Q: Why choose a licensed electrician?
A: If you’re considering calling the neighborhood handyman or your jack-of-all trades uncle for some electrical work … STOP! It’s extremely important that you choose a licensed and insured electrician when it comes to your electrical safety. The reasons are simple:
- ONLY licensed electricians are knowledgeable of the many code and regulation updates that apply to all the wiring in your house.
- ONLY licensed electricians are bonded and insured to guarantee that any electrical fault resulting in an insurance claim will be covered by an insurer.
- ONLY licensed electricians are required to complete continuing education courses to ensure that they are trained in best practices for safety and efficiency.
Before receiving a journeyman’s license, all of Clements Electric employees complete five years of classroom education and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
Q: How often should my home electrical system be inspected?
A: Every 10 years or prior to change of ownership. We recommend that properties are inspected at the same time as a building surveyor carries out the building survey.
Q: What is a service upgrade and how long does it take?
A: A service upgrade is the replacement of your existing electrical service (outside wiring, meter box, circuit breakers, and electrical panel) to increase your ability to add new circuits and bring your home up to the current National Electrical Codes. This process can usually be accomplished in 6 to 8 hours. Clements Electric specializes in service upgrades and has completed hundreds for satisfied customers. Call us today for a free estimate to upgrade your service: 989.892.4780.
Q: What should I do if I lose power?
A: If the lights are out in your neighborhood, alert your power company and use safe methods of lighting such as a flashlight while your utility company corrects the problem. Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible to prevent food from spoiling in the event of a prolonged outage. If your home is the only one on your block without power, call Clements Electric: 989.892.4780! We’ll send out one of our electricians to diagnose and repair your problem as safely and quickly as possible.
Q: How can I lower my electric bill?
A: When it comes to saving money, taking small steps can go a long way toward lowering utility bills. Turn off any televisions or electrical devices when not in use. Additionally, your heating and cooling system and water heater account for the bulk of your electrical expenditures. Therefore, making sure your furnace, central air conditioning unit, and water heater are in good working condition. Contact Clements Electric for an energy use analysis or to diagnose possible high energy bill problems.
SAFETY
Q: How can I prevent electrical fires?
A: Preventing an electrical fire should be a concern for all homeowners. Upgrading your electrical equipment or having a licensed electrician inspect your home can help identify and locate potentially hazardous or faulty electrical equipment to prevent an electrical fire. Using surge protectors in areas where there is not enough outlets can also provide some protection against electrical fires.
Q: My GFI receptacle keeps tripping while using my pool / spa. Can I change it out with a standard receptacle?
A: Absolutely not. GFI protection is required by the National Electrical Code for all pool and spa applications. If your GFI is tripping it usually indicates an issue in the system such a faulty pool pump or heating element. Please call a licensed electrician to have the issue determined and fixed properly: 989.892.4780.
Q: Is aluminum wiring dangerous?
A: Aluminum wiring was installed in homes from the mid-sixties through the early seventies. It was originally done to save money as copper was becoming too expensive. Eventually it was discovered that aluminum wiring generates excessive heat where it terminates (connects to a switch or receptacle), making unsafe conditions. Clements Electric will come assess your home’s wiring then provide a quote to rewire your homes circuiting.
Q: Can plumbers or kitchen/bathroom fitters sign off electrical work?
A: Maybe. They may have the requisite licensing, but we would strongly recommend that a full-time, practicing electrician performs any electrical project. At the end of the day, the bathroom or kitchen fitter wants to finish the job and move on. He may have little concern for the long-term safety aspects of the installation, and is unlikely to be up to speed with the often changing codes and regulations. Clements Electric can complete any electrical project from simply changing a light bulb to rewiring an entire home.
OLDER HOMES
Q: I have a Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or fuse box in my house. What should I do?
A: Circuit breakers, which replaced fuses years ago, are designed to be the weakest link in the circuit. If a problem like a short circuit or current overload occurs, the circuit breaker “trips” open. Once the fault is corrected, the breaker is closed and the circuit is safe again. Zinsco and Federal Pacific breakers don’t always open properly or don’t connect to the bus bar correctly. Gambling with the safety of your home and family is not a risk worth taking. If your home is equipped with a Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or fuse box, please call Clements Electric and we can give you a free estimate to upgrade: 989.892.4780.
Q: What is knob and tube wiring, and is it safe to have in my house?
A: Knob and tube wiring is an antiquated wiring system that consists of cloth covered wire with soldered joints. The main reason knob and tube wiring is dangerous is that it is mostly aluminum wiring. As technology advances appliances located in homes are drawing more power. This causes the aluminum in the knob and tube to heat up and break down over time. The cloth protectant on the outside of the wiring deteriorates over time. As the cloth protectant falls away from the wiring, aluminum is exposed. If the aluminum gets hot it can start a fire in the wood framing of homes or in attic insulation.
Q: Why is it that when I start up my microwave and run any other device simultaneously, I trip the circuit breaker?
A: The microwaves we use today are rated at about 1500 watts which means they are using about 13 amps of current. The breakers in your house are rated at 15 or 20 amps. When you plug in that vacuum cleaner, toaster, or hair dryer it is too much load and the breaker trips. We recommend putting the microwave on a dedicated circuit. Call Clements Electric and we will assess your electrical circuiting problems and come up with a safe and practical solution: 989.892.4780.
LEDs
Q: What’s better for my home or business: LED lights or CFLs?
A: Without a question, LED lights are better than CFLs for your home or business. Compared to CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), LEDs (light emitting diodes) consume up to 85 percent less energy and have an expected lifespan of up to 50 times longer. Clements Electric can provide an energy analysis of your home or business showing an approximate cost of your current lighting versus upgrading to LED light technology.
Q: How long do LED light bulbs last?
A: LED light bulbs last up to 50 times longer than other lighting solutions, such as CFLs. Some LED bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours – that’s almost six years if they are left on 24/7. When purchasing LED light bulbs, quality does matter – the cheapest option is not always the best option. Be sure to check the packaging for rated hours, lifespan, warranty, and lumens.
GENERATORS
Q: Do I need a standby generator or manual generator for my home or business?
A: A standby generator provides your home or business with a reliable backup power supply when an outage occurs. Standby generators transition seamlessly from using electricity from your utility company to your backup power – and with only minor interruption. Clients, customers, and guests won’t even notice the power is out! A manual generator, by contrast, is one that needs to be connected to a manual transfer switch (located outside your building) before power can be restored. This means your customers or family may experience a few minutes of darkness before the lights come back on.
Q: Where is the safest place to use a generator?
A: Home standby generators are a great source of backup power during storms or prolonged electrical outages. You should never operate a generator inside your home or in a garage. The safest place to operate a standby generator is outdoors. Contact us here or by phone for a free generator estimate. Clements Electric installs and services Generac generators. We install full home generator systems that are hassle-free and transfer power automatically leaving nothing to the homeowner but to enjoy their continued power. We also install separate generator panels for easy hookups to a mobile generator. These panels run specific items in your home such as furnaces, refrigerators, freezers, and other necessary items. Installing one of these panels will allow a homeowner to hook up an auxiliary mobile generator. These panels are also interlocked with the customer’s main panel to keep the lineman working to restore power safely.
MISCELLANEOUS
Q: Why does my smoke detector keep chirping?
A: If a smoke detector in your home is chirping, this could mean one of two things: Infrequent chirps are often an indicator of a faulty smoke detector. Consistent chirps means the smoke detector battery is low and should be replaced. Clements Electric can fix faulty smoke detectors as well as add hardwired smoke detectors to an existing system.
Q: Can I install a ceiling fan where a light is?
A: Yes. But first, you must make sure the electrical box is properly braced and rated for the weight of the ceiling fan you wish to install. To ensure maximum safety and best operation, hire a licensed and insured electrician to install your ceiling fan. Clements Electric can also run new wiring to allow the fan and the light to operate on different switches. Contact us today for a free estimate.
Q: What is an arc fault circuit interrupter, and do I need them in my home?
A: Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are only required when installing a new circuit in your home that feeds anything but a laundry room, unfinished garage, kitchen or outdoor load. Arc fault circuit interrupters detect problems in your home’s wiring stemming from loose connections, faulty equipment, and bad wiring. Call Clements Electric to inspect your existing wiring. We will keep you safe and correct any out of code violations you may have.
Q: I am considering the purchase of a Plug-in Electric Vehicle, how does this affect my home’s electrical system?
A: The installation of a new electric vehicle charging system will normally have a minimal impact on your home’s current electrical system. Call us today for a free inspection of your electrical panel and its ability to take on the additional load. Clements Electric has installed electrical vehicle charging stations at Bay City State Park, The Jennison Place parking structure, as well as many homes through the Tri-City area.
