Company: Trustworthy Electric

Is There a Problem With the Electrical Wiring? Here's How to Tell

How to Spot Faulty Wiring

Keeping homes safe is a top priority for homeowners, which means ensuring that all systems are functioning properly, especially a home’s wiring and electrical system. This is especially important since electrical problems are a common cause of house fires.

And with over half of homes in the U.S. built before 1980, the chances of fires stemming from older wiring that hasn’t been updated to current safety standards go up significantly. In order to prevent this and keep homes safe, homeowners should be aware of the following signs of an electrical wiring problem to resolve them as safely and quickly as possible.

Circuit Breakers That Trip Often

A tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse happens every once in a while at home. These are both, after all, safety measures that are designed to protect homes by stopping the flow of electricity when there is too much of it all at once. However, if this becomes a common occurrence at home, it could signal a bigger problem with the electrical wiring that needs to be resolved. 

Sometimes, this just means one or two appliances should be removed from the circuit that is being overloaded and plugged into a different circuit. However, if this doesn’t work, homeowners should get a professional electrician to inspect and fix the wiring and circuit breaker or fuse box to eliminate the possibility of developing a fire hazard.

Outlets Are Discolored or Hot to the Touch

OutletScorch marks around an outlet or if they feel hot to the touch is another red flag for electrical wiring. After all, where there is smoke, there’s fire, and these are outward signs that there is loose or faulty wiring behind the outlet that is causing some kind of burning action when a device or appliance is plugged in. 

This usually happens because damaged wiring sends more electricity than is needed to the outlet, and this extra energy can fry devices or, in more extreme cases, cause a fire. So, any burn marks on outlets or ones that feel warm should be a sign to call an electrician immediately. 

It Smells or Sounds Like Trouble

Bad smell Another way to tell that there has been significant damage to a home’s electrical wiring is the presence of a distinct burning smell around an electrical outlet. The smell is usually similar to burning plastic and indicates wiring that has had some fire damage. Sometimes, this burning smell is also accompanied by a buzzing sound. 

Whether by itself or present together, the smell of burning or the sound of buzzing is always an indication of trouble. Homeowners who experience this are advised to immediately unplug their appliances and call an electrician to deal with the situation safely.

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric is a family-owned company that has been serving Montgomery and the surrounding areas since 1994. They offer upfront pricing, military discounts, and a beneficial membership plan. Call them today for wiring repair and replacement in Montgomery, AL.

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Cut-out family figures and house silhouette on grass, representing home improvement by Trustworthy Electric.

How to Remain Safe This National Wellness Month

Three Ways to Avoid the Unexpected at Home

National Wellness Month has many goals, but most center around staying happy, healthy, and stress-free. However, what does this entail? Spa days and trips to the doctor? Not necessarily. In honor of National Wellness Month, why not take steps to keep the home safe from avoidable hazards? 

Many people suffer injuries from fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, and electrical hazards every year. Nobody wants to be a statistic. Instead, homeowners should ensure their homes and families are protected and take the following steps.

Install Smoke Detectors 

Smoke detector mounted on ceiling, essential for home safety during National Wellness Month, highlighting fire prevention and electrical safety measures.The Alabama Department of Public Health has important information about installing smoke detectors on its website. The organization notes that:

  • There are two types of smoke detectors: those that run on batteries and others that connect to the home’s electrical grid with a battery backup. Both have their own pros and cons.
  • How many smoke detectors a household needs depends on its layout, square footage, and occupancy.
  • Homeowners can avoid placing smoke detectors in kitchens, bathrooms, or garages to prevent “nuisance alarms” or alarms that go off without there being an actual threat. 

Installing and regularly testing smoke detectors can help keep families safe from electrical fires. 

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Hand pressing the test button on a carbon monoxide alarm, emphasizing the importance of regular testing for home safety.As the name suggests, carbon monoxide detectors detect carbon monoxide. But why is it so important to have? According to the Alabama Department of Insurance, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can inflict fatal injuries if inhaled for long periods.

Some things to know about carbon monoxide detectors include:

  • These devices should be tested regularly, around once a month, like a smoke detector, to ensure they work.
  • There are two-in-one smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that can help prevent fire and carbon monoxide poisoning from affecting homeowners.
  • Carbon monoxide detectors test for carbon monoxide––not natural gas. If a homeowner wants to get a natural gas detector, they must purchase a detector designed for that purpose or a two-in-one natural gas and carbon monoxide detector.

Schedule an Electrical Safety Inspection

Everyone assumes that their electrical system works fine until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, the things that can go wrong with an electrical system can cause extensive property damage, fires, and inflict injuries. To prevent this, homeowners should schedule routine electrical inspections around every two to five years, depending on the age of the home.

An electrician will inspect the home’s electrical grid, panel, and other components of the system during this process. More specifically, they will: 

  • Test outlets and switches
  • Ensure that outlets don’t produce too much voltage
  • Replace any blown fuses
  • Evaluate wires for fraying, overheating, damage, or improper installation
  • Ensure the home complies with county electrical ordinances and regulations
  • Test the home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Check if the home needs any more dedicated circuits.

An electrician can also advise homeowners on what measures could prevent electrical problems in the future, such as repairing outdated or damaged components. 

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric is a family-owned company serving Montgomery and the surrounding areas since 1994. They offer upfront pricing, on-time service, and military discounts. Call them today for electrical services in Montgomery, AL. 

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Close-up of a baby in a green shirt near an electrical outlet, emphasizing safety concerns for home improvements.

Stay Safe This Summer With Childproof Outlets!

Promote Electrical Safety at Home With Childproof Outlets 

According to Electrical Safety Foundational International (ESFI), nearly 2,400 children suffer serious electrical shocks and burns yearly from sticking things into electrical outlets. These incidents often arise when they stick foreign objects into the slots of outlets, such as utensils, paper clips, toys, and their fingers. Thankfully, worried parents can protect their children against these incidents by installing childproof and tamper-resistant outlets. This post will discuss these outlets, including how they work and their benefits. 

What Is a Tamper Resistant Outlet? How Does It Work? 

A tamper-resistant outlet is exactly what it sounds like; it prevents children from tampering with the outlet and hurting themselves. They have spring-loaded shutters that only allow a plug’s prongs to pass through since the shutters must be activated simultaneously to open. Another common childproofing tool for outlets is the pieces of plastic that plug into the outlet and prevent anything else from getting in. 

There are also sliding outlet covers. The sliding outlet cover has a plate that slides over the outlet, then locks into place. When adults want to plug something in, they must unlock the cover and slide it over. This also deters young children from sticking their fingers or other objects into the outlets. 

What Are the Benefits of Installing Childproof Outlets?

Child reaching for a tamper-resistant electrical outlet, illustrating child safety measures in home electrical installations.Childproof outlets have one obvious and significant benefit. It prevents children from suffering electrical-related injuries. Additionally, these outlets are more beneficial than plastic outlet caps. Children can learn to remove the plastic outlet plugs from the outlet, and once removed, they can become a choking hazard. 

On the other hand, tamper-resistant outlets don’t present a choking hazard while protecting children from shocks and burns, making them the safer option for childproofing the home. No parent can watch their child every minute of every day. Having tamper-resistant outlets installed around the house offers parents peace of mind that their little ones are protected from electrical hazards. 

When Is It Time to Replace an Old Outlet? 

Person using a screwdriver to install a new electrical outlet in a blue electrical box, illustrating the process of replacing old outlets for improved safety in homes.The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) notes that homeowners should replace an outlet if a plug feels loose in the outlet and is not snug because it’s an electrical hazard and poses the risk of an electrical fire. Other signs that it’s time to replace an outlet include: 

  • The outlet isn’t working 
  • The outlet feels hot or warm to the touch
  • There are scorch marks, discoloration, melted areas, or other damage on the outlet
  • Sparks or smoke is coming from the outlet 

About Trustworthy Electric 

Trustworthy Electric is a family-owned company with nearly three decades of experience serving Montgomery and the surrounding communities. They provide upfront pricing, on-time service, and military discounts. Call them today for childproof outlet installation in Montgomery, AL.

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Outdoor kitchen and dining area with a pool, showcasing summer upgrades by Trustworthy Electric for backyard enjoyment.

Get Your Backyard Party-Ready This Summer With These Fun Upgrades

Create the Perfect Outdoor Setting for Hosting Guests This Summer

Summer has always been a time for outdoor parties and barbeques, celebrations, fun, and adventure. This window of time is ideal for making memories spending time with family and friends, and catching up with loved ones. And there is no better place to create these memories than outdoors when the weather is nice. For homeowners looking to enjoy their lawns and gardens this summer, here are a few backyard upgrade ideas that’ll create the perfect exterior backdrop for those summer memories that won’t soon be forgotten. 

Outdoor Lighting 

Backyard patio illuminated with string lights, featuring a cozy seating area with modern furniture, surrounded by landscaped greenery, creating an inviting atmosphere for summer gatherings and outdoor entertaining.

Nothing is more crucial to creating the perfect outdoor space than installing exterior lighting. When it comes to exterior lights, there is a wide selection available to illuminate all the different types of outdoor spaces surrounding any home. Outdoor lights, in general, can be classified according to these purposes:

  • Safety: Safety lights can help deter criminals, such as flood lights, and improve how people safely navigate outdoors when it’s dark with pathway lights and step lights.
  • Landscape: Landscape lights accentuate backyard features like gardens, trees, or anything else homeowners want to accentuate when it’s dark. These include spotlights and uplighting.
  • Accent: These provide proper illumination and help set the mood and atmosphere. Examples of outdoor accent lights include fairy or string lights, lanterns, pendants, and wall lights or sconces.

Generators 

Generator by Generac installed outside a home, surrounded by landscaping, emphasizing outdoor power solutions for summer gatherings and electrical safety.

It isn’t unheard of for power outages to occur at the peak of summer when heat waves seem endless, summer storms can occur, and homes often compete simultaneously for a limited power supply. Investing in a generator may be a good idea for those planning to hold a shindig at the height of summer heat. 

Generators work to automatically deliver power during an outage, allowing homeowners to continue operating their lights, appliances, and other electronic equipment. With a generator on standby, homeowners can keep their guests and themselves happy and comfortable without missing a beat. 

Pool or Hot Tub

Without a doubt, a pool or hot tub in a home’s backyard can be a focal point of any summer gathering, so homeowners looking to level up their summer party game may want to consider adding a pool or a hot tub to their home. Adding a pool or hot tub can also be a worthwhile investment as they add value to a home.

However, before enjoying all the fun and memories of having a pool or hot tub, homeowners must ensure that a professional electrician wires them and installs their lighting for safety and to meet current electrical codes and regulations. Only then can the fun begin, but when it does, the enjoyment that can be had will be endless!

About Trustworthy Electric 

Trustworthy Electric has nearly 30 years of experience serving Montgomery and the surrounding areas. They provide upfront pricing, on-time service, and financing. Call them today for outdoor lighting installation or pool and hot tub lighting and wiring in Montgomery, AL.

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Electrician in safety gear measuring electrical values for Trustworthy Electric in Montgomery, Alabama.

Stay Safe During Electrical Safety Month

Practice Electrical Safety All Year Long

May is National Electrical Safety Month, so this is the perfect time to learn about some of the devices around the home that help keep homes and businesses safe from the hazards of electricity. This brief article can help homeowners understand and appreciate what goes into keeping a home safe from electrical hazards. 

Recognize Important Electrical Safety Devices 

Hand adjusting a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet with a screwdriver, emphasizing electrical safety and maintenance practices in homes.Despite the inherent dangers of electricity, technology has made the utility much safer in the last few decades. Most of this is due to the development of regulating devices that prevent electrical hazards like fires and electrocution. Some common electrical devices in homes that must stay in working order are: 

  • Ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, are a type of outlet located in areas with moisture, such as outdoors, bathrooms, and kitchens, to prevent electric shocks and electrocutions.
  • Fuses protect circuits from receiving too much power, helping prevent electrical fires, but they must be replaced once the fuse blows.
  • Circuit breakers are similar to fuses and trip to prevent too much power from flowing through a circuit, preventing overheating or fires, but they don’t need to be replaced every time like a fuse. 

Warning Signs of Overloaded Circuits 

One common electrical problem in homes is an overloaded circuit. Historically the problem has been much worse, but with advances in breaker panels, the phasing out of fuses, and the wide acceptance of circuit breaker technology, homeowners are more aware of overloaded circuits in the home. 

But, even with these advanced devices in nearly every home, overloaded circuits can still be problematic. Overloaded circuits can cause complications like burnt wiring and electrical fires, so it’s important to know the warning signs so an electrician can be called. Common signs of an overloaded electrical circuit are: 

  • Flickering or dim lights
  • Burnt smells 
  • A buzzing or sizzling sound from outlets
  • Constantly tripping breakers
  • Outlets that look burned or are hot to the touch

Whole-House Surge Protection 

Whole-house surge protector device, labeled E-T-N CHSPZULTRA, designed to prevent electrical damage from power surges, enhancing home safety and protecting sensitive electronics.Power surges are a normal occurrence on an electrical grid. They can be the result of several causes, such as a weather-related event like a lightning strike or sudden drops in demand for power from the grid. When these occur, large spikes in voltage, many times the normal amount, can surge into the home's wiring. Electrical devices, especially digital devices like phones, entertainment systems, and computers, are particularly vulnerable to damage from large voltage spikes. When the power surge causes wiring insulation to melt, it can also cause fires. 

Installing a whole-house surge protector can protect sensitive devices throughout the entire home from damage from power surges, saving homeowners from paying for replacement electronics. These devices can also prevent electrical fires from voltage spikes while keeping all devices plugged into the home’s outlets safe from damage. 

About Trustworthy Electric 

Trustworthy Electric has nearly 30 years of experience serving Montgomery and the surrounding areas. They provide upfront pricing, on-time service, and fully stocked trucks. Call them today for electrical or GFCI outlet services in Montgomery, AL.

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