If you or someone in your family regularly uses a hairdryer, there’s a good chance that you’ve tripped a breaker at some point. Generally, this happens at the most inconvenient time—probably when you’re getting ready for work or a night out. There are a lot of electrical devices in your house, so why does the little ole’ hairdryer cause so many problems? Part of the problem is the way hairdryers work, but your power outlets and wiring could also be the culprit.

When the Problem is the Hairdryer

Believe it or not, hairdryers actually may  just as much power as a microwave (around 1500 watts). Many breakers are rated for 1800 watts, so they can’t handle the load if you have several other electrical devices—like a vacuum, TV, computer,  or lamp—plugged in along with the hair dryer.

Also, hairdryers run on a motor, and, like most motors, faulty maintenance can cause problems. In the case of hairdryers, they often have screens or filters that get clogged over time, causing the hairdryer to use more power than it would normally, and this extra power usage could  trip the breaker and possibly destroy the hairdryer.

The electrical connections in the devices themselves could also trip the circuit. A faulty cord, or wires making contact within the device can also kill your power.

When the Problem is Something Else

Diagnosing the Problem

24-Hour Emergency Electrical Service

We offer a 24-hour emergency electrical service to address any residential electrical issue. Give us a call anytime if your hairdryer has caused a mysterious short in your power or if you detect any other potentially dangerous electrical issue.

Have you ever dreamed of generating your own electricity, right in your backyard? That dream could become reality with a residential wind turbine. Wind turbines won't work for everybody, but in the right conditions, they can provide part or all of the power you need to run your home electrical work. Read on to learn more about residential wind power and decide whether home generation is right for you.

Where the Turbines Turn

Wind turbines take up more space than solar panels, and they aren't as suitable for as many properties. For starters, wind turbines work best for homeowners who have at least an acre of property. The more open space you have between buildings and trees, the better. Additionally, they are usually a better option for people who live in rural areas and don't have stringent homeowners associations or local code issues to navigate.

Small, residential wind turbines can range anywhere from 30 to 140 feet tall, with the average being around 80 feet, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Generators usually have a capacity of between 2 and 10 kilowatts, depending on how much power the home needs and what the wind conditions are in the area. Turbines aren't cheap – costs can come in between $10,000 and $70,000 – but there are federal tax credits that help soften the blow, and you can usually recoup your investment in 6 to 30 years, depending on the specifics of your system.

The Power of Wind and Solar Combined

If you want to build in a layer of redundancy in your home power generation, you can combine a wind turbine with solar energy panels on your roof so you can create power in a larger variety of weather conditions. With a powerful storage battery, you'll be well on your way to eliminating electricity bills from your life.

For wind enthusiasts who are still on the grid, you can usually sell excess power that you generate back to your utility company, similar to how the process works for solar energy, helping to drive your electricity bills even lower. A solid turbine should last for at least 20 years, and hopefully much longer, although they do require yearly inspections to keep them running in peak condition.

The U.S. Government Has Your Back

The Department of Energy publishes a consumer guide for small wind electric systems packed full of even more information. If you are interested in learning more about home wind turbines, or need other electrical work performed, call up a trusted electrician today.

This week’s Product Spotlight has fallen on Valentine’s Day, and that couldn’t be more apt, since our

If you’re looking for a way to add a little dazzle back into your landscape, halogen landscape lights might be just what you need. Imagine being able to stroll with your sweetie down softly lit pathways on warm nights under the stars, or showing off your prized garden to friends and family, even after the sun goes down.

You can use halogen landscape lights to enhance walkways and flowerbeds or the areas around your decks and patios. These lights can also accent plants or architectural features, adding beautiful points of light around the outside of your home or business.

Find Your Perfect Style Match

Each of our halogen landscape lights is made of elegant black powder coated metal, and comes with a mounting spike and halogen light bulb.

You can choose from 3 different shapes:

1. Seashell

3. Cone

An electrical emergency can cover a number of different situations. If the emergency is someone suffering from a severe electrical shock, you need to call 9-1-1 immediately for an ambulance. In this post we will deal with other types of electrical emergencies you may encounter in your home, such as sparking and power outages.

One piece of advice should stand atop everything else: call for the assistance of professional electricians when it comes to emergency repairs. You should never tamper with an electrical system on your own in an attempt to fix a problem, no matter how urgent it seems. The danger of electrocution or fire is high, and you cannot take the risk.

Electrical fires are one of the more common ways that house fires start. If exposed wires, an electrical short, or a malfunctioning appliance triggers a fire, do not throw water on the flames. If an appliance is on fire, disconnect it from its power source if possible or shut down the power. Use a fire extinguisher if you have one. (If you don’t currently have an extinguisher in the house, put it on your immediate “to-do” list.) Call 9-1-1 if the fire continues. You will need to call electricians after the immediate danger is over to track down the cause of the fire and discover what repairs and new installations are necessary to prevent it from reoccurring.

A power outage may come from the municipal grid, or it may be the result of issues with the electrical system in your home. If only your home is experiencing a black out, first check the circuit breaker panel to see if any tripped breakers are at fault. Then call for licensed electricians to look into the possible causes.

A power surge from a lightning strike or downed power line can cause damage to appliances, take out the power, or trigger an electrical fire. If this occurs in your home, you should consider contracting professional electricians to install a whole-house surge protector in the electrical panel so you will have few worries in the future.

Always remember, call emergency services first in the case of imminent danger such as fires or electricity. Once the immediate threat has ended, look to licensed electricians for repairs and other services that will prevent further problems and keep your home safe.