You probably don't need an electrical contractor to change a lightbulb, but other issues are a lot more demanding. For your safety - and sanity - be sure to call an electrical contractor under any of the following circumstances:You probably don't need an electrical contractor to change a lightbulb, but other issues are a lot more demanding. For your safety - and sanity - be sure to call an electrical contractor under any of the following circumstances:
Breakers Keep Tripping
The lights suddenly go out. You go to check your circuit breakers and find one or more of them tripped. You switch it back into the ON position, and it immediately trips again. If the problem persists, no matter how many devices you unplug, you could have a faulty circuit breaker. Call a trusted electrical contractor, like 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo.
Remember to also be careful about how much you have plugged into one outlet at a time. A circuit breaker is meant to prevent circuit overload, but if it's not working or being treated properly, disaster could strike. You don't want to add to the approximately 51,000 annual residential electrical fires.
Electrical Shock
It's normal to get a shock when touching a doorknob after walking across a carpet. However, it shouldn't happen when you touch an outlet or light switch. An electrical shock is a pretty definite sign that you need to call an electrical contractor.
There might be a problem with your wiring, something only a reputable, licensed and insured electrical contractor is equipped to handle. Be sure to feel your outlets and light switches regularly. If they're inexplicably warm, call 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo.
Lights Flickering
Another major sign of wiring problems is flickering lights. Check to make sure your light bulbs are fully secured or if there's a possible overload of other devices plugged into a circuit. If your lights keep flickering, you need to call 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo.
Flickering lights might initially just seem like a mild inconvenience, but without intervention, they can turn into a major one. A fire could originate from this problem. A trained professional electrical contractor from 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo can diagnose the issue and fix your flickering lights.
Increased Electrical Bills
Surges don't just happen in electrical circuits. They can also happen in electrical bills. If your utility company is charging way more than they usually do, and your electricity consumption habits haven't changed in any meaningful way, something may be amiss with your wiring.
When your wiring isn't in good condition, it needs to work harder to produce electricity, leading to an increase in charges, both electrical and financial. This is also a good reminder to have your wiring replaced if it's 20-30 years old.
Sparking Outlets
It's great if figurative sparks are flying when you're on a first date, but not if literal ones are coming out of your outlets. Your outlet might be worn out, overloaded, or short-circuiting. In any case, you need to get it examined.
A momentary, small blue spark when you're plugging something in isn't necessarily an issue. However, if the spark lasts more than a few seconds, is larger, and/or is a different color, it's time to take action. You should also shut off the outlet's call 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo if any strange odors are coming out of your outlets.
Remember: If you have any safety concerns about your electrical system, you should call a professional electrical contractor. 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo offers 24-hour services, so we're always available for our Amarillo community.
How to Find an Electrical Contractor
Finding an electrical contractor isn't too difficult. But how do you know you're hiring the right one? These are some easy-to-follow tips for researching electrical contractors:
Licenses
You might not mean to hire an unlicensed electrician, but it could happen if you're not careful during your research. Every electrician you consider, whether you find them through Google reviews or through social media, should provide proof of license and certification, as well as insurance.
Requesting physical proof of all of these items. If an electrical contractor won't provide either or tells you they'll show them after they're paid, do not work with them. At 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo, you have the assurance that all of our electrical contractors are fully licensed, insured, and bonded.
Referrals
Reviews are great for giving you a better sense of an electrical contractor's skillset. However, one strong personal referral can be worth more than 10 reviews from strangers. Ask friends, relatives, neighbors, and other professionals if they can recommend qualified electrical contractors.
Make sure you're asking the right people for referrals. For instance, if you need your restaurant rewired, you should ask another restaurant owner. 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo are experts in both residential and commercial plumbing.
References
Maybe you find an electrical contractor who seems very qualified, but there's only one thing stopping you from hiring them: you can't find any reviews. If you're still interested in their services, ask them for references.
Their references should come with names and contact information. Be sure to follow through on this, reaching out to the other party and ask about their experience with that particular electrical contractor. If they can't provide any references, they're not fit to perform electrical work at your home or business.
Fair Pricing
Some electricians excel in every area except one: honesty. They offer an estimate that seems more than fair. Then, the bill comes and you realize their estimate was off by a whole lot. This isn't an accident, but it is a sign to be more careful with researching electrical contractors.
1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo always charges flat rates for our work. You don't need to worry about "unexpected" charges when you hire our technicians. We also charge fairly, based both on services and overall quality of work.
Electrical Safety Tips
Unless you're a licensed electrician, you shouldn't mess around with your home's wiring. However, there are some simple things you can do to reduce the risk of electrical problems.
Avoid Circuit Overload
It's easy to see electrical outlets as magic devices that provide you with an unlimited well of electricity. But an overloaded circuit can ruin your wiring and lead to a fire. If your circuit breaker keeps tripping and you have multiple devices plugged in, it's likely overloaded.
Find out the amperage ratings of each of your circuits and make sure it's not consuming more amps than it can handle. Unplug any devices that you're not using, even if they're shut off, and make sure there's no exposed wiring inside any of your electrical cables.
Be Careful With Extension Cords
If your circuits aren't cooperating, an extension cord can seem like a good solution. But it can actually cause further issues to arise. As with circuits, extension cords can become overloaded and lead to fires. You're better off focusing on repairing your circuits.
Should you look to extension cords as a temporary solution, make sure the gauge rating is appropriate for the devices you'll be plugging into it. You should also avoid placing them anywhere they might be a tripping hazard.
Don't Use Cords with Exposed Wires
The covering over power cords isn't just there for cosmetic reasons. It's to protect the wires and you. If your power cords are older and/or mishandled, you may have noticed some wires sticking out of them. You can use electrical tape to contain the damage, but the best solution is to completely replace the power cords.
Be careful with how you use and where you place your power cords. Don't put them anywhere they're liable to be regularly stepped over, and be mindful with how you unplug/plug them in.
Water Safety
We know you know the risks of mixing water and electricity, but it's still important to remember. In the kitchen and bathroom, you must be careful whenever using electrical devices like toasters and hair dryers around water. Any amount of water in an outlet, whether it's from a single glass spilling or a major flood, is a safety risk.
Do not touch any outlet that water has spilled into, as you could be killed by electrocution. The GFCi outlet and your breaker box should both be turned off before you try and dry the outlet. Be advised that the worse the damage, the more likely you'll need to completely replace the outlet.
Need an Electrical Contractor in Amarillo? Call Us!
If something's wrong with your wires, outlets, or breakers, you need the best possible service. Thankfully, 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo can handle all those electrical challenges and more. Call us today to discuss your electrical issues and to schedule an appointment.
Breakers Keep Tripping
The lights suddenly go out. You go to check your circuit breakers and find one or more of them tripped. You switch it back into the ON position, and it immediately retrips. If the problem persists, no matter how many devices you unplug, you could have a faulty circuit breaker. Call a trusted electrical contractor, like 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo.
Remember to also be careful about how much you have plugged into one outlet at a time. A circuit breaker is meant to prevent circuit overload, but if it's not working or being treated properly, disaster could strike. You don't want to add to the approximately 51,000 annual residential electrical fires.
Electrical Shock
It's normal to get a shock when touching a doorknob after walking across a carpet. However, it shouldn't happen when you touch an outlet or light switch. An electrical shock is a pretty definite sign that you need to call an electrical contractor.
There might be a problem with your wiring, something only a reputable, licensed and insured electrical contractor is equipped to handle. Be sure to feel your outlets and light switches regularly. If they're inexplicably warm, call 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo.
Lights Flickering
Another major sign of wiring problems is flickering lights. Check to make sure your light bulbs are fully secured or if there's a possible overload of other devices plugged into a circuit. If your lights keep flickering, you need to call 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo.
Flickering lights might initially just seem like a mild inconvenience, but without intervention, they can turn into a major one. A fire could originate from this problem. A trained professional electrical contractor from 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo can diagnose the issue and fix your flickering lights.
Increased Electrical Bills
Surges don't just happen in electrical circuits. They can also happen in electrical bills. If your utility company is charging way more than they usually do, and your electricity consumption habits haven't changed in any meaningful way, something may be amiss with your wiring.
When your wiring isn't in good condition, it needs to work harder to produce electricity, leading to an increase in charges, both electrical and financial. This is also a good reminder to have your wiring replaced if it's 20-30 years old.
Sparking Outlets
It's great if figurative sparks are flying when you're on a first date, but not if literal ones are coming out of your outlets. Your outlet might be worn out, overloaded, or short-circuiting. In any case, you need to get it examined.
A momentary, small blue spark when you're plugging something in isn't necessarily an issue. However, if the spark lasts more than a few seconds, is larger, and/or is a different color, it's time to take action. You should also shut off the outlet's call 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo if any strange odors are coming out of your outlets.
Remember: If you have any safety concerns about your electrical system, you should call a professional electrical contractor. 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo offers 24-hour services, so we're always available for our Amarillo community.
How to Find an Electrical Contractor
Finding an electrical contractor isn't too difficult. But how do you know you're hiring the right one? These are some easy-to-follow tips for researching electrical contractors:
Licenses
You might not mean to hire an unlicensed electrician, but it could happen if you're not careful during your research. Every electrician you consider, whether you find them through Google reviews or through social media, should provide proof of license and certification, as well as insurance.
Requesting physical proof of all of these items. If an electrical contractor won't provide either or tells you they'll show them after they're paid, do not work with them. At 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo, you have the assurance that all of our electrical contractors are fully licensed, insured, and bonded.
Referrals
Reviews are great for giving you a better sense of an electrical contractor's skillset. However, one strong personal referral can be worth more than 10 reviews from strangers. Ask friends, relatives, neighbors, and other professionals if they can recommend qualified electrical contractors.
Make sure you're asking the right people for referrals. For instance, if you need your restaurant rewired, you should ask another restaurant owner. 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo are experts in both residential and commercial plumbing.
References
Maybe you find an electrical contractor who seems very qualified, but there's only one thing stopping you from hiring them: you can't find any reviews. If you're still interested in their services, ask them for references.
Their references should come with names and contact information. Be sure to follow through on this, reaching out to the other party and ask about their experience with that particular electrical contractor. If they can't provide any references, they're not fit to perform electrical work at your home or business.
Fair Pricing
Some electricians excel in every area except one: honesty. They offer an estimate that seems more than fair. Then, the bill comes and you realize their estimate was off by a whole lot. This isn't an accident, but it is a sign to be more careful with researching electrical contractors.
1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo always charges flat rates for our work. You don't need to worry about "unexpected" charges when you hire our technicians. We also charge fairly, based both on services and overall quality of work.
Electrical Safety Tips
Unless you're a licensed electrician, you shouldn't mess around with your home's wiring. However, there are some simple things you can do to reduce the risk of electrical problems.
Avoid Circuit Overload
It's easy to see electrical outlets as magic devices that provide you with an unlimited well of electricity. But an overloaded circuit can ruin your wiring and lead to a fire. If your circuit breaker keeps tripping and you have multiple devices plugged in, it's likely overloaded.
Find out the amperage ratings of each of your circuits and make sure it's not consuming more amps than it can handle. Unplug any devices that you're not using, even if they're shut off, and make sure there's no exposed wiring inside any of your electrical cables.
Be Careful With Extension Cords
If your circuits aren't cooperating, an extension cord can seem like a good solution. But it can actually cause further issues to arise. As with circuits, extension cords can become overloaded and lead to fires. You're better off focusing on repairing your circuits.
Should you look to extension cords as a temporary solution, make sure the gauge rating is appropriate for the devices you'll be plugging into it. You should also avoid placing them anywhere they might be a tripping hazard.
Don't Use Cords with Exposed Wires
The covering over power cords isn't just there for cosmetic reasons. It's to protect the wires and you. If your power cords are older and/or mishandled, you may have noticed some wires sticking out of them. You can use electrical tape to contain the damage, but the best solution is to completely replace the power cords.
Be careful with how you use and where you place your power cords. Don't put them anywhere they're liable to be regularly stepped over, and be mindful with how you unplug/plug them in.
Water Safety
We know you know the risks of mixing water and electricity, but it's still important to remember. In the kitchen and bathroom, you must be careful whenever using electrical devices like toasters and hair dryers around water. Any amount of water in an outlet, whether it's from a single glass spilling or a major flood, is a safety risk.
Do not touch any outlet that water has spilled into, as you could be killed by electrocution. The GFCi outlet and your breaker box should both be turned off before you try and dry the outlet. Be advised that the worse the damage, the more likely you'll need to completely replace the outlet.
Need an Electrical Contractor in Amarillo? Call Us!
If something's wrong with your wires, outlets, or breakers, you need the best possible service. Thankfully, 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo can handle all those electrical challenges and more. Call us today to discuss your electrical issues and to schedule an appointment.
