Jun
18
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

Feb
18
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
18
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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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
18
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