Can you tell me exactly how much this electrical job will cost me?

To get an accurate price based your exact electrical issue our electrician would need to see the job. Each building is unique, so by surveying your electrical needs in person we will know exactly what it will cost to get the job done before we begin work. Contact Wired For Success today for an estimate on all of your electrical repair and installation needs!

What is the difference between a regular breaker and an Arc Fault breaker?

All breakers are designed to prevent the wire in your home or business from becoming overloaded and automatically turn off, if the circuit is carrying too much load or if there is a short circuit present. Arc Fault breakers have the additional ability to sense arcing in a circuit. Arcing is the sparking you might see between 2 damaged conductors, and is a fire hazard as this arcing is extremely hot. An arc welder uses electrical arcing to weld steel. A regular breaker may not sense that because it does not always create the load needed to trip the breaker, but an Arc Fault breaker will sense it and shut the circuit down before it can cause a fire. These devices are designed and required to be tested on a monthly basis to ensure proper and safe operation.

Is aluminum wiring a fire hazard or is my aluminum wiring safe?

Aluminum wiring was used in the late 1960s and into the mid-1970s in many homes across North America. Aluminum wiring itself is not dangerous to have in your house. The issue with aluminum wiring is in faulty terminations either in receptacles and switches, or light fixtures and equipment. Due to expansion and contraction of the conductor itself and the fact that aluminum will oxidize over time, heat can be generated at points where the aluminum wiring is improperly terminated. One of the main issues with aluminum wiring is that while everything may appear fine with your wiring, it could be deteriorating behind devices, creating a dangerous fire hazard. If you have concerns about aluminum wiring in your home or business you should have it inspected by a licensed electrician who has experience working with aluminum wiring. Wired For Success LLC can help!

What is knob and tube wiring?

Knob and tube, or open wiring, was installed from the initial electrical installations in the early 1900’s into the 1940’s. It is named for the porcelain fittings that were used to support and run cables through wood structure. If it is left alone and no changes have been made to the original installation, and the insulation is still in good, flexible condition, it may still be a safe installation. However, there are a number of issues you should be aware of. If you have knob and tube wiring in your home, you should have it inspected by a licensed electrician.

• The insulation used in knob and tube wiring has a tendency to dry out and become stiff and brittle. This can result in insulation actually cracking and falling off the conductor, leaving it exposed and creating both a shock and fire hazard.

• Since a knob and tube wiring installation has most likely been in place for over 70 years, the chances of the wiring in being untouched and not damaged or revised in some way is pretty small. Once these systems are tampered with in anyway, intentionally or otherwise, that section of wiring should be replace with new up to date wiring.

• Knob and tube wiring was installed at a time when there was very little demand inside homes for electrical devices, and the circuiting and wiring was designed to that standard. Today we are using many more electrical and electronic devices in our homes than ever before, and the way homes were wired in the early 1900’s does not support this many devices being present. This causes circuits that are 70 years old and probably weak to begin with to now be overloaded, causing fire and shock hazards in some circumstances.

• Knob and tube wiring was install as insulated individual conductors with a “hot” and a “neutral” line. In that day there was no grounding run alongside them. In many homes people have changed receptacles to match changing times over the years, and may have changed from two prong ungrounded receptacles to two prong grounded receptacles. If you have three prong receptacles installed on an ungrounded circuit you have created a situation where devices that require the ground for safety may be plugged into power that does not provide that safety, creating a potential shock hazard.

How much does it cost to change my fuse panel?​

Wired For Success LLC can provide you with an estimate after looking at each panel location, as there are many variables that must be taken into account. Things like panel location, electrical system flexibility, feeder cable length, and, most importantly, the decision to repair or completely replace the panel are important pieces of information we must find out before we begin a job. To provide an accurate quote without this information is impossible.

How can I reduce the electrical costs of my home or business?

The quickest and easiest way to save energy in any building is by making sure your lighting system is as efficient as possible. There are many options available to make your lighting more efficient, from retrofitting existing fluorescent fixtures, to replacing old fixtures with new energy efficient solutions. This could mean using fluorescent bulbs where high bay metal halide or high pressure sodium fixtures were used previously, or even using LED technology to improve lighting levels as well as reduce energy usage. Wired For Success LLC can help asses and improve your energy efficiency, saving you big on your electrical bill!