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Electrical Services |
Our Electrical Repair Service was built from the ground up in order to provide the fastest electrical repairs with the most convenient scheduling and reliability.
Electrical Tips and Strategies:
Messing around with your electricity can be dangerous, if you don't know what you are doing. Don't start on any electrical project without getting professional advice first.
If you require more information not covered here - Call us 24 hours 7 days a week at (800) Any-Tyme - Remember to dial Y in Tyme.
How
Most Homes are Wired
Today, most homes have what is called a "three-wire service." The
utility company connects three wires - two "hot," one neutral -
through a meter to your service entrance panel. These wires provide both 120-volt
and 240-volt capabilities. One hot wire and the neutral wire combined supply
120 volts, the amount used for most household applications, such as lights
and small appliances. Both hot wires and the neutral wire can form a 120/240-volt
circuit for such needs as a range and dryer.
Service
Entrance Panel and Distribution Center
The wires from the master connect to the service entrance panel, the control
center for your electrical service. Housed in a cabinet or box, the panel
is often located outside your home, below the electric meter. Or it can be
on an inside wall, directly behind the meter. In this panel you'll usually
find the main disconnect - the main fuses or main circuit breakers to which
the wires connect.
After passing through the main disconnect, the wires enter a distribution center housed in the service entrance panel or in a separate sub panel. Here the current is divided into branch circuits, each protected by a fuse or circuit breaker. The branch circuits run to lights, switches, receptacles, and permanently wired appliances.
Grounding
to Prevent Shock
The National Electrical Code requires that every circuit have a grounding
system. Grounding ensures that, in the event of a short circuit, all metal
parts of the wiring system or of lamps or appliances connected to it will
be maintained at zero volts. The grounding wire for each circuit is connected
to the distribution center and then is run with the hot and neutral wires
in the branch circuits.
Wire Connections
Connections between wires are made inside plastic or metal boxes mounted in the walls or ceiling. Switches, receptacles, and wall or ceiling-mounted light fixtures all have their own boxes. Individual wires are wrapped in color-coded insulation for easy identification.
Though hot wires are usually black or red, they may be any color other than white, gray or green. Neutral wires are white or gray. Grounding wires are bare or green.
Circuit
breakers
Circuit breakers are heavy-duty switches that serve the same purpose as fuses.
When a circuit is carrying more current than is safe, the breaker switches
to Reset. On most breakers, the switch has to be pushed to Off and then to
On after the circuit trips.
Free Energy Saving
Tips
Turn
Down your Thermostat:
For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range,
you'll save up to 5% on heating costs. Wear warm clothing and set your thermostat
to 68 degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting.
Set the thermostat back to 55 degrees or off at night or when leaving home for an extended time saving 5-20 percent of your heating costs (heat pumps should only be set back five degrees to prevent unneeded use of backup strip heating).
Eliminate
Wasted Energy:
Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Unplug that spare refrigerator in the
garage if you don't truly need it - this seemingly convenient way to keep
extra drinks cold adds 10-25% to your electric bill.
Turn off kitchen and bath-ventilating fans after they've done their job - these fans can blow out a house-full of heated air if inadvertently left on. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning to prevent up to 8% of your furnace-heated air from going up the chimney.
Reduce
Water Heater Temperature:
Set your water heater to the "normal" setting or 120º, unless
the owner's manual for your dishwasher requires a higher setting. Savings
are 7-11% of water heating costs.
Shorten
Shower Times:
Simply reducing that lingering time by a few minutes can save hundreds of
gallons of hot water per month for a family of four.
Showers account for 2/3 of your water heating costs. Cutting your showers in half will reduce your water heating costs by 33 percent.
Use
Appliances Efficiently:
Do only full loads when using your dishwasher and clothes washer. Use the
cold water setting on your clothes washer when you can. Using cold water reduces
your washer's energy use by 75%.
Be sure to clean your clothes dryer's lint trap after each use. Use the moisture-sensing automatic drying setting on your dryer if you have one.
Put
Computers and Monitors to Sleep:
Most computers come with the power management features turned off. On computers
using Windows 98/ME/2000 open your power management software and set it so
your computer goes to sleep if you're away from your machine for 5 to 15 minutes.
Those who use Macintosh computers look for the setting in your Control Panels called "Energy Saver" and set it accordingly. When you're done using your computer, turn it off (see next tip) do not leave it in sleep mode overnight as it is still drawing a small amount of power.
Unplug
"Leaking Energy" Electronics:
Many new TVs, VCR's, chargers, computer peripherals
and other electronics use electricity even when they are switched
"off." Although these "standby losses" are only a few
watts each, they add up to over 50 watts in a
typical home that is consumed all the time.
If possible, unplug electronic devices and chargers that have a block-shaped transformer on the plug when they are not in use.
For computer scanners, printers and other devices that are plugged into a power strip, simply switch off the power strip after shutting down your computer.
Energy Saving Investments
Do you need any new appliances, or are you planning to do some remodeling? Consider these energy efficiency suggestions before you purchase.
Choose
Energy Star® Appliances and Electronics:
When buying new appliances, choose Energy Star®-certified models. For
example, a new Energy Star®-refrigerator uses about 20% less energy than
standard new refrigerators, and 46% less than one made in 1980. A new model
energy efficient washing machine uses nearly 50% less energy than a standard
washing machine. As you can see it is worth getting newer model energy efficient
appliances.
Install
a Programmable Thermostat:
If you have a heat pump, select a model designed for heat pumps. Setback thermostats
can save up to 15% on energy costs.
Increase
Ceiling Insulation:
If your ceiling is uninsulated or scantily insulated, consider increasing
your insulation to up to R-38 to reduce heating costs by 5-25 percent.
Seal
your Ducts and Vents:
Leaking ductwork accounts for more than 25% of heating costs in an average
California home. Consider hiring a contractor to test the tightness of your
ducts and repair leaks and restrictions in your duct. Many utilities have
programs to assist you. Check out Rebate and Consumer Programs or contact
or local utility.
High
efficiency windows:
If you are planning to replace your windows, choosing Energy Star® windows
can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 15 percent.
Inexpensive Energy Solutions
Every home is different. With a quick trip to your local hardware store, you
have even more choices at hand.
Replace
or Clean Furnace Filters:
Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Keep your furnace
clean, lubricated and properly adjusted. Savings up to 5% of heating costs.
Try to clean or replace your furnace filters or every month to every other
month.
Plug
your Home's Heat and Air Leaks:
Install weather-stripping or caulk leaky doors and windows and install gaskets
behind outlet covers. Savings up to 10% on energy costs.
Install
Low Flow Showerheads:
If you do not already have them, low flow showerheads and faucets can drastically
cut your hot water expenses. Savings of 10-16% of water heating costs.
Wrap
your Water Heater with Insulation:
This is especially valuable for older water heaters with little internal insulation.
Be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water
heater. Savings up to 10% on water heating costs.
Safety First:
Occasionally, a white wire will be used as a hot wire. For easy identification, it should be taped or painted black where it's close to terminals and splices.
The service entrance panel and distribution center in your home are equipped with either fuses or circuit breakers.
These are the weak points of each circuit - the safety devices that keep the branch circuits and anything connected to them from overheating and catching fire. If there's an overload or a short circuit, a fuse will blow or a circuit breaker will trip, shutting off the flow of current.
Random Facts and Tips about Electrical Systems:
If you don't have a circuit-breaker system, always shut off power at the main disconnect before working inside a fuse box.
Did you know? In the event of a short circuit, your home's grounding system ensures that all parts of the wiring system and any metal items connected to it are maintained at zero volts.
It's a good idea to tape over the empty fuse socket or switched-off circuit breaker while you're working. Keep any fuses you've removed in your pocket and leave a note at the box telling others to leave it alone.
Did you know? John Chamberlain introduced the first automatic washing machine at a county fair in 1937. His model S required only that you load the laundry and detergent and set dials twice during the wash cycle.
Use mineral oil to lubricate kitchen appliances and you won't cause any health or taste problems with your food.
If the wiring in your home appears to be a silvery metal instead of copper, you have aluminum wiring and should consult a licensed electrician before attempting any work or repairs.
Never reach into a circuit or fuse panel with both hands, you could short a circuit across your heart. For safety's sake, keep one hand in your pocket whenever dealing with your panel.
A ball of yarn can help you fish a wire through conduit. Tie one end of the yarn around a pencil and use your shop vac to suck the other end through the conduit. Tie the free end to your wire and pull the whole thing back through.
Bathtubs sometimes sink a bit when they're full. Because of this, the caulking surrounding the tub will last longer if, before you caulk, you fill the tub with water and keep it full until after the caulking has cured.
You can
use mirror clips to attach a small wastebasket to the inside of your bathroom's
cabinet door.