subject: Electrician in Omaha gives FREE info on electrical safety [print this page] Electrician in Omaha gives FREE info on electrical safety
6 Things to Do BEFORE You Call your Electrician!
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1. Sounds simple but, call your utility company.
We always suggest that you check with your local utility company to see if you are in an outage. Check with your neighbors and see if they are having any problems with their power. Sometimes the utility company doesnt know they have a problem yet because you were the first one to call them. Taking a few extra minutes might save you an emergency travel fee.
2. Next, check your breakers.
We have found this to be the most common mistake that homeowners make; they forget to cycle their breakers before they call an electrician! There are many types of circuit breakers and panel boards. Each manufacturer has its own style of breaker and the way each model trips is unique to the design of the panel.
With so many different panel manufacturers, it is good to familiarize yourself with your panel. When you lose power you should cycle the breakers to see if the affected area comes back on. If that works you may have found a solution but keep an eye on it.
3. Report your problem right away dont wait till after business hours.
When did you start having the problem? I often ask this question and the answer always surprises me. Well it started yesterday morning but I need it fixed now. This can be a problem because there is usually an emergency dispatch fee due to the time of day. You should keep in mind that electricians are highly trained professionals that charge a premium to show up on nights and weekends.
4. Question yourself: How much should I try on my own?
Truth? Not a lot. Some things to keep in mind: Most states allow you to do whatever you want in your own home; however, doing electrical work yourself is a gamble. Even the smallest job can be a safety hazard. Are you willing to risk your safety for a few dollars in savings? Electricians undergo significant amounts of training to be certified. If a fire were to break out due to faulty wiring, if there was not a licensed electrician responsible for the work, your insurance may not accept your claim. Get a professional to do this work.
5. So how do I know when to call an electrician?
When you are changing fuses or resetting circuit breakers on a regular basis. Remember to keep track of how often you need to change them. This will help with diagnosis of your electrical issue.
-If you turn on the furnace/air conditioning/hot water heater and the lights dim.
-If you have flickering lights.
-When it smells like the electricity is burning.
-When you have multiple devices plugging into the back of your electronics center.
-When you have multiple surge protectors/multi-plug strips overburdening an outlet. It is far better to rearrange your electronic needs with additional outlets than to realize there is a problem later.
-When a three-prong plug needs a two-prong adapter.
6. When you are ready to call an electrician, First: Do your homework.
-Is the electrician you are thinking about hiring insured?
-Is the electrician bonded? (This is even better)
-The electrician will need a permit so that their work can be checked by a local wire inspector.
-It will be hard to get large contractors to do smaller jobs at a reasonable price so it will be important to ask family and friends whom they prefer.
