Tag Archives: Bucks County

Only Have One Roast This Fall – Protect Your Electrical System

As fall approaches, so does the beauty of the fall and winter weather, including heavy rains, wind, snow, ice and more. It’s never easy for your electrical system, since it has so many responsibilities as the weather gets colder and the nights get longer. Winter is coming, and the only roasts you want to count on having should be during the holidays. Instead of roasting your electrical system too, how about following some tips:

Produce Some Comfort with a Generator – They’re not meant for forever, and they aren’t meant to take you “off the grid” like a homesteader, but generators are helpful and can be a lifesaver in the winter. If you’re faced with a catastrophic winter power outage, a generator, which is usually powered by gasoline, can run a heater until the electricity turns back on. Enough backup fuel and a strong generator will not only keep you warm in the winter when you need it, but you can also use it to preserve refrigeration and even charge some mobile devices, if it’s absolutely necessary.

Remember: It’s not going to be possible to power everything in your house efficiently off of a generator unless you spend a substantial amount on a large genset. Determine what parts of your home are absolutely essential and then only hook up your generator’s power to these systems through a transfer switch. If you need to free up an outlet to use for specific needs, that can work as well.

Maintain Your Heating and Cooling – Nothing puts quite as much strain on your electrical system as your heating and cooling appliances. Every little bit counts and you should preserve your heating and cooling for as long as possible. The first thing you should do is make sure all of the connections to your system are in good condition and that your thermostat is functioning properly, because if not, it could trigger the system turning on and off when it shouldn’t, or it could potentially output more energy than it has to.

Check Your Property’s Exterior for Weak Points – There are many places where a property can be vulnerable to air leaks. Windows are the place everyone points, however, siding and foundations can pry open over time and leave small areas for air to leak in. Also, don’t forget to check your gutters. Clogged gutters will fill up with ice over the winter and the accumulation of ice building up can cause some serious problems with your roofing and infrastructure.

Check Batteries for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Power just might go down when you least expect it. Who knows exactly what will go wrong during a severe fall or winter weather event? Keep the batteries in these vital instruments fresh so that they’re going strong even when the power goes out. Do you need more advice or some guidance on fixing your problems?  We’re certified electrical contractors in Philadelphia as well as inspectors and will hear you out. Call us today at 800.401.6114.

Some Electrical System Strains and Threats to Consider This Summer

Summer is here with a vengeance, complete with sunshine, pollen and children running freely in the streets. To some, it symbolizes freedom and to others it’s nothing but the hot part of the year. For electrical systems, the summer means more risks and more reasons for routine maintenance, troubleshooting and double checking things around the house. In this section, we want to give you some guidance on what to look out for concerning strains on your electrical systems, as well as threats towards and against electrical systems. Continue reading →

Read This before Completing Your Electrical Project

Whether you’re a professional or a DIY junkie, it’s important to be fully educated on the task you’re going to be performing. There are many reasons for this. One, it’s the safe choice—you don’t want to take any risks around high voltage, because it’s fast and merciless. One slip up and you’re in shock city, and it’s not a fun place to visit.

Before you do any work anywhere in Pennsylvania, it’s required that you check with your local township or city officials to make sure that the task doesn’t require an electrician’s license. Many DIY “experts” will scoff at this and say that it will just result in them having to pay for an electrician. But, is that really a bad thing? As electricians, we’ve seen what can happen when things go wrong, and that’s why we offer our services: basically, it’s to keep people from electrocuting themselves.

Don’t Try to DIY, Hire A-1 Electric!!

Once you’ve decided to play it safe and smart, keep the following tips in mind.

Pennsylvania doesn’t offer “state licenses,” so if you hear an electrician say that they do, run away fast and don’t look back. Nearby New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware provide state licenses, but Pennsylvania doesn’t; mainly because those states are significantly smaller than Pennsylvania. These licenses require quite a bit of experience and training; for some people it’s a wake-up call to just how seriously complex electrical work is.

When you do bring an electrical contractor in, make sure you get everything in writing. Electricians are not allowed (at least in the state of Pennsylvania) to start any work without a contract and agreement, period. If you encounter an electrician, whether they’re building your home or fixing your air conditioner, and they don’t need some kind of contract or agreement to continue, you may want to question just how knowledgeable and qualified they are. These kinds of problems won’t ever occur at A-1 Electric—we guarantee it.

It’s okay to want your electrician to do extra work for you. Once you’ve gotten the ball rolling on a huge project, it’s easy to see things that you overlooked in the past while creating the design, and then want modifications on the spot. Unfortunately, electrical work is extremely intricate and requires a lot of planning. Good electricians should express that to their customers but aim to modify the agreement to accommodate the extra changes that the customer wants. In the world of electrical work, it’s a must to stick to the agreement and contract.

Electricians who don’t pay close attention to their agreements are setting themselves up for disaster. Always choose an electrician that treats your contract like the law, because it is. Put yourself in an electrician’s shoes; you just did some work that wasn’t on the contract, and something goes wrong—you’re now liable for acting outside of your contract, which is bad. You don’t want to ask for more than your contract outlines, true, but you also don’t want to accept less, either. That’s why you should only hire the most qualified electricians throughout Philadelphia.

Understand Conflict of Interest!

The last thing we want to touch on is conflict of interest. We’ve heard of it in politics, but what about in the world of electrical work? We’ll explain; in the state of Pennsylvania, and many other states, your electrical contractor absolutely cannot be the same person that does your electrical inspection. If you have a trusted contractor, someone who you know has your best interests in mind, and you want them to perform one or the other, make sure to set them aside for that, because they won’t be able to do both.

At A-1 Electric, we’re perfectly capable of performing both tasks, but legally we are bound to only perform one for each of our clientele. However, we could point you towards a third party inspector that we trust. Make sure you get the contracting and inspection services you need.

We hope this helped some people think before they went off to work on their own electrical project. Unless it’s seriously minor, you probably shouldn’t. If you’re not sure, call your local town or city municipal building and ask about the proper steps to take. If you’re still not sure, you can contact us at A-1 Electric – we definitely have an answer for you. Reach us today by phone throughout Pennsylvania at 800.401.6114.

The Hidden Truths about Surge Protectors

Some consider power surges to be the hidden denizens of the early spring and summer. Thunderstorms and heavy winds are loathed for the damage they inflict on electrical systems and infrastructure, which is caused by the lightning they can produce and its incredible bursts of electrical energy. When lightning produces these bursts of unnecessary energy and they enter an electrical system, or a faulty transformer or break in the system creates an influx of energy, a power surge will occur. Fortunately, when it does, surge protectors are there to keep your appliances and systems from blowing up. That is, as long as you remembered to buy an actual surge protector, and not an unprotected power strip.

However, there are some hidden truths about surge protectors that people don’t realize, or aren’t effectively educated about. That’s why we’re here, to protect, maintain and sometimes inspect your system when you need it, and to keep you educated wherever and whenever necessary.

Joule Ratings — Surge Protectors Have a Maximum Capacity for Surge Absorption

Surge protectors use a device known as a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV). This component absorbs extra electrical energy in order to keep it from going into your appliances, electrical system or equipment. It does this by using “clamps” to displace excess energy and keep voltage at safe levels. The maximum electrical absorption capacity of a MOV is measured in Joules, a measurement unit used to quantify energy. This number is known as the “Joule Rating.”

Each surge protector will have a specific Joule Rating, the most frequent being around 500-1000. Unfortunately, it’s very tough to tell how much capacity is left in a surge protector’s MOV, which is why we suggest purchasing surge protectors with indicator lights on them that will inform you when the MOV is losing its juice. When a surge protector’s Joule Rating has been expended, it’s little more than an extra unprotected outlet, so be careful.

Clamp Ratings — Different Surge Protectors Use Different “Clamps”

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) typically inspects and rates different electrical equipment, tools, elements and appliances to provide standards of quality and expectations in the electrical engineering, contracting and inspection industries. Power surges are no exception—UL rates the “clamping voltage” of surge protectors—the voltage that they even-out to after protecting a system from a surge. The lowest UL rating possible for surge protector clamps is 330 volts, and most household surge protector clamps are rated at 500 volts. When you’re comparing surge protectors, make sure the clamps are rated at 500 volts to give your appliances and expensive computing equipment the protection they need.

Protective Warranties – Some Surge Protectors Have Them

At A-1 Electric we frequently see systems that have experienced distress or damage because of a power surge. We believe it’s important for you to know that many higher quality surge protectors have insurance and warranty protection for any piece of equipment damaged while hooked into them. Some surge protectors offer reimbursement up to $300,000 on equipment that was damaged during a power surge as a testament to the effectiveness and reliability of their products.

When it comes to protecting expensive computing equipment and other appliances, spending a few hundred dollars on a great surge protector will prove to pay for itself in the end—especially in our areas of Philadelphia and Bucks County, PA. We notoriously have strong winds, lightning storms and, of course, damage to power lines, whether it’s from car accidents, falling tree branches or any other unfortunate thing that can befall a power line or power plant.

4 Tips for Buying Surge Protectors

1) Look for surge protectors with documented protection for hot, neutral and ground lines—ask an expert from A-1 Electric about the difference between them.

2) Many surge protectors have protection features for Cable Lines, Phone Lines and Digital Satellite Lines. Protect your TVs, phones and cable equipment or you may regret it later.

3) As we said earlier, try to purchase surge protectors with indicator lights, even if they’re a little more expensive—it pays to know when a surge protector is no longer doing its job.

4) Always get more outlets than you need—you’ll probably get new things in the future, and if not, it’s still good to have some extra space available.

A-1 Electric Recommends Surge Protectors

Be safe with your surge protectors – buy the right voltage rating for what you’ll be using it for, and if necessary do some research. Never use surge protectors in humid or wet areas. Always uncoil cords, keep them away from obstructions, and keep children and pets away from them. Never use a surge protector on an aquarium and never plug a surge protector into an extension cord.

We don’t like seeing any system damaged from power surges or power spikes. Power surges and spikes can go through any type of wire or system. Surge protectors are your shields against excess power coming in and frying your appliances, computers and other sensitive equipment. Small surges can cause gradual degradation of circuits and elements within machinery and devices over time. Surge protectors are an extremely sound investment and will protect against power spikes – the scourge of the seasons. To learn more about finding quality surge protectors, or the other ways we can help bolster and protect your system, contact A-1 Electric today at 800.401.6114.