2 Main Reasons Why Outlets Stop Working, According to Electricians

A malfunctioning outlet can be a source of frustration. When one of your outlets suddenly stops working, it is easy to give up on it and delay the inspection and repair until you need the outlet again. A malfunctioning outlet, however, could be indicative of a more serious problem with your home’s electrical system, so it is best to have it checked ASAP.

There are two usual reasons behind a malfunctioning outlet: a tripped circuit breaker or a faulty or burned-out outlet.

Tripped breakers

If you suspect that an outlet stopped working due a tripped breaker, check the electrical panel and reset any breakers that shut off. You will see that once a circuit breaker trips, the knob may not flip to the opposite side. It’s also possible that other plugs have been affected, especially if the circuit was overloaded.

The problem might also be caused by a GFCI outlet, especially if the outlet in question is in your bathroom or kitchen. These outlets are designed to shut down by themselves once they detect a short or overheat. Should this be the case, try resetting all GFCI outlets in the room.

 

Faulty outlets

At times, the problem lies with the outlet itself. Its contacts might be loose, or perhaps it wasn’t properly installed in the first place. You can easily check if a faulty outlet is the real cause of your electrical woes by plugging a different appliance into the outlet.

In some extreme cases, however, electrical outlets may literally burn out and start a fire. For this reason, a broken outlet must be replaced immediately to avoid the risk of electrical fires. Jobs of this nature are best left to the hands of professionals to best ensure your home’s safety. Make sure to call a licensed electrician who can help you with other electrical problems as well.

Sources:

Why Is My Electrical Outlet Not Working?, Angie’s List

What Would Cause a Wall Outlet to Not Work?, SFGate

Three Heating Options an Electrician Can Install in Home Additions

Heating new home additions can be tricky. There’s always the question of whether one should modify and extend the existing heating system, or design a separate one. Luckily, electrical appliances provide a midway solution. Additions will be wired by the electrician for electrical, anyway – so why not make use of it to heat them? Here are three options for electrical heaters.

Wall heaters

Wall heaters are great space-servers, and can be easily drawn up while plans for additions are being made. Compact and discreet, they can be a boon to addition design as well as heating. These heaters – and heating appliances in general – are classified as either radiant or convection-based.

Fans are the best example of convection-based heaters, which blow warm air into a room and ensure it circulates. Convection heaters are great for keeping a whole wide room warm for long periods, but not recommended for people allergic to dust.

Radiant heaters emit heat into a room without needing blowers. The closer a person stays in their direct path, the warmer that person feels. Radiant heaters are best for additions – like dens or bedrooms – where people could likely just sit in path of the appliance.

Electric fireplaces

An electric fireplace is one kind of radiant heater – which can provide the added bonus of projecting an image of flames burning wood and charcoal. Homeowners can plan to mount one to a wall, or simply place a freestanding version anywhere in an addition.

This appliance is popular because installing it is as easy as unpacking it from a box and plugging it in. Unlike with a traditional fireplace or even traditional fans where soot and dust collect, maintaining an electric fireplace is also easy. It also helps save on resources like gas – not to mention the costs associated with remodeling or building for a traditional fireplace.

Ceiling fan heaters

Not all heaters, however, need to be mounted on walls. Combining the ingenuity of overhead fans and convection heaters, ceiling fan heaters are a way of making sure warm air circulates evenly across a room. These may be the best option for additions like sunrooms, which typically come designed with ceiling fans for ventilation in warm months.

Sources:

How to Heat a Home Addition: What is the Best Solution for Heating a Home Addition? Home Addition Plus.

Convection vs Radiant Heaters: What’s the Difference? Apartment Therapy.

Is an Electric Fireplace Worth the Money? Angie’s List. December 10, 2015.

Four Tasks Homeowners Should Always Leave to Professional Electricians

While it’s good to be handy around the house, there are just some tasks you should never attempt on your own. Electrical projects, for example, can cause fire and health hazards when done incorrectly. If you’re looking to change the wirings in your home, make sure to hire a skilled electrician for the following types of jobs.

Installing New Outdoor Lighting

If your house didn’t previously have any wiring outside, call an electrician before trying to install any form of outdoor lighting. Contractors will make sure that the wiring is properly grounded outdoors so all the light fixtures you end up using will work as intended, even if they’re all on at the same time. You can also ask for your electrician’s opinion on the best type of lighting for the outdoors that can withstand the elements.

Adding New and Improved Outlets

It’s always convenient to have many outlets around the house. While you’re in the process of installing new ones, perhaps you should consider replacing the existing outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters or GFCIs. These are the much safer options since they automatically shut off the electrical power circuit if current flowing in an unintended path is detected. This is particularly useful when water reaches outlets or a person accidentally puts a finger in the outlet, avoiding electrocution risks. You can upgrade your outlets one step further by adding built-in USB ports as well.

Replacing Outdated Light Fixtures

Replacing light fixtures sounds like an easy enough job, but don’t take it too lightly. If you put in a new fixture that has the wrong wattage, you might cause a huge electrical problem. It’s best to call a qualified electrician so you can save yourself from all that hassle.

Fixing Problems with the Circuit Breaker

Circuits that trip often is a sign of major problems that need your electrician’s immediate attention. It might be time to make some upgrades to help avoid these. Electricians are the only people qualified to upgrade circuit breaker panels, so be sure to get in touch with one.

Sources:
You'll Need an Electrician for These 4 Projects, Angie’s List
When to Call an Electrician, 1000 Bulbs

Appliances Causing Circuit Breakers to Trip? Call an Electrician ASAP

An electrical circuit is defined as a path or loop through which electricity flows. A home can comprise several circuits, depending on its size and the different types of appliance used. Each circuit will require a circuit breaker that cuts the flow of electricity if there is an overload or an appliance is using up too much power. By cutting electrical flow, the circuit breaker prevents the wires from overheating.

Electrician Tips: Ceiling Fan Buying—What are the Factors to Consider?

Ceiling fans help circulate the air in a room. Using them in conjunction with an air conditioner in summer can help a homeowner save on electricity bills. The way it works is that the AC cools the air, and the ceiling fan circulates the cold air that the AC generates. This way, you won’t have to push the AC to its limits or make it work overtime.

Electrician’s Tips for Organizing Wires and Cables

The average home typically contains a tangle of wires and cables. If not managed properly, these wires and cables can turn into rat’s nests that are not only unattractive but also pose a huge safety risk. You can never tell which wire goes to which socket or power strip, which can often end up being overloaded. It’s important to remember that there’s always the danger of fire when electricity is involved.

Electricians Explain the Beauty of Structured Wirings for Your Home

Imagine a home where you can control almost every electrical appliance at the comfort of one room. This may seem like a home that’s only possible in a science fiction film, but this situation is now a reality through structured wiring.

A Look at Structured Wiring

In a nutshell, structured wiring is a generic term denoting different wiring products available on the market today. All these products have the same purpose: these wiring products efficiently distribute a variety of data signals throughout the house.

Being Aware of Electrical Risks Helps Lessen the Likelihood of a Fire

In 2013, there were 17,353 structural fires in the state of Massachusetts. Of these, 1,765 occurred in the western part of the state that includes the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire. Statewide, 19 percent of these fires were caused by electrical problems. This number increased to 36 percent in 2014.