Categories Electrical Wiring, Electrician

The best electrician in Phoenix

Turn It On Electric Trucks

When a young couple bought a small but historical property in Earll Place, they were excited about their new home. Several months later, they had an occasional light-flickering and noticed two of their kitchen electrical cover plates became unusually warm the longer they were used.

The home had passed inspection, so what could be wrong? They contacted Chad Ridenour because their neighbor said Chad was “the best electrician in Phoenix.”

The Best Electrician Knows Your Community

Chad knew in the ’60s and ’70s there had been a copper wire shortage in Arizona and other parts of the U.S. Even “the best electrician” in Phoenix may have substituted aluminum wiring for repair jobs at some point during that era.

Sure enough, the home had been remodeled during that timeframe, but rather than insert an occasional aluminum wire, the kitchen had aluminum wiring throughout. It had performed well, but its usefulness – and safety – were in jeopardy.

When copper wiring rusts, it’s green in color and even the oxide in copper rust is a good conductor of electricity. Aluminum oxide (rust) is white and is such a bad conductor it can interfere with the electrical current and cause overheating.

Qualities of a Great Electrical Contractor

Maricopa County has quite a diversity of older and newer properties, both commercial and residential. While we want to preserve our Arizona heritage, Turn It On Electric wants to circumvent the health and safety risks sometimes associated with older wiring.

The best electrician takes everything about your property into consideration: age, condition, location. He or she will honestly tell you if your wiring is on its last legs (but still safe) or needs immediate attention.

Honesty is a very basic quality for a service provider, but it’s the most important one. Other qualities you might find in the best electrician include:

  • Ethics – Honesty is an ethical choice. Other ethics include dependability, patience, and focus on you; the customer.
  • Intelligence – Degrees are good, but the ability to apply workable solutions to current problems is imperative. All of us have intelligence; only the best of us know how to use it.
  • Knowledgeable – State and county safety codes and regulations vary. The best electrician knows what permits are needed for Maricopa County and your Phoenix-area community.
  • Professionalism – How a technician represents a company can be revealed in word choices and appearance. If your electrical specialist appears to be unkempt and negative, you may be concerned with the quality of workmanship (and the quality of the company).

Turn It On Electric Works Harder to be the Best for YOU

Why is Turn It On Electric the best in Phoenix? It’s the best because Turn It On Electric has a fantastic team to support all of your electrical needs. These knowledgeable, trained electrical professionals put safety first and strive to deliver the best quality work while meeting your timeframe (and your budget).

We guarantee our work, and if there’s a problem, we’ll do everything we can to make it right. The best electrician and the best electrical contractor in Phoenix will be here tomorrow – and for years to come.

Turn It On Electric professionals are available to provide free estimates over the phone. Would you like to work with the best electrical team in Phoenix? We have employment openings for problem-solvers looking for challenging, better career options.

Contact us for more information.

Categories Electrician, Residential, Smoke Detector

Installing smoke detectors at home

Most homes use battery-operated smoke detectors to alert occupants of smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide (CO). While these safety devices work fine for your home, they must be replaced per the manufacture’s specifications. Keep the following information in mind if you need to choose new devices for your home.

Options for Smoke Detector Devices

You may benefit from having certain types of smoke detectors. A few of the different options that are available for your residence include the following:

  • Hard-wired detectors: These detectors connect to your home’s electrical system rather than running on battery power. With this type of device, you don\’t have to worry about checking and replacing batteries nearly as often as they are there as a backup. These detectors work constantly when your power is on. If you lose power, they use the backup battery to keep running.
  • Wireless detectors: These smoke detectors “talk” to each other through your wi-fi connection. If one goes off it can alert the other detectors of potential danger. However, in the event the power fails and your wi-fi goes down they are not better than a single battery smoke detector.
  • Battery-powered detectors: These are usually the easiest to install and replace. Quite simply, they are better than nothing. Battery-powered smoke detectors work independently of each other and only the one that senses smoke will alarm. Batteries need to be replaced often. Some newer systems have long-life batteries that can last up to 10 years.
  • Dual purpose, smoke and CO detectors: If you have natural gas in your home, you need to have a CO detector to keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe. Many smoke detectors include a CO detector to alert you of high carbon monoxide levels in the home. Carbon monoxide can be deadly if the gas lines in your home are leaking.

Installation and Operation Requirements

No matter what type of smoke detector you choose for your home, you should have them professionally installed. Our electricians can ensure that your new detectors are properly and safely installed. With a hard-wired system, they can handle the installation process without damaging your existing wiring. We always recommend a hard-wired system as they have a longer battery life, require less maintenance, and communicate better in the event of a fire.

New smoke detectors to the market are smart home enabled and can connect to your mobile device whether you’re home or away. This can provide peace of mind knowing that you’ll always be alerted should there be a fire in your home. Some of these smart devices include CO detectors as well as improved detection to alert you sooner rather than later. With mobile alerts, everyone in your family can know if there’s a problem in your home.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to have electricians take care of maintenance and repairs if you go with hard-wired detectors. Our team can handle these tasks to ensure that your detectors continue to work properly.

Locations for Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors need to cover the areas of your home that you spend your time in. You should have a detector installed in each room, hallway, and bedroom. Keep in mind that with a hard-wired system in place, all will sound to smoke or fire in your home right away. With a non-hardwired detector, only the detector in the affected area goes off. Other detectors won’t sound the alarm until smoke or fire reaches the area they’re in. However, the newer “smart” smoke detectors are able to wirelessly alert each other so you won’t have to be near the fire or smoke to know there’s a problem.

Professional electricians can help you determine the most suitable placement for your detectors if you’re installing new ones. This will depend on the layout of your home and other factors, such as the size.

Whether you’re installing new smoke detectors or aren’t sure if your current ones are working properly, contact Turn It On Electric today.

Categories Electrician, Maintenance, Residential

Maintaining your home’s electrical system

Maintaining your home’s electrical system

A well-maintained home electrical system is crucial. It ensures your system lasts longer and also gives you peace of mind knowing your home is safe. Electrical system maintenance can lower costs and reduce risks.

Your Arizona Electrical System Company Must Be Licensed

Your electrical system professional should be a trained, experienced technician for a local company licensed with the state of Arizona. Check the Arizona ROC (Registrar of Contractors) if you are unsure. A CR11 license means your electrical system company holds a commercial and residential license and can…

install, alter, and repair any wiring, related electrical material and equipment used in the generating, transmitting, or utilization of electrical energy less than 600 volts, including all overhead electrical wiring on public right-of-ways for signs and street decorations, and all underground electrical distribution systems of less than 600 volts serving private properties.

What You Need to Know About Electrical System Inspection, Maintenance

When buying or building a home, an electrical inspection should be performed. The inspection should include a thorough examination of all electrical wiring and connections. As part of a new maintenance program, your local electrician will perform an initial inspection. As a result, they will report on your property’s current safety and what might be needed now or later.

An annual preventive maintenance visit is recommended for all commercial and residential properties, new and old alike. Here are things your local electrician will examine during an inspection and annual maintenance visit.

  • Fire prevention – Short circuits can trigger house fires. They can be caused by weak/loose wiring in the meter or the cabling. Electrical fires are usually caused by:
    • Extension cords
    • Faulty electrical outlets
    • Faulty wiring
    • Space heaters
    • Worn-out light fixtures
  • Lower risk of electrical surges – Surges can not only lead to short circuits, but they can also ruin your appliances. Your electrical system technician will check various wiring points to lower the risk of surges.
  • Shock prevention – A small shock when you touch an electrical appliance shouldn’t send you into a panic, but shouldn\’t be ignored. It not only can negatively impact your appliance’s performance, it can also ruin it. In addition, this is a red flag that there is a fault in the wiring, which can lead to more damaging problems.

Electrical Maintenance for Your Home or Commercial Property

It is imperative that you get the right electrical technician… A novice or amateur might just damage the electrical connections that could lead to different types of disasters, apart from you failing the inspection. D&F Liquidators

Most property owners schedule preventive maintenance for HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and vehicles, but neglect electrical system maintenance. In this era of rapid technology evolution, your local, licensed electrical services company should participate in continuing education.

The professionals at Turn It On Electric of Arizona are trained and experienced in electrical technology for home and commercial properties. Also, we are LEED-certified and Home Advisor-approved. (LEED is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.) This means we care about our planet and will always seek sustainable solutions for your property.

Valley-area families and businesses trust TIO Electric. You can trust them, too. We appreciate DIY (do-it-yourself) home maintenance but want our friends and neighbors to avoid electrical mistakes. For affordable electrical system safety with up-front pricing, contact Turn It On Electric.

Categories Ceiling Fans, Electrician, Residential

3 reasons to install a ceiling fan

3 reasons to install a ceiling fan

Ceiling fans are great for creating air circulation in a room, which can make it feel cooler without changing the actual temperature. However, there are several other benefits to installing ceiling fans throughout your home.

Cut Down on Your Energy Costs

The most obvious benefit of ceiling fans is that they can help to reduce your energy bills, especially in the summer when the weather is hot. When the air around you is moving, even slightly, it feels cooler, so you won\’t have to rely on your air conditioning as much. Air conditioning is one of the biggest contributors to high electricity bills, so you stand to save a lot of money in this area.

Of course, you will still require electricity to operate your ceiling fan. However, fans can be up to 70-percent more energy-efficient than AC motors. Running your fan throughout the day will cost you far less than using your AC, and those savings can seriously add up over time. However, make sure to turn it off if you aren\’t in the room as they don\’t cool while you\’re away.

Keep Bugs Away with a Ceiling Fan

If you think that you can only use ceiling fans inside your home, think again. Covered patio or deck areas are prime locations for fans. It is a little-known fact that fans can help deter many flying insects like gnats, mosquitos, flies, and more. These bugs don\’t like the air circulation that ceiling fans create, so they\’ll tend to stay away from the area around the fan.

This is great for when you want to sit outside in your yard during the summer when the weather is nice. Insects constantly buzzing in your ears while you are trying to enjoy a fun evening with your friends can quickly ruin the occasion, forcing you back indoors. With a fan, you and your guests will be able to relax in comfort so that you can soak up the beautiful weather.

Personalize Your Home

There are so many different styles of ceiling fans on the market today, you are sure to find one that speaks to your personal style and taste. Many new homes these days don\’t come with many light fixtures preinstalled. It is likely that they realized many homeowners would prefer to choose their own fixtures. This gives you the chance to make your home truly your own.

In addition to choosing the overall style of the fan, you\’ll also be able to choose between lighted and unlighted varieties. If you already have other lighting in the room, you may not need lights on your ceiling fan, as this can add to your cost. Where lighting is minimal, a fan with lights can do just the trick, scattering the light around the room in a wide-angle format. Take your time browsing through the myriad options available to you to find the perfect ceiling fan for your home.

Get Help with Ceiling Fan Installation

Ceiling fans can be quite heavy and have a lot of moving parts. While it is possible to install your fan yourself, it is far easier to let the experts here at Turn It On Electric handle the hard work for you. This is especially true if your home doesn\’t already have wiring to the location where you want your fan to go.

We always take great care in our work, treating your home as if it were our own. You can count on us for safe, professional electrical services, including ceiling fan installation. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment for a free price quote. Whenever you are ready, our team will be ready to get to work, so call now to get started.

Categories Electric Bill, Electrician, Residential

How to save electricity

How to save electricity

For most of us, life without electricity is not an option. You need to power devices and appliances and keep your home cool. All of this costs money. If you are not independently wealthy, you may want to find ways to save electricity.

Fortunately, you can save money by making small changes. Over time, each step can help. How great would it be to have more money at the end of the month by making a few changes at home?

Read on to learn ways to get smart with how you use power.

Bulbs and Appliances

One simple change you can make to save electricity is to use different light bulbs. If you still use incandescent bulbs, you are burning through power and the costs for replacing them. The bulbs cost less than more energy-efficient options, but you will need many more of them in the long run. Switching to CFL, or even better, LED light bulbs will help you save massive amounts of electricity over time.

Similarly, replacing your appliances with Energy Star models helps save over time. These models are specifically designed and tested to use less energy than other appliances. Any up-front cost difference will be more than covered over the life of your appliances.

Service Your Appliances

Some solutions are even simpler. Over time, appliances lose efficiency. Your refrigerator, washer, dryer, and HVAC system have to work harder to do their jobs. This means wasted electricity–and wasted money.

Check and replace your filters, and get regular service on your appliances. Do so regularly–at least every six months. This helps save electricity, protect the appliances, and extend their lives. In the interim, it keeps your energy bills low. Don\’t wait for things to break down; regular service can help you save electricity today.

Use Power Strips

Most people know they need to power down when they stop using devices. You turn off the lights and your television set. You may even shut down your computer when you leave the room.

All of this is a good start. You may not realize it, though, that many of your electronics keep drawing power when you turn them off. You can go without using some devices for days or weeks, and find an electric bill that gives no hint of savings.

One solution to save electricity is to unplug everything. While it helps you save, though, it can be very inconvenient. Instead, consider using power strips for your electronic devices. When you leave home, you can turn off the strip and cut off all the electricity going through. If power strips aren\’t your thing or they represent a tripping hazard, call us to learn about adding switches to your wall outlets.

Help from the Experts

All of these are easy DIY fixes to help you save electricity for your home. Beyond this, you can work with experts who can make your home even more energy efficient. You may benefit from updating your wiring or installing smart switches. An in-depth look at your home can yield savings from many avenues.

If you invest in smart switches, you can get out of your own way to save money. Motion control lights help you use electricity only for times you benefit from it. Further, faulty wiring or insulation can drive your energy costs way up. These are less obvious sources of savings, but can make a big difference for your wallet.

To get the most energy efficiency from your home, look at all of the ways you can conserve. A reputable electrician will find ways to save electricity throughout your home. In the Phoenix area, contact Turn It On Electric. We will examine your home and help you find ways to save.