What Does An Electrician Do?

Ever wonder what an electrician actually does? Sure, we know they handle electrical problems but what are you actually paying for when you bring an electrician in Kensington MD in your remodel? For starters, your electrician will read the blueprints to your home so they know all electrical related components of your home and where these places are located. They’re also experts in the National Electrical Code and follow state and local building codes. Much of their work consists of connecting all sorts of wires to bring electricity into your home. 

The Leading Cause of Residential Fires is Electrical Faults!

Did you know electrical faults are the leader in residential fires causes? More recently they updated the National Electric Code to use Arc Fault breakers which detect issues in your electrical systems and can help prevent fires. Unfortunately most homes built before 2006 were not built with this technology. Fear not, all you have to do is call your local electrical contractor in Washington DC and have them provide a safety evaluation to see how you can protect your house and family. 

Twice In The Same Spot

When I was seven, I remember a kid in my class stuck a paper clip into the electrical socket. I’m not sure if someone dared him to do it, or if he came up with the brilliant idea all on his own but he did it. More recently I heard a story about a man from Texas who was strike by lightning twice in the same spot! I know what you’re thinking – but lightning never strikes the same place twice. Wrong! Apparently it does, but luckily for this guy he survived. Apparently being strike by lightening feels like your muscles are about to explode and you experience that tingling feeling for over a week. These stories got me to thinking, do the people who work with electricity most, you know your local electrician in Bethesda MD, get electrocuted often? If you’re an electrician, let me know your story! 

Keeping Your Family Safe

Going along with the electrical topic - we're going to shift gears a little but stay within the general topic and talk about video surveillance. I heard a story last week while sitting around watching NFL on Sunday from my next door neighbor. My mom practically took notes as she was talking and so I can play it back for you - "As a working mom with two boys in high school, the time between after school and when I got home used to be stressful. With two teenagers I was never certain who was stopping by after school and if homework was getting done. Desperate for a few extra eyes on my boys, I spoke to my co-worker who recommended getting an in house video surveillance system. She said to call the local Chicago IL video surveillance experts who could match my needs perfectly! They provided remote video monitoring which allows me to check in on my boys, right from my smartphone. I’m also able to check in on the house when we’re off on vacation. I couldn't be more relaxed letting my teenagers stay home alone." Take notes everyone!

Electrical Sockets Must Be Covered!

Before moving into my new home, I didn't think to check every single electrical socket, and now I need an electrician on John's Island SC. Let me warn you now, check every single electrical socket before you move in or make sure there is someone in the building to perform maintenance on the things that do not work! Unfortunately, I did not heed my own advice and three out of the six electrical sockets do not work in my apartment. Because of this, I am blow drying my hair in the living room! Thankfully an electrician can come right away and fix the issue but it would have never happened if I had listened to my inner voice!

Electrical Safety Tips Around the Home

Because this is a new blog, I figured we'd start with the basics. What should you make sure you never do with your electrical projects as a homeowner? What safety precautions do you need to take with your home electrical systems to make sure your family and guests are safe? When should you call in an electrician to take care of the electrical repairs for you?

Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:

1. ALWAYS keep all of your electrical devices away from water sources inside your house. This means bathtubs, faucets, showers, and the like. Electricity and water goes together like fire and gasoline - don't do it!
2. ALWAYS keep plastic covers on outlets that are not in use if you have pets or small children running around. That added barrier could be the difference in a run to the emergency room.
3. ALWAYS repair or replace broken or frayed cords or electrical devices. Devices in disrepair can be extremely dangerous.
4. NEVER pull out a plug by the cord. You could easily damage the cord (see the point above) or the outlet itself.
5. NEVER overcrowd an electrical outlet with multiple splitters and/or extension cords.
6. NEVER work on an electrical device while it is plugged in and ALWAYS flip the fuse off when working on an outlet or other wiring in the wall.

Hopefully these are mostly obvious points, but you never know these days. Stay safe out there!