How old is your home? Has your electrical system been updated within the last 5 – 10 years? If you haven’t asked these questions recently, it’s probably time to examine your options! Older homes with older electrical systems aren’t typically able to handle the stress of modern electrical appliances. So what can you do to make sure your home can safely run all of your appliances and electronics? Typically, a heavy up can be the answer to your problems. But should you install one? Let the experts at Kolb Electric answer!

A heavy up is an increase in the amperage (power) of your main electrical service. But how can you know if your home is in need of an increase of amperage? There are some things you can check to make sure you’re in need:

Depending on your specific goals, you have a range of upgrades available when thinking about a heavy up. Some service upgrades are as simple as adding a few additional circuit breakers to the existing box, or expanding the box with a subpanel. More complex upgrades may include things like replacing a fuse box or an aging panel with one that allows for higher energy capacity. A Kolb Electrician can evaluate the condition of your current panel with any problems you are experiencing to determine how extensive your upgrades will be.

The time depends on the job. Adding additional breakers to an existing panel is usually pretty quick, often taking less than an hour. Installing a subpanel is not too complicated either, often taking no more than a few hours.

Where it starts to take a long time is when you need to make serious upgrades. If you need to replace a fuse box or circuit main, you could be looking at a job that takes all day.

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are common in many homes today. In fact, new homes are required to use GFCIs in certain areas like bathrooms, kitchens, garages, outdoor areas, and unfinished basements. This is because GFCIs provide a level of protection from electrical shock from things like water, which can cause serious injury or even death.

However, GFCIs do need to be reset from time to time. They are designed to shut off if they detect current flowing through an unintended path. If this happens, the GFCI will interrupt the electrical current, which will depower any devices plugged into it and possibly cause power outages at other outlets on the same circuit.

When this happens, many homeowners call us for GFCI resetting help. But you may be able to fix the issue yourself. Here is what you can try before calling the GFCI experts in Arvada.

Tips to Reset a GFCI

A GFCI can be reset without any technical know-how. There are two rectangular buttons on the face of a GFCI, which are usually One is the “TEST” button, and the other is the “RESET” button. Some GFCIs also have an LED light that may illuminate when the GFCI  trips . When the TEST button is pressed, the RESET button will pop out if it isn’t already. To reset the GFCI, simply push and hold the RESET button until it latches.

GFCI Experts in Arvada

If the GFCI will not reset using the above procedure, you’ll want to call an electrician. There could be a problem with the outlet itself or the wiring in the circuit. There could also be an issue at the breaker box or somewhere else along the line. When working correctly, your GFCIs should be reset without much issue, so, if they aren’t, there may be something else causing the problem.

Many of us know as the years go on families grow in number and size. Unfortunately, our homes don’t expand to make room for us all. To get that extra square footage or an extra room, a home addition is ideal. But it is important to remember that the additional room needs to be connected to the house perfectly in every way. There are many points to remember with home additions and its important that they are done right or you may need to end up redoing the room you just completed.

Whether you are looking at a kitchen expansion, a new bathroom, or a room addition, there are many things to keep in mind before you put the drywall on. The new space will new lighting, switches, outlets, and even temperature controls. Depending on the size of the space these items can require a significant amount of electricity. Adding this extra load to an existing circuit can bring that circuit over the limit. If this happens you are prone to power surges, electrical outages, and even fires. Depending on the size of your room you may need a new circuit in order to properly handle the new electrical load. This means doing an addition to your electrical panel. If not implemented properly, additions to the service panel can be messy and dangerous. Because the main service panel is the heart of your home’s electrical system you want it to be in the best shape it can be.

After reading this it can seem like a home addition is a larger undertaking than you previously imagined. That is why it is important to get professional help. There can be many code violations and hazards in your new home addition and you don’t want to close them up until you are sure you are safe. An expert electrician knows what to look for and what should be done to make everything right. And when it comes to electrical panel upgrades a professional can make sure that the panel does not become a dangerous container of wires.

If you are performing a home addition or room expansion, make sure that you are keeping your home safe and up to code. The last thing you want is to expand your home and lose most of it to an electrical fire. With an expert electrician you have peace of mind knowing that everything behind the walls is done correctly.