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As a homeowner, knowing how to reset a circuit breaker is important in case of sudden power outages. Circuit breakers are essentially switches that control the electrical wiring that power your appliances and fixtures. The switches turn off automatically if a short circuit or electrical surge occurs or too much current is flowing through the wires. If one part of your house suddenly loses power, there is a high chance that it is caused by a tripped breaker. If your circuit breaker trips and you do not know how to reset a circuit breaker, you will need to call a professional electrician to help you fix the problem. However, resetting a tripped circuit breaker is not as complicated as it sounds, and knowing how to do it can come in handy in many cases. Continue reading to learn about how to reset a circuit breaker and what issues may cause your breaker to trip even after resetting it. How to Reset a Circuit Breaker First and foremost, you must wear safety glasses and ensure that the floor is dry to avoid getting shocked and injured. Unplug all the appliances in the affected room or area, then open your circuit breaker panel. Look for the switch in the center position, flip it to the off position, then flip it to the on position. Make sure the breaker switch stays on because if it trips again after you reset it, you must call your electrician since you may have a serious wiring problem. Potential Circuit Breaker Problems Besides knowing how to reset a circuit breaker, it also helps to know the possible issues that can trip your breaker. The most common causes are: Short Circuit A short circuit occurs when a hot wire touches a neutral or hot wire, causing excessive current to flow through it. This issue can be dangerous if left unaddressed, so it is best to get professional electrical services to prevent potential house fires. You can try checking your power cables and outlets to see if there is any discoloration or melting. However, if you cannot detect the problem, you must call an electrician. Overloaded Circuit An overloaded circuit is one of the most common causes of a tripped breaker. It essentially means too much current is flowing through the breaker, causing the switch to turn off. If this is the cause of the problem, try checking the appliances plugged in the affected area. You may be consuming too much power than you realize, so make sure to unplug the devices that are not in use. Generally, this should solve the issue, but if your breaker still trips, you can call an electrician to check your wiring and installation for possible loose connections. Ground Fault A ground fault is similar to a short circuit, but what happens here is a hot wire touches a ground wire. This problem is often caused by damaged wiring or old appliances, which causes electricity to take a path through the ground. If this is the cause of the problem, you may feel an electrical shock from touching some appliances. Call Your Electrician Today Maintaining your electrical systems and wiring is important to keeping your home safe. Contact us today at 727-88-VOLTS to schedule a free consultation with a licensed electrician. We can help you diagnose the problem and fix it immediately to prevent further issues from arising.

Being a homeowner is like riding a rollercoaster. Fun, a bit of a challenge, and there’s always something new around the corner. One such twist? Getting to know your electrical service panel – the unsung hero that sends power zipping around your cozy abode. Think of the electrical panel as the maestro of your home’s symphony. It’s the genius that connects the electrical vibes from the outside world to the groovy music in your home, or in other words it manages the electricity from the electric company and distributes it throughout your home. So, it’s super important to get to know your panel, and when you do you’ll be one step closer to becoming a home-electricity wizard. Finding That Elusive Panel Now, your electrical panel is a bit of a shy type. It usually hides in spots like the garage, basement, utility closet, or even in the sneaky kitchen pantry. Those with vintage homes? Peek outside. It might just be chilling on an exterior wall. A Peek Inside the Panel Pop open that panel door and voila! Main Circuit Breaker: It’s like the head honcho of the gang. Shut it off, and your home goes into power nap mode. Circuit Breakers: Your panel’s little soldiers. They come as single-pole for 120 volts and double-pole for 240 volts – ideal for those appliances that like a bit more juice, like your trusty air conditioner. Sub-panel: A fancy add-on if you’ve got a generator or extra breaker space. Panels come with style and size. Ranging from 100 amps to a whopping 400 amps, the modern home usually rocks at least a 200 amp because, well, who lives without a heater or AC? Panel Types 101 Main Breaker Panel: Your everyday, standard panel. It’s all about controlling and distributing power. This is the most commonly used panel type, which controls electricity that flows into each of the areas in your home. It is designed to distribute a certain amperage to each circuit and cut power when needed to prevent overheating. Fuse Boxes: These bad boys use fuses to keep everything in check. When excess current flows through a particular circuit, the fuse shorts out, so you have to make sure they allow enough current to flow to your appliances and keep an eye on ’em! Main Lug Panels: These panels have lugs that the line wires can run into, so they do not have a main breaker. You can connect the main lug to your main breaker to act as a sub-panel, with the latter being a separate disconnect. Transfer Switches: Got a generator? These switches will transfer power from the generator to the electrical power in the main panel to supply power even during outages. Getting regular check-ups, at least once a year will ensure safety and give it a long life of 20-30 years! Give Pinellas County Electric a buzz at 727-88-VOLTS to ensure all’s smooth and zappy.

Commercial buildings service several people on a daily basis amounting to hours of prolonged electricity use that may require complicated wiring systems. These establishments become prone to electrical errors, so it is a good practice to perform routine checks to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your electrical sources. But, before you find the need to hire electrical services in buildings, what are the common commercial electrical problems found in commercial buildings? Flickering Lights: Flickering and dimming lights can strain the eyes of your employees and delay the accomplishment of tasks. To properly carry out daily operations, a commercial building will require working lights. It’s common for light bulbs to burnt out. Your electrical system can be checked through general troubleshooting. Electrical services in buildings may be needed to check for a loose connection in the circuits or repairing faulty wiring that the common individual can overlook.  Power Loss and Damage to Appliances: Among the electrical issues commonly faced by a commercial building, an unexpected power loss can be a major problem. A power outage could leave your building without heating or air conditioning, can damage appliances, and possibly miss out on potential customers. If backups are not set in place, your company could suffer from information loss due to the lack of an electrical supply. Overloaded Electrical System: After a power failure, there can be instances wherein breakers trip if the circuits in the electrical system are overloaded with the constant use of electrical devices. A professional electrician will effectively assess and repair the electrical system. Commercial electrical services in buildings may be needed to upgrade its electrical work and add a circuit. Faulty Wiring System: Without the help of electrical contractors to execute electrical services, common electrical problems will occur. Faulty installations of commercial electrical systems in buildings can have poor connections and lead to fire hazards. If you install the wrong wire length to connect equipment in your electrical system, it could lead to short circuits. A professional commercial electrician should perform electrical work so you can be sure that your light bulbs, heaters, air conditioning, and other appliances are installed correctly. Overheating Equipment and Switches: If your equipment and switches become unusually hot, this common electrical problem may lead to a power failure or electrical breakdown. Wires can melt or burn with continuous plugging of appliances into outlets with visible sparks. Loose connections are a common commercial electrical problem that is often overlooked, which can lead to overheating and cause accidents or create possible fire hazards in the workplace. Protect your employees from slip hazards by hiring electrical services in buildings that can provide suitable fixes and prevent further damages to your electrical system. Short Circuit: The misuse of electrical equipment may call for electrical services in buildings. If an employee uses an appliance with a faulty cord or a damaged extension cord, this can lead to a short circuit. Wirings without the proper protection can easily be tampered with by natural elements and humans that can greatly affect the power supply, and lead to fire hazards. A ground fault: This can also happen if an employee uses an appliance without proper insulation. If you plan to upgrade your office, such as installing new outlets, you should hire a reliable electrical contractor for the renovations. The safety of your commercial building and employees is top priority, therefore regular electrical inspections is prudent. Contact Pinellas County Electric at 727-88-VOLTS and let us provide your electrical services in buildings and perform the proper maintenance, repair, and replacement of your electrical system!

Home inspections are vital when shopping for a home or planning a renovation. Inspections give you a clear picture of the condition of a house and problems that may affect the sale price or remodeling project size. While home inspectors generally look into different aspects of the property, it is often recommended to also get an electrical home inspection to pinpoint problems that may have been overlooked. As the name suggests, a specialized electrical inspection focuses more on checking the integrity of electrical systems and wirings in place. Assessing these areas is especially important since problems related to them can lead to safety risks. With a qualified electrician to do the job, you can take immediate action by updating wirings or replacing circuit breakers to maintain safety at home. When hiring a professional to conduct an electrical home inspection, here are some of the most common issues that usually arise during the check: Service Panel Issues Every home’s electrical service panel serves as the central source of electricity, so any problems related to it can easily compound to bigger concerns later on. Some issues may be observed in an inspection include loose or double-tapped circuit breakers, lack of the main disconnect switch, or an overall damaged panel. Circuit breakers in older homes can be particularly faulty as they were not designed for the electrical needs of more advanced appliances. This may result in frequent tripping due to your breaker panels overloading from their inability to manage the amount of electricity flowing through. Improperly Wired Switches Perhaps one of the most common issues found in an electrical home inspection would be improperly wired switches. In most cases, this happens when a non-professional or poorly trained electrician does the wiring and mixes up the neutral and hot wire slots. When this happens, it causes an issue known as reverse polarity, which can cause potential shock hazards. Aluminum Wiring While it may not seem like an issue, aluminum wiring can be a cause of concern since aluminum is not as effective a conductor as copper. Overall, the metal can become defective quicker, so the longer it is used, the higher the risk of fire hazards. Due to this, many home insurance companies opt not to insure homes that are wired in aluminum. Lack of GFCI Protection GFCI, short for ground fault circuit interrupters, are required in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other places with moisture and where the outlet may come into contact with liquid. These outlets are safety standards set in building codes to minimize the risk of shocks and burns in any home. Given the number of people who go in and out of the affected areas, it must enforce stricter GFCI protection throughout your home. Through a professional electrical home inspection, you can double-check to see if your home’s GFCI outlets are working properly, installed correctly, or need replacements to prevent bigger problems from arising. Knob-and-Tube Wiring Similar to the issue on aluminum wiring, knob and tube wiring is one of the older variants of electrical wiring used back in the early 1900s. While it is not inherently dangerous, it can be highly risky since it does not use a ground wire and thus cannot accommodate three-pronged electrical devices. Knob and tube wiring also uses rubber, as opposed to plastic, as an insulator, which can break down over time and cause issues like overheating and shock or fire risks. Overuse of Extension Cords Extension cords can be convenient to plug in multiple devices at a time, but you have to be careful not to get over-reliant on them. The national electric code requires that homeowners reduce the use of these extension cords since doing so can increase the likelihood of tripping hazards and other safety concerns. If a home is found to be using these extensively during an electrical inspection, it is likely a sign of having insufficient power outlets. Schedule an Electrical Home Inspection Today With Pinellas County Electric A thorough inspection from a professional electrician in Pinellas County can help you check what problems need to be addressed in a home. Whether you are remodeling your place or looking to purchase a home, you want to make sure your property is in its best condition. Learn more about what Pinellas County Electric offers by calling us at 727-88-VOLTS to schedule an inspection. With over 150 years of combined experience in the industry, we can guarantee that our team can solve your electrical concerns.

People tend to underestimate the potential risks of electricity. Home electrical fires are a danger in many communities because people use electrical devices daily, such as light fixtures and appliances. From 2012 to 2016, the second leading cause of U.S. home fires were electrical failures, according to the NFPA. It was also reported that home electrical fires resulted in the most civilian deaths and more than a billion in property damage. The majority of electrical malfunctions that started residential fires occurred during cold weather months from November to February. Here are some tips on how to stop a fire caused by electricity in case of an emergency. Turn off the main switch of the fuse box: If you can identify which electrical device caused the fire, safely handle the electrical cord and outlet, then unplug it to turn off the electrical flow to the device. You should also turn off the circuit breaker or the main switch of the fuse box. Do not use the appliance after the fire has been put out because the electrical wire has been damaged. An electrician can check the fire source caused by electricity and prevent a future electrical fire from happening. Use baking soda: Faulty wiring and installation can start a fire. Did you know that a common household item can be used to stop fires? If you cannot locate your fire extinguisher, you can use baking soda to stop a fire caused by electricity. Sodium bicarbonate can smother a small fire: If you have a heavy piece of cloth such as a blanket or thick coat, you can remove the oxygen source and put out a small fire. Do not leave your space heaters in an unattended room. Please do not keep your space heaters on while you are sleeping as they can lead to a fire caused by electricity. Do not try to extinguish electrical fires using water: To prevent electrical fires from worsening, remember not to use water to put out a fire caused by electricity.You can risk getting electrocuted because water is a natural conductor of electricity. Water may also be used to spread the fire and potentially burn flammable materials that can shock residents. Understand the category of your fire extinguisher: Be aware that fires have certain classifications. Electrical fires belong to the Class C category of fires to need a fire extinguisher appropriate for this type. After putting out the fire: Verify that your fire extinguisher has the proper label and certifications. Check-in with your fire administration and make sure you have the updated contact details of the emergency electrical services. You never know when you may need their assistance. Install safety alarms: As a good safety practice, you may want to install quality smoke detectors and fire alarms in your residential and commercial spaces. There are fire alarms that can contact your fire administration in the event of an emergency and increase the chances of surviving a fire caused by electricity. Hire a pro: If you notice that your appliances and light bulbs get unusually hot on several occasions, request that your electrical service check your electrical systems for loose wires that may need repairs. The common causes of electrical fires are poor maintenance of electrical systems, and the leading cause of electrical fires is overlooked minor damages. A fire caused by electricity may be due to faulty electrical outlets. Older homes may have worn out sockets that have not been regularly maintained. Back in the day, older circuit breakers handled light bulbs and minor appliances , but now the electrical system of a modern home is much different. More appliances such as washing machines, video game consoles, computers, and air fryers consume a lot of electricity. You may need to request the help of residential electrical services to check the breaker boxes and perform panel changes to upgrade your electrical system and protect your home from a fire caused by electricity. Useful Commercial Building Tips If you have space in a commercial building, you may want to hire commercial electrical services to complete a thorough inspection of your complex electrical systems, such as your electrical wiring, electrical outlets, and power panels. Professionals would have the necessary licenses to do the electrical work, and an updated electrical system can prevent a fire caused by electricity. There are several ways you save lives and minimize the damage due to a fire caused by electricity. Being proactive can help prevent fire hazards and give you the peace of mind that you are safer in your homes and workspaces. Contact Pinellas County Electric at 727-88-VOLTS and let us prevent a fire caused by electricity while taking care of all your electrical needs.

Protect your home and appliances with a house surge protector. Being a homeowner comes with various responsibilities, including ensuring your and your family’s safety. To do this, you can perform regular inspections on your plumbing system and electrical systems and do general home maintenance. Electrical work, in particular, can be challenging because of the safety risks involved in managing wiring and installation and general appliance usage. Without the right measures in place, your home may become vulnerable to fires and other dangers. Installing a house surge protector can be beneficial in more ways than you may think. Power surges can occur for many reasons, including weather conditions like lightning strikes or a faulty circuit breaker. Additionally, with technology being more heavily utilized in today’s digital age, it is no surprise that power consumption has risen for many homes. With a house surge protector, you can effectively manage your home appliances and electronic devices. A power strip is often used to connect multiple electrical devices to a socket, and while it looks similar to a surge protector, it does not prevent irregular voltage spikes from occurring. Get to know more about surge protection devices and why installing them in your home can be highly beneficial. What is a House Surge Protector? Protecting your appliances and electronics at home is crucial to prevent them from burning out and getting damaged. With a house surge protector, you can essentially achieve this as the device limits any excess current and blocks its flow to keep your appliances in good condition. You can think of it as a pressure relief valve that allows current to flow through. If the voltage levels are higher than usual, the excess current is shorted to the ground. Whole house surge protectors are installed on your circuit panel, and the process usually takes about two hours for a professional electrician. Having the installation completed professionally is essential since it requires proper wiring and grounding, which can be difficult to do without the proper skills and expertise. If you make mistakes during the installation, you can risk causing damage to your home. Causes of Electrical Power Surges Electrical power surges are essentially power spikes that increase the voltage of current flowing through your appliances and electronics. They can originate from inside your home, such as when you are turning high power appliances on and off or if you have faulty wiring that cannot withstand the surge. They can also originate from outside your home; downed power lines and lightning strikes are the more frequent causes. The damage from lightning-induced surges can be massive and significant if the lightning strikes less than a mile from your home. However, these instances are not as common as they sound, and in many cases, up to 80% of power surges occur for more minor reasons from inside your home. The mere cycling of on and off of some of your appliances can cause smaller power surges. While they may seem harmless, the frequency of the surges can compound and damage your electronics over time. You may not notice the damage caused by the minor surges since they are transient, but over time, they can shorten the lifespan of your appliances. The next thing you know, they suddenly stop working. The last thing that you want is to invest in high-quality electronics that get damaged quickly, so getting a house surge protector can protect your devices from voltage spikes from the power surges. Benefits of Whole House Surge Protection Aside from the primary benefit of protecting your appliances and devices from surges, whole house surge protection also comes with other advantages, including: Layering Surge Protection If you have complex and expensive electrical systems in your home, it will be helpful to layer your whole house surge protection. If an appliance sends a surge to a shared circuit, this can also harm your other outlets. With layered protection, all your circuits can get proper protection from surges, so you can avoid damaging any of them. Complete Electrical System Protection Whole house surge protectors will not only keep your appliances safe but also protect your electrical system as a whole. With technology becoming a norm today, you likely have many appliances at home. As such, guarding all your outlets and protecting all the electrical equipment is a must. Versatility and Flexibility Surge protection systems come in various options to suit your home’s voltage needs, so they can cater to all homeowners. Choosing the right whole-house surge protection is important since your home may have a voltage limit based on its size. For example, a standard and traditional home should not get a surge over 10kA, but if you would like to ensure you get adequate protection, you can ask your electrician for options. Keep in mind that there are also several brands to choose from, and warranties may differ based on your provider. Thus, browsing through many offers thoroughly will be helpful before making a final decision. Protection from Risks Electrical surges can be harmful to not just your devices but also your homes as they may sometimes cause risks like fires. By getting a whole house surge protection system, you can maintain your home’s safety and curb damages caused by violent external conditions or other factors. Get Whole House Surge Protection Today Interested in installing a house surge protector to protect your appliances and electronics today? If so, contact us today at (727) 88-VOLTS to request your electrical service and get in touch with us. Our team will gladly assist you through the process and help you determine the appropriate services and equipment for your home. Take action today and allow an electrician in Pinellas county to solve your electrical issues so you can ensure your home is safe for all. With whole house surge protection, you can prolong the life of your appliances and combat damages caused by power surges.

As a homeowner, knowing how to reset a circuit breaker is important in case of sudden power outages. Circuit breakers are essentially switches that control the electrical wiring that power your appliances and fixtures. The switches turn off automatically if a short circuit or electrical surge occurs or too much current is flowing through the wires. If one part of your house suddenly loses power, there is a high chance that it is caused by a tripped breaker. If your circuit breaker trips and you do not know how to reset a circuit breaker, you will need to call a professional electrician to help you fix the problem. However, resetting a tripped circuit breaker is not as complicated as it sounds, and knowing how to do it can come in handy in many cases. Continue reading to learn about how to reset a circuit breaker and what issues may cause your breaker to trip even after resetting it. How to Reset a Circuit Breaker First and foremost, you must wear safety glasses and ensure that the floor is dry to avoid getting shocked and injured. Unplug all the appliances in the affected room or area, then open your circuit breaker panel. Look for the switch in the center position, flip it to the off position, then flip it to the on position. Make sure the breaker switch stays on because if it trips again after you reset it, you must call your electrician since you may have a serious wiring problem. Potential Circuit Breaker Problems Besides knowing how to reset a circuit breaker, it also helps to know the possible issues that can trip your breaker. The most common causes are: Short Circuit A short circuit occurs when a hot wire touches a neutral or hot wire, causing excessive current to flow through it. This issue can be dangerous if left unaddressed, so it is best to get professional electrical services to prevent potential house fires. You can try checking your power cables and outlets to see if there is any discoloration or melting. However, if you cannot detect the problem, you must call an electrician. Overloaded Circuit An overloaded circuit is one of the most common causes of a tripped breaker. It essentially means too much current is flowing through the breaker, causing the switch to turn off. If this is the cause of the problem, try checking the appliances plugged in the affected area. You may be consuming too much power than you realize, so make sure to unplug the devices that are not in use. Generally, this should solve the issue, but if your breaker still trips, you can call an electrician to check your wiring and installation for possible loose connections. Ground Fault A ground fault is similar to a short circuit, but what happens here is a hot wire touches a ground wire. This problem is often caused by damaged wiring or old appliances, which causes electricity to take a path through the ground. If this is the cause of the problem, you may feel an electrical shock from touching some appliances. Call Your Electrician Today Maintaining your electrical systems and wiring is important to keeping your home safe. Contact us today at 727-88-VOLTS to schedule a free consultation with a licensed electrician. We can help you diagnose the problem and fix it immediately to prevent further issues from arising.

With the price of electricity going up and many businesses being forced to tighten their budgets after a tumultuous year, it’s more important than ever to conserve energy. Not only will learning ways of saving electricity in an office help your bottom line, but it will also assist you in lowering your carbon footprint and making a better impression in your industry. It would be impossible to list all of the techniques you can use to lower your electricity usage, but we’ve compiled some of our favorite energy saving tips to help you get a head start and remain vigilant. Switch to Low Energy Lights It’s often hard to fathom just how many lights a single business can use at any given time, especially in an office setting. You can begin to conserve energy by upgrading any traditional incandescent bulbs (sorry, Edison) to LED lights. These lights use much less energy and last a lot longer, which can often cut your light energy usage in half.\ Keep HVAC System Serviced As everyone knows, HVAC systems are a drain on energy. The first thing you should do is purchase the most energy-efficient model that you can reasonably afford. This will cost more in the beginning, but you’ll save electricity and money over time. Even if you can’t afford a new unit, have the system checked annually to make sure your current unit is running as efficiently and effectively as possible. Turn Off Lights and Equipment It’s always amazing when you drive by an office building at night and even though they’re closed, most of their lights are still on. While it’s true that lights add to the security of a building, it often isn’t necessary to have every single one of them switched on. Also, turn off lights in rooms that aren’t used very often. You can also solve the problem of forgetful employees by installing motion-activated lights. Install Power Management If your office uses a lot of computer monitors, then energy consumption is simply something you’ll have to live with to a degree. However, it’s a good idea to install power management software or simply pay attention to the software that you didn’t even know was installed. That happens quite a bit. This software will allow you to switch your monitor or other device to an energy-efficient mode. Use Smart Thermostat Options Today’s smart thermostats are extremely advanced. They allow you to curtail wasted energy with the use of remote access, date and time programming, energy usage reports, and other options. These units have energy saving features that can work wonders in lowering your electricity bill. Just keep in mind that Florida summers are quite warm, so your employees may want to bring a small fan for their cubicle or desk. Inform Employees of Policies If you truly want to reduce the amount of energy that your office is using, then you must inform employees of the policies that you’ve enacted. This can be anything from turning off the lights to keeping a fan at their desk, as mentioned above. Email will typically do the trick, but if certain things have become a problem, then you may want to post certain parts of the policy somewhere. Upgrade Your Equipment Another huge obvious draw on energy is the equipment that your office uses on a daily basis. If you haven’t done so already, take stock of your current office equipment and replace any older computers or other devices with more energy-efficient models. Depending on how many of them need replacement, you could see a large difference in your monthly bill. Pay Attention to Your Electric Bills It’s impossible to get your energy usage under control if you don’t keep a close eye on the electricity bills. If you notice any big changes, then discuss with your employees why energy usage may have increased. And if you don’t have the money for a professional energy audit, take a look at your energy bills over the past year and look for any trends. It’s also a good idea to compare the same month each year and monitor any reductions or increases. Ask for a Professional Audit To get an accurate idea of what’s going on at your office in terms of energy usage, nothing beats hiring someone for a professional energy audit. This will identify problem areas, assess devices that might need replacement, and will include advice on how to improve your overall energy efficiency. It doesn’t hurt to have this process done every year or two, depending on your specific needs and budget. By following this list of ways of saving electricity in your office, you can lower your energy bills and your carbon footprint at the same time. Pinellas County Electric is the premiere commercial electrician in Pinellas County and can help you achieve your energy goals. If you would like to request your electrical services or have any questions, please call us at (727) 88-VOLTS today to schedule a free consultation for commercial electrical services .