Why Homeowners Should Know How To Contact An Electrician Fast | Irving, TX
Electricians are professionals that are absolutely essential for modern life in Irving, TX. We all need services from electricians, although we don’t always think about this fact. Many people don’t think about electrical repairs or maintenance until something goes wrong, which is not ideal. It’s much better to plan ahead and schedule regular appointments for routine maintenance, but sometimes problems can’t wait and you need an electrical service right away.
Electric Heaters
If you decide to buy a space heater, make sure you only purchase models with labels verifying they were tested in recognized laboratories. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions and owner’s manual carefully. A space heater should only be used as supplemental heat. They aren’t intended to heat an entire home. One-third of home fires and out of every five deaths as a result of residential structure fires are caused by space heaters. Make sure smoke detectors in your home are working correctly by replacing batteries and testing the alarm regularly.
Inspect the heater cord before you use it each year. Look for cracks, broken plugs, and any other damage. Make sure the connection is secure when you plug it in. Loose connections are dangerous and may start a fire. Don’t use the heater if anything looks like it could be damaged or worn out.
A space heater shouldn’t be left unsupervised. Turn the heater off before leaving the room or going to sleep, and try to keep children and pets away from the heater. It’s also a good idea to keep heaters out of high-traffic areas because they’re a tripping hazard. You should also plug space heaters directly into an outlet, not a power strip or extension cord. Space heaters can cause overheating in extensions cords or power strips that can lead to damaged electronics or even a fire.
A modern space heater should have multiple safety features, including a tip-over switch, a sensor for overheating, and a touch sensor. These features are meant to keep your home and family safe, but you shouldn’t rely on them. Safety features can fail just like anything else. If you think the safety features on your heater may not be working, contact an electrician for repairs or replace the heater with a new one. A lot of things can go wrong with space heaters, including motor overloads, faulty thermostats, and blocked registers or blowers. Other problems, such as broken fuses or other components may not be as obvious.
The wattage determines how much heat your space heater can produce. Most heaters produce between 400 to 1,500 watts, although you should be able to adjust the output. Space heaters are not efficient heat sources. They aren’t even certified by the Department of Energy’s EnergyStar program. If your household is relying on a space heater because the main heating system isn’t working, your electrician may be able to help.
Air Conditioning
Many residents of Irving, TX use air conditioning more often than heating every year. Hot weather is more common than cold temperatures, although we have to deal with both. Whether you have central air or a window unit, air conditioning is a vital aspect of many of our homes. Indoor heat and humidity can become uncomfortable fast without air conditioning, especially in hot summer months. Air conditioners and HVAC systems rely on electricity, so an electrician may be your first call if something goes wrong.
Hot Water Heaters
Hot water heaters are one of the most frequently used appliances in a home. We use hot water every day for all sorts of things. Many different things can go wrong and leave you without hot water. Electric-powered models have thermostats that may need to be adjusted periodically or replaced if they stop working correctly. Call your local electrician if you find yourself with no hot water or insufficient hot water to meet your household’s needs. Refrigerators are another type of essential appliance.
Refrigerators
Problems with refrigerators can be inconvenient, expensive, and even a health risk. If food isn’t kept at the correct temperature, it can spoil and you’ll have to throw it all away. This can be especially expensive if a refrigerator stops working after a trip to the grocery store. If food is kept cool, but not quite cool enough, it can go bad slowly and cause food poisoning before anyone realizes a problem exists. There are lots of components inside a refrigerator, and a problem with any of them can interfere with proper function. Call an electrician or a repair technician if you think there might be anything wrong, even if the refrigerator still seems to be working properly.
Washing Machines
Washing machines can run into issues too. We usually notice that a washing machine isn’t working correctly as soon as a problem occurs. A malfunction can result in a washing machine that doesn’t fill with water, that fills with water but doesn’t agitate the clothing, or everything could be fine right up until the spin cycle is supposed to kick in. If the spin cycle doesn’t work, you could be left with soaking wet clothing to deal with. Never put clothing that is still soaked and dripping into a dryer. That practice would very likely end with a broken dryer as well. The problem with a washing machine may be electrical or it may be something else. If the machine won’t even power on, it’s more likely an electrical problem that an electrician can help you with.
Call Tioga Plumbing & Electric in Irving, TX, if your appliances aren’t working correctly or you suspect that something is wrong with your home’s wiring. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and the electricians at Tioga Plumbing & Electric are always happy to answer questions and inspect your home. Emergency service is available for problems that can’t wait for business hours.
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