Able Electrical Contracting

Our Blog

A family owned electrical business based out of Cranford, New Jersey.

Jun

OLD SMOKE DETECTORS JUST AREN’T WORTH IT!

A recent call came from a house the fire department had just left. A 60 year old switch (pictured below) had overheated and begun to burn. The homeowner smelled something and called the fire department. If she had not been home, it could have been very bad.

She was perplexed because the smoke detector didn’t do its job. Pushing the test button sounded the horn but it had lost its ability to detect smoke a long time ago. Ten years is what manufacturers recommend for the life of a detector. They aren’t trying to sell more detectors, they’re trying to save lives!

Pushing the test button and hearing the horn on a 10+ year old detector only means the horn works. That is no guarantee it will detect smoke.

Newer detectors are available with a ten year battery. That means no yearly batteries to replace. After 10 years, simply buy a new detector. That is the safest investment for any home.

-Frank

May

Spring/Summer & Lightning Storms

Some people love a great thunderstorm; others are petrified by the first flash of lightning or rumble of thunder. Whether you love ’em or hate ’em, thunderstorms produce lightning and that’s a powerful force. While there is nothing you can do against a direct or even indirect hit, there are ways to prepare your home when the inevitable storms come through your area, by installing a lightning Suppression Systems, they come in multiple forms:

Tier 1 – With permission from the utility company a socket suppression system can be installed. This system requires more coordination, power shut down and the utility’s permission to use. Not all utility companies will do so.
Tier 2 – Panel protectors at the home’s electrical panel. There are several brands that can be found online or at your local electrical supply house. Be aware that many of these have varying ratings. The highest rating will typically provide the most protection.
Tier 3 – At your receptacles. These are the most commonly found and are often targeted as a surge protector. But for the ratings that match the Tier 2 suppressors, you could purchase a Tier 2 that would protect the entire house. Still these are an additional layer of protection.

When a lightning storm comes through your area, the best approach will always be to unplug any appliances or electronics that could be damaged. This can provide the maximum safety should lightning hit the utility lines. However, I have been to customers homes who experienced electrical equipment failure after a lightning storm. Items like motion sensors or GFCI’s could go bad or not work properly requiring replacement.

After a storm where you have taken sufficient preventative measures outlined above, it’s always a good idea to walk around the inside and outside of your home to look for anything out of place while testing switches and receptacles. It also allows you as a homeowner to identify any damage to public utility equipment to be called in, such as fallen tree limbs on lines or a smoking pole transformer.

Spring and summer are both wonderful times of year. Your proactive partnership and monitoring of your home allows you to prepare for the season and enjoy it!

Call us for consultation and estimates.

Apr

Why Replace Old Lights, Switches, Etc.?

As an electrician I am always taking mental note of the electrical integrity of the homes I am called to service.

blog light Electricity is a modern convenience so taken for granted, that the hidden dangers of age related deterioration can be overlooked. Recently while working in a customer’s storage room I turned on a light. Within just a few minutes I detected a burning smell eventually traced to the fixture pictured at right. The exterior shell is porcelain which can’t burn and appears fine. However, the electrical failure had taken place in the interior components which had deteriorated with age. The fire hazard occurs when the light is left on for an extended period. Sparking melts wires and ignites flammable items nearby.

Another case in point is the burnt-out thermostat pictured below. A recent service call showed me something I had never seen before. Over the phone the customer claimed that a fire had been started by a faulty thermostat. I politely informed him that was doubtful, since thermostats operate at a mere 24 volts in comparison to the 120 volts of a standard switch or receptacle. Upon arriving I saw the 24 volt thermostat which had overheated and ignited the carpet below. Fortunately the customer was home, 20151016_105114 (800x450) smelled the odor and called the fire department. No doubt the house would have been a loss had he been absent. This was another case of electrical components failing with age.

Replacing old light fixtures, switches and receptacles is a wise move to minimize the risk of a home fire.

~Frank

Mar

What’s so Bad About Fuses?

Did you know that homeowner insurance companies often require that fuse boxes be replaced? Pictured is a perfect example of the hazards of a fuse box. All the 30 amp fuses pictured should be 15 amps. When the antiquated 15 amp fuses kept blowing under the strain of modern appliances (indicating an overloaded wire and a need for a new line), someone put in a 30 amp fuse instead. Presto! no more blown fuses. HOWEVER, what seems like a cheap, quick fix has produced an overheating wire that poses a serious fire hazard.

Whenever the built in safety elements of an electrical system have been compromised a serious silent danger has been created. Modern electrical circuit breakers cannot be compromised like the old fuse systems. Insurance companies have found fewer fires with circuit breakers than with fuses. Hence, they require them.

Allow Able Electric to give you a no cost estimate to upgrade your electrical system.

~ Frank

Feb

When is a Bargain Not a Bargain?

As an electrical contractor, fifty percent of the work I do is fixing the mistakes of a handyman or homeowner who was trying to save a buck. The savings which initially appear, quickly evaporate when an unsafe or unsightly electrical job has been completed. Most people have to exercise diligence in their finances, but when cheap has to be done over again, what have you saved?

The nature of electrical work is that many jobs initially go smoothly. I’m always amazed however, how they quickly spiral into greater complications. That’s the nature of dealing with older, more fragile wiring and electrical systems that are at the end of their service life. I’m currently wiring an above ground pool. The homeowner had hired an acquaintance with a rudimentary understanding of electrical work. During the electrical inspector’s inspection he categorized it correctly when he said, “It’s all wrong, tear it out.” And that is exactly what the homeowner now has to pay me to do. Between the lost time, lost money and aggravation, what did he save? Hiring a licensed, insured professional reduces the likelihood of paying twice for the same job. – Frank

Jan

Safer Living at Home

My habit is to point out safety issues I see as I work in people’s homes. Often the issues aren’t even electrical, so I have nothing to gain. These are things I’ve gleaned from my interactions with fire and EMT professionals. Some are common sense.

A stairway with little or no light is an inconvenience that with time becomes a real hazard. Adding lighting can reduce the likelihood of serious injury.
Newer electrical products on the market make life easier and safer. Receptacle/night lights can replace standard receptacles in hallways and bath. The LED light operates automatically, has a 10 year life and makes navigating at night less of a challenge.
Outside and inside lighting should be sufficient to clearly see where you are walking. Older homes often fall short in this regard. Consulting with a lighting professional on proper light choices beats the big box stores.
Approximately 50% of homes I work in have inoperable/inadequate smoke detectors. With newer smoke/carbon monoxide detectors that have a 10 year battery life, things can’t get much easier.
Sixty year old refrigerators (as cold as when Momma bought it) experience wire insulation failure. The failure is unseen until it is too late. I was at a home where a fire caused by an old fridge caused a man to lose his life. And no, his smoke detectors weren’t working. All electrical products have a “service life”. After that its protection is degraded. An assessment of your electrical system by Able Electric can make it safer living at home.

~Frank

Dec

Living in a Dark House is No Fun

Recently, working in an older couples home, I replaced an inadequate ceiling light fixture. When I turned it on the homeowner gushed, “It’s like my other cataract is gone!” (He had recently had one removed and was awaiting the 2nd removal.)

While every situation isn’t this extreme, working and living in ‘low light homes’ is frustrating. Applying band-aids by adding more floor and table lamps doesn’t help the root problem.
When I’m called into a lighting job I begin asking questions, i.e: What is the room used for? When is it more often used, day or night? Where do you sit? Is there a reading area? etc. These questions help determine the best options.
An experienced professional brings to the table, ideas gleaned from years upgrading lighting, often in identical room conditions such as yours. A 30 minute YouTube video simply can’t compare. Call me to schedule an appointment for a lighting consultation for your home.

~Frank