Chad – Page 9 – Turn It On Electric

Outlet and Switch Replacement: 6 Things to Know

27Aug2022

Outlet and switch replacement isn’t a typical home improvement and certainly not a DIY (do-it-yourself) job. It’s probably not a project you’d plan for aesthetics, but outlet and switch replacement can improve property value and reduce risks.

Clues You May Need Outlet and Switch Replacement

Many homeowners schedule electrical inspections every five years. When you consider the additional technology that increases our electrical use every year, electrical home and office inspections in Phoenix should be scheduled every 2 years.

If you suspect you need outlet and switch replacement, here are six questions to ask yourself:

Are any plug-in outlets or light switches hot, have burn/scorch marks, or faulty?
This includes loose/wobbly switches. If your electric fireplace has a delayed start or it takes several attempts to get a light fixture to turn on, your switches are fire risks.
Loose outlets or connectors/plug-ins that fall out of the outlet are red flags.
Do you have arcing outlets/switches?
Signs include black/burn marks on plug-in outlets and switches, cracks or damaged coverplates, or loose connections.
Do you hear noises (buzzing) from a light fixture or switch?
Even if the noise seems to be coming from the light fixture, it can indicate a faulty switch.
Do your lights flicker or cycle off and on?
Defective single-pole switches, as well as 3-way switches, can cause flickering lights/short-cycling.
How old is your electrical system?
Twenty years is a benchmark for having your electrical system inspected for safety. Usage makes a difference; some switches and outlets are seldom used and many are over-used.
How old is your home or commercial property?
If it was built more than 20 years ago, residential or commercial electrical inspection in Phoenix may reveal you need outlet/switch replacement.

FYIs About Outlet and Switch Replacement

You make informed decisions when you strive to learn more about your property’s electrical usage, conduits, and components. For example, make a list of all heavy-duty appliances and their outlets. When you add a new appliance that is heavy with technology whistles and bells, your electrical load probably increases.

Here are some for-your-information facts:

If you have a light switch that “doesn’t do anything,” it may be a switched outlet. An example would be a bedroom that has no light fixture/chandelier…but there’s a light switch by the door.
Some outlets are “angled,” and others are flat. The angled outlets are designed to allow 2-prong connectors to plug in more tightly.
The average home has 70+ outlets. Other words used for “outlets” include “receptacles” and “plug-ins.”
The NEC (National Electrical Code) says outlets can be installed with the ground up, down, or sideways. What’s your preference?
There’s more than one way to wire an electrical outlet.
- Back wiring – Good option
- Side wiring – Most frequently used
- Speed wiring – Not recommended
Turn It On Electric welcomes your questions and can provide free estimates for electrical upgrades, including outlet and switch replacement

Let’s discuss a home improvement project that offers the best possible ROI (return on investment): safety. If you’re planning to sell your “good old house,” this kind of investment will also increase your property value in a competitive market.

To learn more, contact TIO Electric.

Residential

Installing Dedicated Outlets for the Holidays

27Aug2022

When it comes to electrical usage, most of us are pushing the envelope. If the fall/winter holidays include your own personal “festival of lights,” dedicated outlets may be needed this year. In fact, dedicated outlets for holiday lighting are a good idea for everyone.

Dedicated Outlets, Circuits Provide Protection

Amps (amperes) are how we measure electrical current units. Most home receptacles can handle up to 20 amps, but you don’t want to go much over 15 amps to be safe. Overheated wires and circuitry are fire risks.

If you already have an occasional short circuit, contact your local electrician before adding holiday lights to your home this year. For example, if you can’t use your toaster without unplugging the microwave, you need electrical upgrades. A dedicated outlet has its own circuit breaker. And a dedicated circuit breaker only supports one outlet.

Upgrading holiday lights from incandescent to LED saves money and energy. It’s possible LED lights can reduce electrical usage enough to justify buying new lights. (Don’t throw those old lights away; donate them or find a recycling center.)

Outside Holiday Lights

The animatronic Santa on your roof this year?
Maybe you should let your circuits decide. –TheSpruce.com

You’ll need to determine if parallel or series circuitry is best for your outdoor dedicated outlets. Parallel lighting might be best because if one bulb burns out, it only affects that one string.

Protecting your outdoor lights from weather and other dangers is another consideration. To safeguard your outdoor lights against animals that might chew on the wiring, consider steel wire-armored (SWA) cabling, which is rubber-insulated. It’s waterproof and longer-lasting than PVC-reinforced cable.

Dedicated outlets can use ambient light detection. This means your lights will automatically come on at dusk; off at sunrise. Most people prefer the ability to turn outdoor lights on from inside their homes.

Adding a dedicated outlet is better than using an existing socket.
An existing socket with GFCI (ground fault current interrupter) can serve as a dedicated outlet.
Outdoor lights must have a GFCI (ground fault current interrupter).
The installation of or conversion to dedicated outlets is never a DIY (do-it-yourself) job.

Indoor Holiday Lights

Tree lights, mantle and wall illuminated decorations… These are considered temporary electrical infrastructures. But the damage they can cause from overloading your circuits could last much longer.

How many indoor lights can you plug into one wall outlet?

The strings attach together, so you can have 100 or a thousand Griswold-blinding tree lights. There’s no one formula for how many tree lights you need:

Better Homes & Gardens says you need three 100-light strands for every foot of tree height.
Real Simple says you need one 100-light strand for every foot of tree height.
Turn It On Electric says you should use whatever is safe for your outlet(s) and circuitry.

Decorating a tree is so fun you must wonder why we only do it once a year! But you really don’t know how much electricity you’re pulling with all those light strands hooked into each other.

Tree adaptors are a dangerous idea. Any electrical surge could cause electrocution or fire.

Rather than create dedicated outlets for indoor illuminations, you may want to add dedicated circuitry for your large appliances that need it anyway. This would lower the risk of overload and provide a permanent solution to increased electrical usage.

Safe Homes for the Holidays

It’s never too soon to begin planning for holiday lighting electrical safety in Phoenix. Let’s assess your home’s electrical setup and discuss ways to protect against overloaded circuits. Contact TIO Electric.

Residential

2 Important Electrical Upgrades for Fall

27Aug2022

Fall is the season for the quiet return to nature. Many families take “Aspen safaris” into the more colorful areas of Arizona. It’s also a time for new beginnings; school starts. Electrical upgrades for fall can give your home and office a new level of comfort and security.

Explore These Electrical Upgrades for Fall

Home offices may need wiring upgrades or perhaps you’d like to create one or more workstations in your house. Electrical upgrades for fall can offer enhanced quality of life and improve home safety.

1. Home Electrical System Upgrade

This is more than a maintenance call or a “tune-up.” We troubleshoot several home areas to answer questions about your overall electrical system.

EV charging – Is it providing the power you need, or does it require an upgrade?
Outlets/switches – Are they safe? Do you have enough for your needs?
Panel – We will examine the panel and ask several questions to determine if your panel is effective and safe:
- Do breakers trip frequently?
- Do you have a fuse box?
- Does the breaker box make “funny” noises?
- Have you smelled burning odors from the breaker box?
- Is your home more than 20 years old?
Safety – Are all failsafes in place and is your home free from hazardous electrical sites?
Surge protection – Do you have sufficient surge protection? Do you have the ability to add more?

2. Office Electrical System Upgrade

Whether it’s your home or your business in a commercial building, electrical upgrades for fall can include an office system inspection.

If your local electrician is LEED-certified, you can be sure you’re getting advice based on industry-best practices to reduce your carbon footprint. Home and electrical services for commercial properties have different code structures, and you can possibly get tax incentives for energy savings*.

The needs for office electrical system upgrades are determined by the condition and quantity of:

Circuit breaker(s) – It’s much more common to find overloaded circuits in homes and offices. We are using more electricity than ever before, every day.
Lighting – The right lighting is critical to hours-long deskwork in front of a PC or laptop. Overhead and directional lighting upgrades can reduce body and eye strain.
Outlets – If your office layout is structured to accommodate wall outlets – not the way you need to work – it’s time to relocate or add outlets.
Regulations – Homes and offices should meet appropriate Arizona and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regulations. Some of the things that were acceptable when your property was constructed may not be considered safe today. This may not impact your property’s efficiency now but will affect your ability to sell later. You’ll need to make considerable repairs to your system.
Wiring – Behind-the-scenes wiring issues can be spotted by your local Phoenix-area electrical professional.

Warning Signs Your Property Needs an Electrical Upgrade

If you have any of these warning signs, don’t wait to schedule an electrical consultation:

Bulbs burn out too soon
Circuit breaker trips
Electric bill spikes
Light switches hot to touch
Lights dimming/flickering
Outlets broken/charred/discolored

Companies that believe customer service is a priority understand your time is valuable. You don’t need hassles and upselling strategies that have nothing to do with what you want. Discussing possible electrical upgrades for fall doesn’t necessarily involve a commitment. Turn It On Electric offers free estimates and sometimes we can give you a best-guesstimate quote over the phone.

If extensive electrical upgrades are indicated, we also have financing for energy-saving home and office electrical improvements. If you have any questions about electrical upgrades for fall, contact TIO Electric.
___
*Ask your tax professional about energy.gov home or commercial tax incentives because deadlines have been extended and qualifications vary.

Residential

What To Do After a Power Outage

27Aug2022

A power outage (also called “powercuts,” “power failures,” or “blackouts,”) is the loss of electrical energy from your network supplier. There are many causes of area-wide or single-property power outages, including:

Cascading failure (system overload)
Circuit breaker/fuse problems
Line or distribution system damage
Power station or substation issues/damages
Rotation to save energy/stabilize the grid
Short circuits
Substation problems/damages

There are several things you can do in advance of a predicted power outage, and there are safety precautions to follow during one. Most people don’t realize there are also several important steps to take after a power outage.

Before, During, and After a Power Outage in Arizona

If Texas could have anticipated its devastating power grid failure during the winter storm of 2021, it could have alerted residents. There are steps you can take in anticipation of and during a power outage. The first thing to do if you expect a power outage is to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.

You should always be prepared for a power outage:

Consider getting a small, battery-powered television.
Inventory everything in your house that needs electricity.
Make an emergency go-kit for your home and car. Kits should have food, water, and essential medical items.
Remember, ATMs and gas stations need electricity to operate too. Have a cash stash and vehicle fuel supply just in case.

During the outage:

Check on your neighbors.
Continue to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
Choose flashlights for illumination rather than candles.
Disconnect PCs and plug-in technology devices. (The power surge when electricity is restored can damage electronics.) But leave one light turned on so you’ll know when the power returns.
If heat or cold is life-threatening, leave your home and seek shelter.
Turn off and disconnect appliances, especially those that were running when the outage occurred (dishwasher, washer/dryer, etc.).

Following a power outage:

Be sure to test your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system or schedule a service call.
If the power was out longer than one day, discard all refrigerated medicines and request replacements.
Inspect all power outlets for signs of damage.

Refrigerated Foods: Don’t Take Chances After a Power Outage

If you need to reset your refrigerator’s thermostat, 37° is recommended for the fridge and 0° for the freezer. Toss all refrigerated and frozen foods that warmed to 40° F or higher for longer than two hours. You can use the same meat thermometer you use for baking and grilling to determine if your meat is too warm to re-freeze or re-refrigerate.

If a food’s color or texture seems off, throw it out. If it smells “funny,” throw it out. If freezer foods have ice crystals resulting from too-high temperatures for too long, throw them out.

Some foods may look and smell and even taste okay. But bacteria grow quickly. Some contaminants cannot be destroyed by cooking or even frying at high temperatures.

If these foods were warmed to 40° F for more than two hours, throw them away:

Eggs
Fish/shellfish
Leftovers
Meat
Poultry

“When in doubt, throw it out.”

Prevent Power Outage Damages

After a power outage, unplug, re-plug, repower, and reset all electronic devices. There is often a power surge when electricity returns, so do a damage assessment of any plugged-in appliances and electronic equipment.

A power surge following an outage can wreak havoc. Power surge protection can prevent damage when electrical power turns off and on unexpectedly.

Smart homeowners consider whole-house surge protection devices (SPDs). SPDs can provide as much as 40,000-amp surge protection and point-of-use safety at all home or office wall outlets. They also reduce fire risks and save money by lowering monthly energy use.

Whole-house SPD installation is one of the services your Phoenix professional electricians at Turn It On Electric provide. To learn more about increased personal and property safety, contact TIO Electric.

Electrician

Outdoor Lights: Understanding Downlighting

2Aug2022

Many people opt for downlighting when arranging their yards’ outdoor lights. Downlighting is exactly as it seems: The light fixture’s placement angles the beam downward. This provides a more natural lighting solution because our “natural” light comes from the sun or the moon.

Downlighting doesn’t mean the outdoor lights must be placed high above the ground (although you can do exactly that). The most dramatic downlighting is often concealed on the ground, in landscaping or underneath trees.

Ways To Use Outdoor Lights for Downlighting

It would be perfect if we could harness our sun’s and moon’s natural light to illuminate our yards when and where we want it. Natural light just “feels” better. But downlighting comes a close second.

Downlighting also adds a hint of drama – mystery – to outdoor lights. Your visitors will see a warm glow of light without processing where it comes from. It’s great for flowerbeds and seating areas. But it also can be used to illuminate sidewalks, stairs, and steppingstones to increase safety.

Ways to use downlighting include:

Arbors, Gazebos

If you have or want an attractive seating area in your yard, downlighting is the way to go. Gazebos are traditional structures but arbors and pergolas transition well to any type of architecture or layout. These structures are designed to provide minimal protection against harsh sunlight or weather. You should compare downlighting angles for these landscaping features.

Gutters, Soffits

Utilizing your home’s roof is another way to illuminate side yards discretely. These 120-volt lights are not something you should DIY (do-it-yourself) install. This is a good way to illuminate those flowers and shrubs that are positioned closer to your home. And as a trespassing deterrent it’s a safety feature as well.

Moonlighting

This is tree-mounted downlighting and it’s beautiful. If you want a “dappled” lighting effect on the landscaping area, the light(s) must be positioned to shine above branches to the ground below. It’s also great for downlighting driveways and patios.

Because these lights are mounted 20´-30´ above the ground, this is not a DIY project. Before you buy, ask your local electrician what works best for tree-mounted light effects. You’ll want low-voltage low lights that save energy and don’t overheat.

Develop An Outdoor Lights Design Plan

Many homeowners haven’t noticed they have only 2 lighting arenas: the front door and the back door. The rest of the yard is just…lawn.

Developing an outdoor lights plan to enhance your property is an exciting and fulfilling project. And don’t forget you have two side yards. Very little illumination is needed on the sides of your house and be sure you choose outdoor lights that won’t shine into your neighbors’ windows.

Safe, Professional Landscape Lighting Installation in Arizona

Landscape lighting involves much more than buying a light and sticking it in the ground. To begin with, you need electrical connectivity. This Old House says any low-voltage outdoor lighting requires “stepped-down” power from your home. To achieve this, your family electrician will work with:

Bulbs – You’ll choose from shades of white or colors but considerations also include the level of brightness, beam width, and energy use.
Cable – A cable is required to carry your home’s electricity to the lighting arrangement(s).
Housing – The fixture’s housing protects the lightbulb and shapes the light flow direction.
Stakes – You’ll need a safe, unobtrusive way to mount the lights.
Transformer – The transformer takes your 120-volt current to a safer (likely 12 volts) level.

Outdoor lights are a terrific way to upgrade your home’s aesthetics and increase your property value. Effective landscape lighting multiplies your curb appeal as your home becomes a neighborhood standout.

Partner with Turn It On Electric professionals for your outdoor lighting project this year. We’ll have illuminating ideas for you as well as industry-best workmanship. For more information, contact TIO Electric.

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Chuck P

01:46 23 Jan 25

Friendly, communicative, and professional.High quality work.

Renee Delu

18:10 11 Jan 25

Mike you are the best!! God bless you for comming out saturday when I blew my fuse trying to vacumm and shout out to Josh who although not have sat office hours called me anyway after I left a voicemail. .Bob Best was here and gave me amazing information that NO OTHER electrician had. .!! I'm happy to say this is an amazing caring company...and I'm a customer for life!! Please recognize and reward Mike And Josh for them saving me on Saturday as my security system had no power and my smoke alarm had been beeping for hours. These men deserve kudos. .if you are looking fir honest and highly qualified electrical work. This is where to go. I'm thankful and grateful. Bob is now an instructor ..I'm happy to know future electricians are being schooled and trained by him. Thanks to you all

Wally Johns

01:31 11 Jan 25

Good work and very polite guys.

Rebecca RB

01:03 21 Oct 24

This company literally saved us! We had some electrical issues discovered that were rather alarming and created an issue with the garage door opener completely lost power as well as our outdoor dusk to dawn lighting and the interior garage lights. Mike the electrician came to the rescue! He listened to the issues in my non electrical language (haha) translated it and solved everything with confidence! Knowledgeable, Friendly, prompt, professional and efficient! Highly recommended! Will definitely call for future needs!

luci redmond

15:28 12 Oct 24

Great customer service & a job well done!

Samuel Heffner

17:04 14 Aug 24

I called TIO Electric because a friend referred them and they did not disappoint. I had an issue and it was rough identifying the source of the problem. Miguel and Conrad worked together to identify and solve the problem quickly. As a services based business it was extremely important to get the repair done quickly and the team stayed to ensure the job was done before they left. I expected to have to schedule another visit due to the complexity of the case, but they understood I needed to be back up and running as soon as possible and got the job done in just a few hours. They were very professional and personable and the cost was in line with what I expected.Update 8/14/24: TIO helped me again. This time with an issue I was having at my home. Marcus was very nice and knowledgable and was able to identify the problem and make the repair in quick time. I had a secondary issue I wasn't too worried about, but Marcus took care of that as well. These guys know what they're doing. Still highly recommend.They did a great job. I would definitely recommend them for projects big and small.

Caren Zellmer

12:46 03 Jul 24

Excellent service!! Marcus has been to our house a couple of times and completed the work doing an AMAZING job. He was very polite, professional and explained every process to us. His work was also completed in a timely manner. It is very rare to find anyone with great work ethic anymore! This company is very lucky to have him. We would definitely recommend and use Turn It On Electric again.

Bob

14:42 10 Jun 22

They were on time, clean, friendly, professional and did an amazing job. I would have to say that the price was fair considering the amount of work done. Highly recommend Turn It On Electrical!