near future. You can also choose to install protective units for phone or cable systems.
Contact Tioga Plumbing & Electric to schedule a consultation. The experienced electricians at Tioga can help plan renovations or install new features in your home in Irving, TX. They can also handle routine evaluations and repairs to make sure your electrical system is safe and efficient.
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