It is irritating when circuit breakers trip or fuses blow. When we experience a loss of power to a section of the home we know we have probably “popped” a breaker or blown a fuse. Most of the time we can just reset the breaker or replace the fuse and everything is OK. That being said, it is really important to understand that these symptoms may be a safety concern and it is time to call in a professional electrician to check it out. You may need a panel replacement or upgrade. Knowing when to get this looked at is critical to maintaining the safety of your home.

Here are some signs that you need to have this looked at:

 1) If you have to reset your breakers frequently. If this is occurring, then something is overloading your circuits or a short circuit is occurring, or you have a grounding problem.

2) Loose connections in your outlets may cause your breakers to trip or your fuses to blow. Sometimes a loose wire will cause this.  If this is the case you may notice sparking when you plug something into that outlet. If this happens, the outlet needs to be removed and a new one needs to be installed. By the way, if you have one outlet with a loose connection, you probably have more. Be sure to check all your outlets if you have problems with one.

3) If you can smell anything that is burned. Go towards the source of this smell and put your nose near any exposed outlets and make sure this burning smell is not coming from the outlets.

 If you have any of these problems contact an electrician to make sure that appropriate repairs are made. Remember your circuit breakers and fuses are your last line of defense against electrical fires. Making sure that these are maintained helps ensure the safety of your home.

Santa has some extra time this year

Yeah, the economic downturn has impacted Santa too. Although Christmas cheer is up, the quantity of presents is down. So, Santa ended up with a little extra time on his hands. He knows that he needs to generate some cash to cover the hay for the reindeer and heat to keep his elves warm. Solid Ground Electric is helping out and using Santa as a temporary seasonal worker to make their service calls through the first of the year.

Santa is ready to help you update, install, or add most anything electrical for the holidays. Santa can also help keep your family safe during the holidays in some of the following ways:

1. Doing a Y.E.S. Plan inspection: Solid Ground Electric offers membership in a yearly electrical safety plan. Santa can carefully examines 21 points of safety in the home. While he is there he will change out the batteries in hard-wired smoke alarms, check your electrical panel, and tighten your electrical connections in the breaker panel. He will also check accessible GFCI receptacles.

2. Putting in Tamper-Resistant receptacles – National Electrical Code requires that all new installation of power receptacles in homes be tamper-resistant style receptacles. Santa can add these while he is out.

3. Upgrading Electrical Service Panels – If a home is over 30 years old, the electrical service panel should be examined by SGE and possibly be replaced. Over the years excessive loading can deteriorate breakers so that they cannot properly function.

4. Motion Sensor Lighting – Santa can keep Grinch away from your gifts by installing motion sensitive lighting.

Santa and Solid Ground Electric wish you and your family Happy Holidays. If you would like Santa to come and help out, schedule an appointment by calling 541-929-4020 and ask for “Big Kris”.