A common concern for those involved in home renovations or purchasing a new home is, “What is the state of the electrical system in the walls”. Some homes may not have had construction or renovations done since the original – this means the original wiring is still in place. Having original wiring in place can be concerning, especially if it is aluminum wiring. This type of wiring is commonly found in older homes and can be very dangerous. Read on to find out what you need to know about aluminum wiring and the dangers associated with it.

In the 1950’s to 1970’s, many homes were being outfitted with aluminum wiring. The reason for this was because the prices of copper (material normally used for electrical wires) had increased and the use of aluminum would undercut the high costs. Aluminum is also much more conductive than copper and was used in larger industrial/commercial electrical lines like power grids and airplanes.

Despite the reduced cost and increased conductivity, aluminum wiring has many potential issues. Aluminum wiring is much softer than standard copper wiring. This means that it is vulnerable to being broken, cut, and damaged which can leave live electrical wires exposed. Another issue is that when aluminum rusts, it is not as conductive as copper. Copper that rusts can remain conductive and continue its flow of power. However with aluminum wiring, rust in wiring will impede the flow of electricity and can cause a number of other issues. Aluminum also expands and contracts when it becomes hot. This constant flux in size will result in the wires loosening themselves and connections become loose. For all of the above listed reasons, aluminum is prone to overheating and electrical fires.

If you are unsure if there is aluminum wiring in your home, we have listed a number of warning signs that can indicate a hidden problem

As you lay in bed at night, with the doors locked, the alarm set and your security lights on, you probably feel relatively safe. You should. These are all things we do to give us a little extra protection when we are at home. Even with all of these safeguards, there are other dangers lurking. These dangers are not so obvious and are very well hidden behind the walls of the home. These electrical hazards sneak up with little warning. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to be safe at home and can help you identify the hazards before they become serious problems. All it takes is about an hour long electrical safety inspection and your due diligence.

An electrical outlet is used and abused pretty often. Every time you plug something in, you are applying pressure to the outlet and the box behind it. When you unplug something, you often have to wiggle it. Although you should never yank a plug out, it does happen. Each of these actions can cause the wires that are bringing electricity to the outlet to loosen. Your California electrician explains that over time, the loose wires can arc and cause sparks. The insulation surrounding the electrical boxes can ignite, causing a home fire.

Fortunately, there are often some signs to look for to let you know that something isn’t quite right with your outlets. Pay attention and at the first sign of trouble, call your electrician in southern California. A quick inspection and a tightening of wires or a replacement of the outlet can fix the problem. An electrical inspection can help you identify other potential hazards and give you the chance to fix them before they become a serious issue. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your inspection so you can sleep even better at night knowing your family is that much safer.

The best Dallas electrician works with everything from large home electrical installations to installations as simple as switches. One popular install for the best Dallas electrician is dimmer switches, which are a favorite in many homes, both for their energy-friendly operation and their style.

Dimmer Switches: Why Install Them in Your Home

Dimmer switches are an inexpensive item that many homeowners love to add to their electrical setup at home for many reasons.

Dimmers save power, decreasing energy usage significantly and resulting in a lower power bill.

They set the mood and a unique ambiance to a home, whether it’s in the kitchen or the bedroom.

They’re easy to install, even for homeowners.

Dimmer Switch Installation Tips

Even an easy installation can turn tricky, which is why you should call your local electrician to ensure that your dimmer switch install is done correctly. Still, if you feel comfortable doing the installation yourself, here are some tips for a smooth and pain-free dimmer switch installation.

Check the wattage limits on switches to prevent overheating and overloading of the circuits. Dimmers can handle anywhere from 600 to, in some cases, 2,000 watts of power. The key is to not run too many lights on the switch and risk overheating or overloading it, which can be dangerous. You will know if there is something wrong with one of those scenarios if, when you touch the dimmer after installing it and running it, it’s hot to the touch. Warm is normal; hot is not. This is one of the reasons why you should consider calling the best Dallas electrician to help oversee your installation.

Make sure that there are no other dimmers connected to the same circuit. Much like having too many appliances in the same circuit can be a danger, too many dimmers can cause overloading that results in dangerous circumstances and costly repairs.

Never use fluorescent bulbs with dimmer switches. Fluorescent bulbs will not work with dimmer switches. If you really want to use fluorescent lights, you can find some for a pretty hefty price that will run on dimmers.

Ordinary dimmer switches cannot run devices that rely on a motor, like ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are set to run at a specific, predetermined wattage and therefore they are not compatible with dimmer switches, which gradually adjust wattage.

Older styles of dimmers can sometimes interfere with audio equipment, creating a humming or whining noise. The best Dallas electrician can quickly recognize this as a sign that the dimmers are too old. To resolve this issue, you must either install a new dimmer or install a noise filter.

ElectricMan: Answering Your Dimmer Switch Questions

With over 27 years of experience with installations great and small, the best Dallas electrician team at ElectricMan can answer all of your dimmer switch questions and install your dimmer switches properly, quickly, and efficiently. To learn more about our services, visit us here or connect with us on any of our social sites. And if you ever have any questions, please feel free to call us at 972-792-7270 or use the Contact form on our website!

Smoke alarms are an important safety measure to protect your family and home from fire. You should have at least one installed on every floor. Unfortunately, a smoke detector beeping intermittently is a major irritant, disturbing your sleep and alarming your children and pets.

However, you should never permanently disconnect a smoke alarm to stop it from beeping. Instead, figure out the cause behind a beeping smoke detector and work to solve the problem. We can help!

If you just cleaned your fire alarm and replaced the battery yet the intermittent beeping continues, this could be a sign it’s time for a smoke detector replacement. These devices typically only last 8 to 10 years. If you’re not sure how old your smoke detector is, remove it from the wall or ceiling and check the manufacturing date on the reverse side to see if old age could be the cause of the malfunction.