power outtage – Turn It On Electric

Residential

The Essential Defense: Why Surge Protectors Matter for Your Home

6Oct2023

Electricity is the silent partner in our homes, working behind the scenes to energize our appliances and keep our lives running smoothly. But when an unexpected power surge occurs, that quiet ally can become a formidable foe, causing significant damage to our electrical devices. One solution rises above the rest: a surge protector. At Turn It On Electric, we’re here to unpack the benefits of this unsung hero of home safety.

Unpacking Power Surges

Imagine an abrupt, intense wave of electrical energy jolting through your home’s circuits – that’s a power surge. They can stem from various causes, such as lightning, disruptions in the power grid, or high-energy devices cycling on and off in your home. Though small surges may go unnoticed, the intense ones can result in considerable damage to your electronics, or in extreme cases, even lead to electrical fires.

The Shield of Surge Protectors

Surge protectors are the guardians of your electrical devices, warding off potential power surges. They work by channeling any extra voltage safely into the ground, allowing only the necessary electricity to reach your devices. By doing so, they protect your appliances, potentially extending their lifespan and saving you from costly replacements.

Embracing Whole-Home Surge Protection

You might be familiar with the portable surge protectors that connect to wall outlets, offering defense for specific appliances. However, there’s an even more robust solution – whole-home surge protectors. These are installed directly into your home’s electrical service panel and provide protection to all your home’s electrical systems. This includes hardwired appliances, like HVAC systems, which can’t be safeguarded by portable models.

The Impacts: Beyond Protection

When you invest in a whole-home surge protector, you are investing in more than just the safety of your electronics. Let’s delve into the broader implications:

All-around Security: Whole-home surge protectors provide an umbrella of safety, safeguarding all your electronic devices – from your refrigerator to your laptop.

Economic Advantage: By preventing potential damage to your appliances, you dodge costly repair or replacement charges. It’s an investment today that prevents expenses tomorrow.

Assurance in Every Spark: The certainty that your home is defended against damaging power surges offers comfort and peace of mind.

The Turn It On Electric Promise

By partnering with Turn It On Electric, you’re not just choosing safety, you’re choosing a secure future. Get ahead of the game by scheduling an appointment with our seasoned technicians today. We’re committed to fortifying your home against the potential pitfalls of power surges. Remember, if it’s not right, we’re not done.

Residential

Powering Through: Steps to Take When Part of Your Home Loses Electricity

22Sep2023

Unexpected power loss in parts of your home can be alarming and inconvenient. It’s a situation that requires swift attention and understanding to restore your home to full functionality. At Turn It On Electric, we are committed to guiding you through these confusing moments. Here are key steps to follow when you find yourself in the dark:

Step 1: Check Your Breakers

Your circuit breakers are your first line of investigation. A tripped breaker could be the reason why only part of your home has lost power. To identify a tripped breaker, look for the switch that isn’t aligned with the others. If you find one, flip it fully off and then back on to restore power. Remember to always use caution when handling your electrical panel.

Step 2: Determine the Extent

Try to figure out which areas of your home are without power. Is it a single room, a specific area, or a collection of outlets? This will help diagnose the issue and can provide useful information if you need to call a professional.

Step 3: Assess Your Appliances

Check the devices and appliances in the affected areas. Are they working correctly, or do they seem to be causing the power outage? Sometimes, a faulty device can overload a circuit, causing the breaker to trip.

Step 4: Call for Backup

If the above steps don’t restore power, it’s time to call in the professionals. Persistent issues could indicate a more severe problem with your home’s electrical wiring or circuit breakers. Don’t attempt to fix these issues yourself, as it can be dangerous.

Time for Turn It On Electric

When your home is suffering from power loss, Turn It On Electric is ready to illuminate the situation. Our expert team is here to assess, troubleshoot, and resolve your electrical issues. We prioritize on-site inspections, believing in the importance of tailored, face-to-face service.

At Turn It On Electric, we bring light into the darkness, offering a guiding hand in your time of need. Don’t let power loss keep you in the shadows – CONTACT US TODAY, and let’s work together to power your home back to normal. We’re committed to your safety and satisfaction because at the end of the day, it’s not just about doing the job, it’s about doing it right.

Residential

Can Heat Cause the Power to Go Out?

31Jul2023

There are several reasons why a home or community may have a power outage. Summertime power demand is higher in Arizona, and that’s one reason why heat can cause the power to go out. In the Phoenix area, 99% of the power is generated from six sources:

Natural gas
Nuclear power
Coal
Solar
Hydroelectric
Wind

…and Arizona’s Palo Verde nuclear station is the largest net generator of electricity. Still, that’s a limited number of sources powering over a million homes in Greater Phoenix. Power lines deliver energy, but they’re just that: lines; wires. Heat adds to their stress.

Some of the reasons why heat causes the power to go out are:

Electrical power lines become overloaded. Heavier usage from higher temperatures can cause the power lines themselves to heat up and then expand or sag. If they droop into trees or other obstacles, it trips the circuit.
Heat lightning strikes can cause a power outage. But “heat lightning” isn’t caused by heat. It’s lightning that occurs about 100 miles away. You can see the lightning but don’t hear thunder because it’s so far. “Heat lightning” is safe (and for many, fun) to watch, but when you hear thunder, get indoors.
Sustained demand over longer periods of time may not permit transformers to properly cool. They can overheat and damage other equipment.
Electrical equipment overloads occur when temperatures soar because more people stay indoors.
Underground lines expand because of the heat. The insulation becomes stressed and trips circuitry, causing a power outage.

Based on the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) 2023 summer forecast, Arizona may see higher-than-usual temperatures causing grid fails and blackouts this summer. In fact, two-thirds of the USA are at elevated risk of blackouts due to widespread heat events and the resulting increase in peak demand.

Ways to Manage Power Outages

Power outage preparedness can include having extra bottled water on-hand as well as a hand-operated can opener and emergency supplies. A power outage in South-Central Arizona is inconvenient and can be uncomfortable. But if you have infants, elderly, or health-challenged loved ones, a power outage can be dangerous.

If someone in your home depends on electric-powered, life-sustaining equipment or if the heat itself is life-threatening, don’t delay seeking a safer, more comfortable place. (Now would be a good time to invest in a whole-house emergency backup generator for emergency protection.)

Here are some tips to help with other power outage concerns:

Electronics – To reduce the risk of data loss, back up your files. During storms and power outages, unplug electronics. You can install individual surge protector power strips but consider whole-house surge protection.
Food – A full refrigerator and freezer can safely store food longer than if half-empty. An unopened, full freezer can preserve provisions for as long as 2 days, but if it’s half-full, only one day. An unopened fridge can go about 4 hours without power.
Indoors – Don’t let the outside in. Open and shut doors quickly and keep windows closed. Block sunlight by shutting curtains and lowering blinds.
Personal comfort – Use cold tap water for a shower or bath, then air dry yourself and your hair.

Another way to reduce the risks of power outages is to do your part in reducing energy consumption. Avoid preheating your oven when cooking by simply adding a few minutes to your baking time. And this summer, consider adjusting your thermostat up a few notches during the day. You can save almost 3% by raising the thermostat one degree.

You can also reduce energy consumption by lowering your water heater temperature. Each 10-degree reduction can save 3%-5% in water-heating energy costs.

Contact TIO Electric of Greater Phoenix

Safety should be without compromise. If you have questions about power outages and how backup generators can keep your home and family safe and comfortable, contact Turn It On Electric.

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.

Commercial, Electrical Wiring, Electrician, Residential, Safety

4 Common Electrical Emergencies

22Mar2022

Life in the United States is better than most people realize. For example, we’ve never suffered a (global) record-breaking electrical emergency. Electrical emergencies have affected hundreds of millions of people in several countries, but our worst was for two weeks in August 2003.

The Northeast Blackout of 2003 affected 50 million people in Canada and the U.S. The Texas 2021 power crisis may have caused between 246-702 deaths.

Electrical Emergencies and What To Do

1. Electrical Fires

Sixty-five percent of deaths due to electrical fires in homes are caused by having nonworking or no smoke detectors. Electrical fires can be caused by:

Arcing faults
Electrical distribution systems
Electrical receptacles

You can prevent or at least minimize the risks of electrical fires:

Create a family evacuation plan and practice it.
Get a professional home electrical inspection and follow recommendations for improved safety. Ask if AFCI protection is needed.
Heed warning signs of electrical problems:
- Dim/flickering lights
- Repeated circuit breaker tripping
- Sizzling sounds
If a light fixture recommends a particular wattage, adhere to that recommendation.
Install and regularly inspect your home’s smoke detectors.
Never use extension cords as an electrical solution (and don’t use them at all with air conditioners or heaters).
Stop overloading outlets. Ask your local electrician about installing additional circuits or outlets.

2. Electrical Shocks

If someone in your home has been electrocuted, turn off the power supply immediately and call 911. After the power supply has been disconnected, unplug appliances that were part of the electrocution.

If the person is still holding the live wire, you can try to knock the wire away with a non-metal object (baseball bat, broom, etc.)
Otherwise, don’t touch the person that was shocked/electrocuted. Stay calm and distanced.

3. Fallen Power Lines

Fallen power lines in your area can cause electrical emergencies. If you’re near one:

Contact your local energy provider immediately.
Don’t touch anything the line is touching, including trees.
Stay 40´ away from the downed power line.

4. Power Outages

Power outages are probably the most common electrical emergencies in the U.S. The leading cause of power outages is bad weather. Storms that include high winds, ice, and snow have caused widespread power outages.

Other reasons your community or neighborhood may lose power include:

Animals – Rodents, snakes, squirrels, and small animals can cause short circuits.
Demand – As homes get smarter and electronics get larger (see: EVs), we’ll see more high-demand power outages. Extreme heatwaves cold spells lead to higher power demand. Overworked electric cables, transformers, and other electrical components fail.
Earthquakes – We get minor ’quakes every 5 years or so. The 1887 Sonora Earthquake was our worst. At that time, it is assumed no homes in rural Arizona had electricity. (The Phoenix Light and Fuel Company was formed in 1884.)
Excavations – Some say the “Call 811” campaign was a failure but it educated everyone to “call before you dig.” Even professional excavators sometimes hit underground electrical cables.
Lightning – This happens more often than we realize. Over $825 million was paid on more than 100,000 lightning claims in 2016.
Trees – High winds and untrained tree-trimmers can cause tree limbs to connect with power lines and cause interruptions.
Vehicles – Car crashes into utility poles are another source of area-wide power outages.

When the power shuts off in your home, first check the circuit breaker. Then check with your neighbors and contact your local power supply company. Some homeowners unplug major appliances and computers and even the main power source at the circuit breaker. When power is restored, turn everything back on.

Turn It On Electric is the 24-hour electrician in the Valley. If you have a home or office electrical emergency that is not power-company related, we’re here for you. Contact TIO Electric.

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!