At S&S Electric, we make every effort to be the best home electrical resource for
homeowners in the
Washington DC
Metro area. From time to time we add new articles to our home resource section to help you,
have a better understanding of the electrical components in your home. Don't forget to check back for new articles!
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| Federal
Pacific
Electric
Panels:
Fires
Waiting to
Happen,
Debate
Waiting to
Be Ended by
Dan Friedman
Federal
Pacific
Electric
"Stab-Lok"
service
panels and
breakers are
dangerous
and can
fail,
leading to
electrical
fires. The
problem is
that some
240-Volt FPE
circuit
breakers and
possibly
also some
120-Volt
units simply
may not
work....(read
more) |
|
I Moved Into a House With Old Wiring - What Should I Do? by Jessi Moyle
Ensuring electrical safety in your home is very important. Old wiring in homes can pose many dangers from fires to electrocution. Educate yourself on how to best deal with old wiring problems in your home....(read
more) |
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What Are the Test and Reset Buttons For? by Dave Gray
On every recently built home, the outlets in areas with hard surface floors (vinyl, tile and concrete) that may be exposed to water have outlets with the test and reset buttons. These are called GFI outlets (Ground Fault Intercept). You probably get annoyed with them because the trip or "pop" occasionally and you have to push the reset to turn the power on
again....(read
more) |
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When is it Time to Call an Electrician? by Billy Mendoza
There are many elements to getting an electrical problem corrected. Not the least of which is to ensure that the job is done correctly. By this, the most important thing to consider is
safety....(read
more) |
|
What is a
GFCI? by Jessi Moyle
You are in the bathroom drying your hair. The curling iron is plugged in too. Everything's great until suddenly the lights go out, the hair dryer goes silent, and the curling iron starts to cool off. This is not a good time for your electrical circuit to play games with you when you are already running late for work. But what you don't realize is your house is taking care of you and
itself....(read
more) |
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Introducing the Whole House Generator by Leon David
A whole house generator can give backup electricity for the whole house, during a power crisis or a power outage. It works by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. In residential applications, the AC power generators use small engines to produce
electricity....(read
more) |
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Electrical Power Surge - Is Your Entire Household Protected Against Them? by Clayton Hadaway
If you aren't sure then it may be beneficial to read the following to find out. Read on to discover what electrical power surges are, how to ensure you are protected from them at all times, and the importance of doing so to protect all your household electronics and
appliances....(read
more) |
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5 Things to Look For in Electrical Contractors by Frank Farland
One of the most dangerous jobs that can be done in your home is electrical repair. However, every year homeowners make the bad decision to hire unskilled individuals to do this work for them in order to save a few dollars. That's always a mistake. Here are some factors you should check for when hiring your own electrical
contractors....(read
more) |
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Surge Protector - Frequently Asked Questions by Brad Germany
Knowing that you should protect your electronic equipment is as important as knowing how. Find the answers to both of these questions in the following
article....(read
more) |
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The Lowdown on Home Standby Generators by Martin Applebaum
Home standby generators are a necessity in areas that experience frequent power outages. Do you need one in your
home?....(read
more) |
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Tips to Prevent Electrical Fires in Your Home by Jim Christian
Each year, 67,800 electrical fires in the home take the lives of 485 Americans, injure 2,305 more, and cause $868 million dollars in property loss*. While some of these fires are caused by lightning and defects in appliances, many more are caused by incorrectly installed wiring, overloaded circuits, and misuse of extension cords. In fact, improper home electrical wiring (perhaps done by do-it-your-selfers) cause twice as many fires as electrical
appliances....(read
more) |
|
Upgrade Your Home With New Lighting Fixtures and Ceiling Fans - Call Your Local Electrician Today! by Matt Gallo
Replacing dated light fixtures is one of the quickest and easiest ways to update your home and add value. Ceiling fans are also a great solution for changing the look of your home, as well as reducing energy costs. Contact your area electrician today for
installation....(read
more) |
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Rehabbing a Home That Has Aluminum Wiring - How to Cover Your Costs and Reduce Liability by Kent Keith
Special considerations need to be taken when dealing with homes with aluminum wiring. Improper wiring connections can cause overheating and possible house fires. Here is what you need to do to make the house
safe....(read
more) |
|
What is a Service Upgrade? by Dan Stroup
When many people hear the term "service upgrade" they believe that it means upgrading the amps coming into their main distribution panel This is a common misconception since the potential current coming into the main electrical panel is a constant due to the fact that is generated by the power company. When we use the term "service upgrade" what we actually mean is the amount of current that your main electrical panel can handle. Basically, the more current your panel is rated for the more room you have for
circuits....(read
more) |
